Brian George
Brian George (born 1 July 1952) is an Israeli-English actor, voice artist, comedian and singer, best known for playing Pakistani restaurateur Babu Bhatt on Seinfeld and the Indian gynaecologist father of Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory.
Brian George | |
|---|---|
.jpg) George at the 2011 Canadian Film Centre | |
| Born | 1 July 1952 |
| Nationality | Israeli, English |
| Other names | Richard Bell |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto (did not finish) |
| Occupation | Actor, voice artist, comedian, singer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
Early life
George was born in Jerusalem on 1 July 1952, to Jewish parents of Baghdadi Jewish (Iraqi Jewish) descent, who had emigrated to Israel. His father was born in Lebanon,[1] his mother, in India. A year after his birth, the family moved from Israel to London and then, in 1966, to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. George is the youngest of four siblings.
He attended an all-boys school in London but made the switch to a public co-ed high school when the family moved to Toronto. He attended the University of Toronto, where he was active in the University's theatre productions. George left before graduation and formed a theatre group; unsuccessful, he moved on to join the Second City, where he trained with John Candy, among others.
Career
Television, voiceover and film work
George appeared as a United Nations secretary on Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, as Julian Bashir's father in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" and on a recurring basis as Raj's father in The Big Bang Theory. In 2006, he landed a recurring role as Sasan's father Omid in So NoTORIous. George also did the voice of Bob Fish in the last two series of Bob and Margaret.
He had appeared on numerous other sitcoms including Seinfeld, where he appeared in three episodes as Babu Bhatt, an immigrant who is deported to Pakistan because of Elaine Benes' failure to give Jerry Seinfeld his mail in time, which contained Babu's visa application. He returned in the series finale.[2] He also appeared in two episodes of Ellen as Ranjit, a member of the book club that gathered in Ellen's book shop.
He had a recurring role as newsman "Hugh Persons" on Doctor, Doctor during the series' second season.
He made a one-time guest appearance in Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda in the first season as Wayist religious leader Vikram Singh Khalsa. This was developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe who worked on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appeared in One Tree Hill as Brooke's taxi driver when she went to launch her clothes in New York.
He has also done voiceover work in animated shows such as Batman: The Animated Series (as musician turned gangster Jimmy "The Jazzman" Peake); Handy Manny; Kim Possible playing antagonist Duff Killigan, a Scotsman who uses exploding golf balls when attacking Kim and Ron Stoppable, Kim's sidekick; Avatar: The Last Airbender as Guru Pathik; Batman Beyond; Justice League (voicing Parasite (in a style similar to the first voice actor of Parasite), Morgan Edge and President George W. Bush), MASK, Invader Zim, and Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi in Season 2 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He has also appeared in video games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate, Ultimate Spider-Man, Mass Effect 3, Everquest II and Final Fantasy XIV. Early in his acting career, he was among the cast of 1985's The Care Bears Movie and made guest appearances in the Canadian television series The Edison Twins, The Littlest Hobo, Comedy Factory and King of Kensington.
He also took over the voice of Bob Fish in the Anglo-Canadian animated comedy series Bob and Margaret and The Inspector in the 1993 revival series of The Pink Panther. He played a guru in the film Inspector Gadget where he is training with Inspector Gadget to control his gadgets and tells him to grab two balls with his expanding arm and Gadget does so, but instead, he accidentally grips the guru's testicles causing him to get a high-pitched voice. He is then hospitalised.
He also made a small guest appearance in the second season of The Mentalist in episode 16 entitled "Code Red" where he played a professor working at the Northern California Technology Institute. His most recent appearances include the role of Mr. Pashmutt on Desperate Housewives (in the 2005 episode "You Could Drive a Person Crazy"), Ali on American Dad! (in the 2005 episode "Stan of Arabia: Part 2") and Captain Barbossa in Kingdom Hearts II and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. He also appeared on The 4400 in the third-season episode "The Starzl Mutation". Also appeared in the St. Valentine's Day episode of Grey's Anatomy as a carrier waiter in love with another patient, but ends up dying of complications towards the end of the episode.
He also voiced Sahin the Falcon and Stuart Black in Age of Empires III and is also the voice of Fareed "Freddie" Abdul Salaam (a taxi driver and informant) in the game True Crime: New York City. He plays a short tempered convenience store owner in the 2001 film Ghost World. He also plays the role of "Iqbal" in the 2006 film Employee of the Month.
He played "Pushpop", an Indian ice cream vendor, in the 2001 film Bubble Boy. He also played the culturally diverse (Sikh-Catholic-Muslim mix with Jewish in-laws) bartender who counselled the priest played by Edward Norton through a crisis of faith in the 2000 film Keeping the Faith. In the 2008 indie romantic comedy Shades of Ray, he played the overbearing Pakistani father to a half-Pakistani, half-Caucasian (Zachary Levi) in the midst of questioning his prior policy of only dating white women.
