Cas Anvar

Cas Anvar
Anvar in 2019
Born (1966-03-15) 15 March 1966 (age 60)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
EducationNational Theatre School
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
Years active1988–present
Known for
Websitecasanvar.com

Cas Anvar (Persian: کاس انور; born 15 March 1966) is a Canadian actor known best for his role in the SyFy/Amazon Prime Video science fiction television series The Expanse.

Early life and education

Anvar was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Iranian parents. They moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he was raised. He graduated from Beaconsfield High School in 1983.

He became interested in acting after playing Hamlet in a high school production of Shakespeare's play. Anvar has said that after early studies of psychology and sciences at McGill University, he changed fields and graduated from the National Theatre School in 1989.

Career

Anvar at the 2015 Fan Expo Canada

He was founding artistic director of Repercussion Theatre. Anvar told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning that he founded the company in order to avoid being typecast, so that he could cast himself in the roles he wanted to play. Since 1988 the company toured parks of Montreal, and then throughout North America, with the annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival. Meanwhile, he continued performing in theatre.

In 1992, he debuted in Urban Angel, and has continued to perform roles in television and film.

Anvar starred as journalist Kambiz Foroohar in the 2003 film Shattered Glass.

Anvar guest-starred in an episode of NCIS that premiered in 2007.

In 2011, he voiced Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. In the same year, he co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in the science fiction film Source Code.

Anvar also appeared alongside John Cusack and Jennifer Carpenter in the horror film The Factory.

Anvar was part of the cast of Argo, which won the SAG Award for Best Cast Performance in 2013. Anvar appeared as Dodi Fayed with Naomi Watts in the film Diana in 2013.

Anvar starred in the science fiction television series The Expanse as Alex Kamal. It was first broadcast in December 2015. Anvar co-starred in the 2015 Oscar-nominated film Room. Anvar also starred in the 2015 mythological drama series Olympus, which aired on Syfy.

In 2016, he joined season 3 of The Strain as Sanjay Desai.

Anvar starred in the independent drama The Lie, an English-language adaptation of the German film Wir Monster, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018. In the same year, Anvar starred alongside Diane Kruger in the thriller The Operative.

In 2019, he had a recurring role on How To Get Away With Murder as Robert Hseih.

In November 2020, Alcon announced that Anvar would not be returning for the sixth and final season of The Expanse.

In 2021, Anvar had a guest-role on the television series FBI: International.

In 2024, Anvar had a supporting role in the comedy film Doin’ It, starring Lilly Singh.

Anvar appeared in director Marc Furmie's 2025 action drama Viper as Rafiq “Razor” Alizai.

Personal life

Anvar is fluent in English, French, and Persian, and also speaks some Arabic, Hindi, and Spanish.

Sexual misconduct allegations

In June 2020, Alcon Entertainment hired an independent firm to investigate over 30 allegations of sexual harassment and assault made against Anvar. Anvar released a statement in response indicating his intent to cooperate with the investigation, saying that the accusers should be heard, but that he intended to clear his name. The report was never released and no charges or civil actions against Anvar were ever filed.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1995Witchboard III: The PossessionParamedic #1
1997AfterglowFrederico
1998Twist of FateGoldwin
1998The Incredible Adventures of Marco PoloYoussef
1998SubletNightclub Man
2000Seducing MaaryaZakir
2001Cause of DeathLeonard Sheck
2001Hidden AgendaAgent McCoomb
2002Wrong NumberThomas Pitrillo
2003Comment ma mère accoucha de moi durant sa ménopauseMédecin, examen gynéco
2003Shattered GlassKambiz Foroohar
2003TimelineE.R. Doctor
2004The Terminal CBP Officer #3
2008Punisher: War ZonePlastic Surgeon
2009Transformers: Revenge of the FallenEgyptian Interpol Officer #1
2011Source CodeHazmi
2012ArgoRevolutionary Guard
2012The FactoryPhilUncredited
2012The Son of an Afghan FarmerMichael
2013DianaDodi Fayed
2013The FactoryPhil
2014FallReza
2015Miss India AmericaDeep Panday
2015The Vatican TapesDr. Fahti
2015RoomDr Mittal
2017NobilityCaptain Eric Cern
2018The LieSam Ismali
2019The OperativeFarhad
2019Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesRa's al GhulVoice
2019Draupadi UnleashedManu
2024Doin' ItFarhad
2025ViperRafiq “Razor” Alizai
2026Foreign TongueFaroukh

