| Bahar Soomekh | |
| Native Name: | بهار سومخ |
| Native Name Lang: | Fa |
| Birth Date: | 30 March 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Tehran, Iran |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 2002–2014 |
| Credits: | Crash, Saw franchise |
| Children: | 3 |
Bahar Soomekh (Persian: بهار سومخ, born March 30, 1975) is an American former actress. She is best known for her roles in Crash and the Saw franchise.
Bahar was born in Tehran, Iran, to a devout Persian-Jewish family.[1] [2] She moved with her parents and sister, Saba Soomekh, to Los Angeles, California, United States in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution of Iran.[1] [3] [4] Soomekh attended Sinai Akiba Academy and Beverly Hills High School.[5] [6]
Bahar later attended the University of California, Santa Barbara.[2] She graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in environmental studies.[2]
Following her graduation from UCSB, Soomekh worked in motivational sales while taking acting classes.[5] [6] In the beginning of her acting career, Soomekh guest starred on several television programs, including JAG and 24. She ultimately quit her day job to pursue acting full-time and landed her role in Crash less than three months later.[5] [6]
Soomekh's breakthrough role came as Dorri in the Academy Award-winning movie for Best Picture, Crash. Following her success in Crash, People magazine listed Soomekh as a member of the Class of 2006 as "New on the Scene".[7] She followed up with roles in Syriana and . In 2006, she had a leading role as Dr. Lynn Denlon in the horror film Saw III. Soomekh had a recurring role as Margo in the television series Day Break and guest appearances on shows such as Ghost Whisperer and . Her last film role was in Just like a Woman, released in 2012.
After the Southern California area experienced the loss of film industry jobs to other locations, Soomekh decided to pursue a real estate career to remain close to her family.[8] [9]
Bahar married Clayton Frech in 2001.[2] The couple have three children.[2] One of their children, Ezra Frech, was born with a disability. He was a double silver Parapan American Games medalist in 2019 and was named as a finalist for the 2014 Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year.[10] [11] [12]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Lemese Salman | |
| JAG | Jasmine | Season 8, Episode 10 "The Killer" | |
| 2003 | Naked Hotel | Bhurka Woman | |
| 2004 | JAG | Amira Sattar | Season 9, Episode 20 "Fighting Words" |
| Intermission | Hair Wearer | ||
| Crash | Dorri | ||
| A Lousy Ten Grand | Najah | ||
| 2005 | 24 | Habib Marwan's Wife | (deleted scenes) |
| Bones | Sahar Masruk | ||
| Syriana | Yassi | (Director's Uncut Version) | |
| 2006 | In Justice | Neena Oponi | |
| Davian's Translator | |||
| The Unit | Firefly | Season 2, Episode 1 "Change of Station" | |
| Day Break | Margo | (2006–2007) | |
| Saw III | Lynn Denlon | ||
| 2008 | The Oaks | Hollis | Unaired TV pilot |
| Ghost Whisperer | Tricia | Season 4, Episode 6 "Imaginary Friends and Enemies" | |
| 2009 | Lost & Found | Abigail | |
| 2010 | Miami Medical | Vanessa | Season 1, Episode 8 "An Arm and a Leg" |
| 2011 | Castle | Nazihah Alhabi | Season 3, Episode 16 "Setup"; Season 3, Episode 17 "Countdown" |
| Dr. Sylvia Sloane | Season 12, Episode 10 "Genetic Dsorder" | ||
| 2012 | Parenthood | Dr. Haryana | Season 4, Episode 3 "Everything Is Not Okay" |
| Just like a Woman | Soha | ||
| 2014 | Perception | Yael | Season 3, Episode 5 "Eternity" |