He also was the foster father of Ricky in the television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
In The Penguins of Madagascar, Brian guest stars as the zoo doctor in "Needle Point", "I Was a Penguin Zombie", "Operation: Cooties", "Love Hurts", and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Goes Insane".
He also appeared on Disney Channel show That's So Raven as Dr. Sleevemore, a "psychic doctor" who treats Raven's vision-related problems. He appeared in 2 episodes. In the season 1 episode "Saving Psychic Raven", Raven starts attending his "Institute for Psychic Research", meeting other teenage psychics. Raven decides not to go back to there at the end of the episode after an ongoing feud between the psychics and Raven's friends. Dr. Sleevemore is neither seen nor mentioned again until the season 3 episode "Vision Impossible".
He also appeared on the Disney Channel show Phineas and Ferb on the hour long special "Summer Belongs To You" as Uncle Sabu, voiced Mr. Kumar on the Disney Junior show Handy Manny, and voiced a character on the Disney Channel show Mickey Mouse.
He regularly voiced several characters on DC Nation's Green Lantern: The Animated Series, including Appa Ali Apsa, LANOS, and Brother Warth.
He also appeared in the first episode of Beware the Batman, "Hunted", as the villain Professor Pyg, and in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time as Sly's ancestor, Salim Al-Kupar.
In 2013, George took up a recurring role in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as an unnamed prisoner who is later revealed to be the Sultan of Agrabah and father of the show's principal antagonist: Jafar.[3]
He guest starred in SpongeBob SquarePants in the episode "Drive Happy" as Coupe.
He also had a featured role in the Uttera Singh-directed comedy short film Fanny Pack.
After 12 years, he reprised his role as Doctor Sleevmore in the That's So Raven spin-off Raven's Home for a three episode special.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Care Bears Movie | Mr. Fetuccini, additional voices | Voice |
| 1987 | Roxanne | Doctor | |
| 1989 | Speed Zone | Valentino Rosatti | |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Dungeon Maitre'D | |
| 1994 | Pom Poko | Kincho Daimyoujin the Sixth / Yashimano Hage | 2005 English Dub |
| 1997 | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | UN Secretary | |
| 1998 | Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero | Additional Voices | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | Inspector Gadget | Sore Guru | |
| 2000 | The Prime Gig | Nasser | |
| 2000 | Keeping the Faith | Paulie Chopra | |
| 2001 | Ghost World | Convenience Store Owner | |
| 2001 | Bubble Boy | Push Pop | |
| 2006 | Crumbs | Dry Cleaner | |
| 2006 | Employee of the Month | Iqbal Raji | |
| 2008 | Batman: Gotham Knight | O'Fallon / Arman / Scruffy Man | Voice Direct-to-video |
| 2009 | Superman/Batman: Public Enemies | Gorilla Grodd | Voice Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Batman: Under the Red Hood | Ra's al Ghul Assistant | Voice Direct-to-video |
| 2012 | Justice League: Doom | Mayor | Voice Direct-to-video |
| 2012 | Hotel Transylvania | Suit of Armor | Voice |
| 2012 | Delhi Safari | Bat | English Dub |
| 2014 | Batman: Strange Days | Dr. Hugo Strange | Voice Short Uncredited |
| 2014 | Postman Pat: The Movie | Ajay Baines | Voice |
| 2014 | The Boxtrolls | Boulanger | Voice |
| 2014 | Beethoven's Treasure Tail | Trentino | |
| 2016 | Batman: The Killing Joke | Alfred Pennyworth | Voice |
| 2019 | Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Alfred Pennyworth | Voice |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–1986 | The Edison Twins | Sgt. Paganee | 13 episodes |
| 1991 | Married... with Children | Chef | Episode: "Look Who's Barking" |
| 1991–1998 | Seinfeld | Babu Bhatt | 3 episodes |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Ben | Episode: "Moments to Live – May 4, 1985" |
| 1992–1993 | Super Dave | Additional Voices | Unknown |
| 1992–1993 | Coach | Rami | 3 episodes |
| 1993 | The Nanny | Butler Inspector #2 | Episode: "The Butler, the Husband, the Wife and Her Mother" |
| 1994 | Melrose Place | Client | Episode: "Love, Mancini Style" |
| 1994 | Blossom | Shakir | Episode: "Oh, Baby" |
| 1994–1996 | Weird Science | Mr. Palate | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | Ellen | Ranjit | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Misha | Episode: "The Family Hour" |
| 1997 | Caroline in the City | Mr. Tedescu | |
