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American actress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Soomekh | |
---|---|
بهار سومخ | |
Born | Tehran, Iran | March 30, 1975
Education | University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. 1997) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2002–2014 |
Notable credit(s) | Crash, Saw franchise |
Spouse |
Clayton Frech (m. 2001) |
Children | 3, including Ezra Frech |
Relatives | Saba Soomekh (sister) |
Website | labahar |
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 Mission: Impossible III. 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 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 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 without most of his left leg (missing a knee and fibula) and missing fingers on his left hand. He was a double gold medalist at the 2024 Summer Paralympics[10] and was named as a finalist for the 2014 Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year.[11][12][13]
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 | |
Mission: Impossible III | 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" |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 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" |
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