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991–2005WatatatowAtysMain role
1998La Femme NikitaHalirEpisode: "Old Habits"
2005The TournamentDr. SinghMain role, 17 episodes
2007NCISMasoud TariqTelevision TV series, Season 4 Episode 12
2009The PhantomRhatib SinghTelevision miniseries
200924Dr. WyndhamTelevision TV series
2010LostOmer JarrahEpisode: "Sundown"
2011LeverageOscar San GuillermoEpisode 4.15: "The Lonely Hearts Job"
2011NeverlandGentleman StarkeyTelevision miniseries
2011–2012Xeno-DateSirusWebseries, 8 episodes
2014CastleDr. RampanelEpisode: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
2014IntelligenceIbrahim Al-MuninEpisode: "Red X"
2015OlympusXerxesRecurring role, 7 episodes
2015–2021The ExpanseAlex KamalMain role, 56 episodes
2016–2017The StrainSanjay DesaiRecurring role, 10 episodes
2019–2020How To Get Away with MurderRobert HsiehRecurring role, 4 episodes
2020CardinalTaj RoyEpisode 4.02: "Adele"
2021FBI: InternationalAli MajidiEpisode 1.06: "The Secrets She Knows"
2023Gwen Shamblin: Starving for SalvationSellerTelevision film

Internet video

Year Title Role Notes
2017Star Trek ContinuesSentekEpisodes: "To Boldly Go" Part 1; "To Boldly Go" Part 2

Video games

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011Assassin's Creed: RevelationsAltaïr Ibn-LaʼAhadVoice role
2012Call of Duty: Black Ops IIMullah RahmaanVoice role
2012Halo 4DaltonVoice role

References

  1. ↑ The Expanse Writers [@TheExpanseWR] (15 March 2017). "Wishing our favorite Martian pilot an expansively excellent birthday!🎉Happy Birthday @Casanvar🚀" (Tweet). Retweeted by Cas Anvar. Retrieved 14 July 2020 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. 1 2 Noxon, Christopher (6 September 1990). "Out, out, damned... mosquito!?" (PDF). Thursday Report. Vol. 15, no. 1. Concordia University. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 Greenaway, Kathryn (7 July 1995). "Repercussion turns parks into bard yards". The Gazette. p. 40. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Anvar, Cas (5 December 2003). "Simply human nature". The Iranian. Archived from the original on 3 April 2005. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Greenaway, Kathryn (14 May 2013). "Beaconsfield High School set to celebrate 55-year reunion". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Syfy's 'The Expanse' – life in space 200 years in future". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Volpe, Diane (26 February 2013). "Interview with Cas Anvar". NCISLA Magazine. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Cas Anvar relishes his 'Vulculan' role". Star Trek Continues News. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "To geek or not to geek: Early role as Hamlet leads Anvar to sci-fi stardom". thestarphoenix.com. 15 September 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Homegrown sci-fi star Cas Anvar to attend Saskatoon comic expo". CBC. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Our Story - Repercussion Theatre". Repercussiontheatre.com. sec. History Highlights. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "Performances 1988-1994". Repercussiontheatre.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Peter Bowen (Fall 2003). "Confirm or Deny: Ethics and Truth in Documentary Filmmaking". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "From online to on screen exposure". 22 June 2004. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  15. 1 2 Zumberge, Marianne (3 March 2015). "Syfy Sets Premiere Dates for 'Olympus,' 'Bitten' Season 2". Variety. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  16. ↑ Walker, Richard (27 October 2012). "MCM 2012: Assassin's Creed: Revelations' Voice of Altair, Cas Anvar Joins X360A On Stage @ MCM". Xbox Achievements. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Source Code". The Austin Chronicle. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  18. ↑ Powell, W. Andrew (27 July 2011). "DVD Tuesday: 'Source Code' and 'Trust'". The GATE. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  19. ↑ "Watch An Exclusive 5-Minute Clip From 'The Factory'!". Bloody Disgusting!. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Argo wins top Screen Actors Guild award". BBC News. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  21. ↑ Gary Baum (27 September 2012). "Irony Alert: Princess Di Movie Strikes Deal With Paparazzi Agency". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  22. ↑ Etan Vlessing (29 October 2014). "Dominique Tipper, Cas Anvar join Syfy's The Expanse". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "'Room' movie review: Brie Larsen and Jacob Tremblay in devastating drama". The Prague Reporter. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "'The Lie': Film Review | TIFF 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  25. ↑ "Cas Anvar Joins Diane Kruger in Spy Thriller 'The Operative' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  26. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (24 November 2020). "'The Expanse' Renewed For Sixth & Final Season By Amazon Ahead Of Season 5 Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "'FBI: International' Season 1 Episode 6 Promo, Photos, and Plot Details". ShowbizJunkies. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "Lilly Singh's 'Doin' It' is an outlandish sex ed comedy teens actually need". JoySauce. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  29. ↑ "Neal McDonough joins the cast of Marc Furmie's 'Viper'". Nilsen Report. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  30. 1 2 Nellie Andreeva (26 June 2020). "'The Expanse' Star Cas Anvar Under Investigation Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Deadline Hollywood.
  31. ↑ Hale-Stern, Kaila (29 June 2020). "The Expanse's Cas Anvar Accused by Multiple Women of Sexual Assault and Harassment". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  32. ↑ Jessey, Ben (12 October 2020). "The Voice Actor Behind Every Main Protagonist In The Series". The Gamer. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  33. ↑ Moore, Camille (5 February 2021). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Cas Anvar". TV Overmind. Retrieved 13 October 2023.