| 1997 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Richard Bashir | Episode: "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?" |
| 2000 | The X-Files | Project Doctor | Episode: "The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati" |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Voyager | Ambassador O'Zaal | Episode: "Drive" |
| 2001 | The Chris Isaak Show | Dr. Ramu Banerjee | |
| 2003–2006 | That's So Raven | Dr. Sleevemore | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Two and a Half Men | TV Narrator | Episode: "Those Big Pink Things with Coconut" |
| 2006 | One Tree Hill | Dauod | Episode: "All Tomorrow's Parties" |
| 2007 | NCIS | Dr. Ameen Temani | Episode: "Trojan Horse" |
| 2007–2019 | The Big Bang Theory | Dr. V.M. Koothrappali | 14 episodes |
| 2007 | The 4400 | Claudio Borghi | Episode: "The Starzi Mutation" |
| 2008–2013 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Dr. Shakur | 14 episodes |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Professor | Episode: "Code Red" |
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time in Wonderland | Old Prisoner / Sultan | 10 episodes |
| 2013 | Dog with a Blog | Monty Cathcart | Episode: "A New Baby?" |
| 2015 | Elementary | Santhosh | 2 episodes |
| 2015-2017 | The Expanse | Arjun Avasarala | Michael Benyaer recast for the role in 2019 |
| 2017 | The Orville | Dr. Aronov | Episode: "Old Wounds" |
| 2017 | New Girl[4] | Uncle Naseer | Episode: "The Hike" |
| 2018 | The Resident | Tejan Prevash | Episode: "Family Affair" |
| 2018 | Raven's Home | Dr. Sleevemore | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | I Feel Bad | Sonny Kamala | Main role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Jazzman | Episode: "I Am the Night" |
| 1993–1995 | The Pink Panther | Inspector | 6 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Freakazoid! | Warden Riba / Mr. Snarzetti | 2 Episodes |
| 1996 | Superman: The Animated Series | Kryptonian Councilman, Eugene | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist | Fagin, Narrator | credited as Bob MacGarva |
| 1998 | Walter Melon | Walter Melon | Main role; credited as Richard Bell |
| 1999–2001 | Batman Beyond | Samir, Police Lieutenant, Jace, Dr. Pandu Banjahri | 4 episodes |
| 1999-2001 | Mike, Lu & Og | Haggis Cuzzlewit, Captain | |
| 2000–2001 | Bob and Margaret | Bob Fish | Season 3 and Season 4 only |
| 2001–2004 | Lloyd in Space | Station | 23 Episodes |
| 2001–2004 | Justice League | Forian, Parasite, Morgan Edge, President in Justice Lords' universe | 3 episodes |
| 2002–2007 | Kim Possible | Duff Killigan, Professor Ramesh | 14 Episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Guru Pathik | 4 Episodes |
| 2008–2009 | The Spectacular Spider-Man | Aaron Warren, Miles Warren | 7 Episodes |
| 2008–2014 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | King Katuunko, Chi Cho, Ki-Adi-Mundi | |
| 2009–2011 | The Penguins of Madagascar | Zoo Doctor | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | Phineas and Ferb | Uncle Sabu | 2 Episodes |
| 2010 | Handy Manny | Mr. Kumar | |
| 2011–2013 | Green Lantern: The Animated Series | Appa Ali Apsa, Brother Warth, LANOS | 13 Episodes |
| 2014 | Shazam! | Mr. Tawky Tawny / Solomon | 2 Episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Beware the Batman | Professor Pyg, Liam Taylor | 4 Episodes |
| 2015 | Guardians of the Galaxy | Pyko | Episode: "We Are Family" |
| 2016 | Steven Universe | Mr. Frowney | Episode: "Future Boy Zoltron" |
| 2016–2017 | Pickle and Peanut | Pickle's Dad / Additional Voices | 4 Episodes |
| 2018 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Coupe | Episode: "Drive Happy" |
| 2018 | Big City Greens | Doctor | Episode: "Cricketsitter" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Blazing Dragons | Simple Underachieving Peasant | Voice |
| 1998 | Baldur's Gate | Belt, Coran, Oublek | Voice |
| 2000 | Diablo II | Gheed, Drognan, Alkor | Voice |
| 2000 | Invictus: In the Shadow of Olympus | Voice | |
| 2001 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | Ghoul Merchant Hieronymus, Chief Scientist DuBois, Tesla Robot, Service Robot | Voice |
| 2001 | Return to Castle Wolfenstein | Egyptian No. 2, Prologue German No. 2 (PS2 version) | Voice |
| 2001 | Tarzan Untamed | Professor Porter | Voice |
| 2002 | Forgotten Realms: Icewind Dale II | Voice | |
| 2002 | Superman: Shadow of Apokolips | Parasite | Voice |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Dead on the Money | Saheed Singh | Voice |
| 2003 | Command & Conquer: Generals | Voice | |
| 2003 | Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader | Voice | |
