Babak Tafti Explained

Occupation:Actor

Babak Tafti is an Iranian-American actor best known for the role of Emil Michael on Super Pumped, Chris in The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, Bradford Luke in Billions,[1] and Eduard Asgarov in Succession.

Early life

Tafti was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Career

Tafti graduated from the Yale School of Drama. He appeared as Saeed in the 2012 production of the J.T. Rogers play Blood and Gifts at La Jolla Playhouse.[2] The following year, he reprised his role as Khadi Asmann in the Off-Broadway debut of Rajiv Joseph's play The North Pool; he had previously performed the role at the Barrington Stage Company.[3] [4] He later reprised his role as Rodney in the commercial run of Bess Wohls play Small Mouth Sounds at the Signature Theatre Company; he had previously performed the role at Ars Nova (theater).[5] The following year, he performed in the world premiere of The Profane by Zayd Dohrn.[6] He had a "breakout performance" as Cassio in the Shakespeare in the Park (New York City) 2018 production in Othello.[7]

After appearing in small roles on television, Tafti was cast as Eduard Asgarov in a recurring role in season 2 of Succession. He landed his first series regular role as Emil Michael on Super Pumped in 2022.[8] He appeared in a recurring role of Bradford Luke on Billions the following year.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRowNotes
2008$5 a DayRoom Service Waiter
2009FlickerJack
Terminator SalvationMalik
2019Swing ShiftTrevorShort film
BenimYusufShort film
Campfire AlphaJoeyShort film
SwallowAaron
I Miss YouAdnan
2020A Dress AboveGilShort film
2022FraudAndré DjawadiShort film
Rear ViewAugustShort film
2023The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has PassedChris

Television

YearTitleRowNotes
2009CrashCharlie Wanz1 episode
2011Blue Bloods (TV series)Hafiz Demir1 episode
2014Nurse JackieAjay1 episode
2015Orange is the New BlackAfghan Trainee Farzad1 episode
2018QuanticoAdnan Hamza1 episode
InstinctMax1 episode
ElementaryJonathan Dawson1 episode
New AmsterdamTariq Ali1 episode
Murphy BrownKhaled1 episode
2019 – 2021LegaciesSphinx4 episodes
2019SuccessionEduard Asgarov3 episodes
2020BullDr. Samir Shadid1 episode
RamyAmir1 episode
2021The EqualizerReza Shaheen1 episode
2022Super PumpedEmil Michael7 episodes
2023BillionsBradford Luke11 episodes

Theatre

YearProductionRoleVenue
2012Blood and GiftsSaeedLa Jolla Playhouse
The North PoolKhadim AsmaanBarrington Stage Company
2013Vineyard Theatre
2015Small Mouth SoundsRodneyArs Nova / Signature Theatre Company
2016
2017The ProfaneSamPlaywrights Horizons
2018OthelloCassioShakespeare in the Park (New York City)
2019Selling Kabul[9] TaroonWilliamstown Theatre Festival

Notes and References

  1. News: Bell . BreAnna . ‘Billions’ Adds Babak Tafti to Season 7 Cast (EXCLUSIVE) . 24 April 2024 . Variety.
  2. Web site: Jones . Kenneth . Blood and Gifts, Acclaimed History Play of Intervention in Afghanistan, Begins in CA June 12 . Playbill . 24 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Hetrick . Adam . Rajiv Joseph's The North Pool Begins NYC Debut at Off-Broadway's Vineyard . Playbill . 24 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Rajiv Joseph’s "The North Pool" stars Remi Sandri and Babak Tafti at Barrington Stage, July 26-Aug 11 . Barrington Stage Company . 24 April 2024.
  5. News: Isherwood . Charles . 2016-07-19 . Review: A Restaged ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ Still Sparkles . 2024-08-12 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: The Profane . Playwrights Horizons . 24 April 2024.
  7. News: Brantley . Ben . 2018-06-19 . Review: A Cool-Tempered ‘Othello’ for Warm Central Park Nights . 2024-08-12 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Petski . Denise . 2021-08-10 . ‘Super Pumped’: Babak Tafti & Mousa Hussein Kraish Join Showtime Series About Uber . 2024-08-12 . Deadline . en-US.
  9. Web site: Bergman . J. Peter . 2019-07-16 . THEATRE REVIEW: WTF's riveting 'Selling Kabul' is less a play than an experience . 2024-08-12 . The Berkshire Edge . en-US.