| 2003 | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | Master Zhar Lestin, Mysterious Man, Eli Gand, Sith Interrogator, Czerka Officer | Voice |
| 2003 | Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour | Voice | |
| 2003 | The Hobbit | Voice | |
| 2003 | Medal of Honor: Rising Sun | Pvt. Battersby, Sgt. Gupta | Voice |
| 2003 | Armed & Dangerous | Roman | Voice |
| 2004 | Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel | Ghoul Merchant, Chief Scientist, Tesla, Service Robot | Voice |
| 2004 | Ground Control II: Operation Exodus | Centurion Cezarus | Voice |
| 2004 | The Bard's Tale | Voice | |
| 2004 | EverQuest II | Garion Dunam, Scribe Varion Smitelin, Armsdealer Barrik | Voice |
| 2004 | GoldenEye: Rogue Agent | Voice | |
| 2004 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth | King Théoden | Voice |
| 2005 | Medal of Honor: European Assault | Additional voices | Voice |
| 2005 | Rainbow Six: Lockdown | Voice | |
| 2005 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Shocker, Adrian Toomes | Voice |
| 2005 | Age of Empires III | Sahin Stuart Black |
Voice |
| 2005 | True Crime: New York City | Fareed 'Freddie the Cabbie' Abdul Salaam | Voice |
| 2006 | Kingdom Hearts II | Captain Hector Barbossa | Voice |
| 2006 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II | King Théoden | Voice |
| 2006 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow | Barbossa, Fort Guard, Captured Pirate No. 5 | Voice |
| 2006 | Cars | Piston Cup Racers | Voice |
| 2006 | The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king | King Théoden | Voice |
| 2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | Captain Hector Barbossa | Voice |
| 2007 | Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties | Colonel George Edwardson | Voice |
| 2007 | Mass Effect | Rear Admiral Kahoku, Chairman Burns, Dr. Saleon, Dr. Wayne, Rogue Al, Samesh Bhatia, businessman, Elcor Diplomat, Refugee, Salarian Soldier, Turian Customer | Voice |
| 2007 | Cars: Mater-National | Fillmore | Voice |
| 2008 | Tom Clancy's Endwar | Voice | |
| 2009 | The Lord of the Rings: Conquest | Théoden, Elven Officer No. 2, Old Male Hobbit | Voice |
| 2009 | Night at the Museum: Battle of Smithsonian | Napoleon Bonaparte, Guard No. 2 | Voice |
| 2009 | Dragon Age: Origins | Knight-Commander Greagoir, Ser Otto, Bann Sighard, Blood Mage Leader, Howe Estate Guard, How Estate Craftsman | Voice |
| 2010 | Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight | Additional voices | Voice |
| 2010 | The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest | King Théoden, Barliman Butterbur | Voice |
| 2010 | Final Fantasy XIV | Voice | |
| 2011 | Dragon Age II | Larius – Legacy DLC | Voice |
| 2011 | Star Wars: The Old Republic | Devotek, Additional voices | Voice |
| 2012 | Mass Effect 3 | General Oleg Petrovsky – Omega DLC | Voice |
| 2012 | Diablo III | Abd al-Hazir | Voice |
| 2012 | Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | Voice | |
| 2012 | Kinect Fun Labs: Kinect Rush - A Disney Pixar Adventures: Snapshot | Mr. Pricklepants | Voice |
| 2013 | Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time | Salim Al-Kupar, Panther, Tiger | Voice |
| 2013 | Disney Infinity | Captain Hector Barbossa | Voice |
| 2013 | DuckTales Remastered | Flintheart Glomgold | Voice |
| 2014 | Diablo III: Reaper of Souls | Abd al-Hazir | Voice |
| 2014 | Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes | Captain Hector Barbossa | Voice |
| 2014 | Skylanders: Trap Team | Bernie | Voice |
| 2014 | Far Cry 4 | Additional Voices | Voice |
| 2014 | Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series | Ser Royland Degore Tazal |
Voice |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | Hector Barbossa | Voice[5] |
| 2016 | World of Warcraft: Legion | Lord Jorach Ravenholdt | Voice[6] |
| 2018 | Lego DC Super-Villains | Ganthet | Voice |
| 2019 | Kingdom Hearts III | Hector Barbossa | Voice |
References
- "Did You Know That BABU From Seinfeld Was Born In…". 16 October 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- "Brian George talks about 'Seinfeld' and his long career". From the Grapevine. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland 1.07 Review: "Bad Blood". tvovermind.com. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- "New Girl" The Hike (TV Episode 2017), retrieved 10 July 2018
- Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
- BLIZZCON 2016 Voice Actor Stage – World of Warcraft – Your Class, Your Champions.
External links
- Brian George on IMDb
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