Ali Momen
{{unreliable sources|date=August 2024}}
{{Short description|Iranian-Canadian actor and singer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ali Momen
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| alma_mater = Sheridan College
| occupation = Actor, singer
| years_active = 2008–present
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Ali Momen is an Iranian-Canadian actor and singer. He starred in the 2015 film Beeba Boys, and has appeared in several television shows including recurring roles on Star Trek: Discovery, Workin' Moms, and Transplant. Momen also originated the role of Kevin J./Ali and others in the Canadian production of Come from Away.
Early life
Momen was born in Iran, but moved to Canada with his family when he was three years old.{{cite web |last1=Levy |first1=Joel |title=Come From Away's Ali Momen is getting into politics |url=https://torontoguardian.com/2021/03/come-from-away-ali-momen-politics/ |website=Toronto Guardian |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=25 March 2021}} He grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, where he attended Thornlea Secondary School.{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Steve |title=Thornhill's Ali Momen stars in Beeba Boys, opening this weekend |url=https://streetsoftoronto.com/thornhills-ali-momen-stars-in-beeba-boys-opening-this-weekend/ |website=Streets of Toronto |access-date=27 March 2024 |date=15 October 2015}} Momen originally enrolled at and attended York University to pursue law, but dropped out after two years. He enrolled in the musical theatre program at Sheridan College, where he graduated in 2006.
Career
=Television and film=
In 2008, Momen had his first film role when he portrayed a suicide bomber in the film Traitor, which starred Don Cheadle. In a later interview, Momen appreciated the opportunity but admitted that he regrets taking the role because of how it contributes to the over-representation of Muslims as violent and as perpetrators of terrorism.{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Jackson |title=The fight for Muslim representation in Hollywood — and the danger of falling behind |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/muslim-representation-hollywood-media-1.6072136 |website=CBC |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=19 June 2021}} Since then, Momen has starred in various television and film roles, including recurring roles on Star Trek: Discovery, the CBC comedy Workin' Moms, and the CTV drama Transplant.
In 2020, Momen stated that he was writing a film based on the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.{{cite web |last1=Szekeres |first1=Joe |title='The Self Isolated Artist Series': Ali Momen |url=https://www.onstageblog.com/profiles/ali-momen |website=OnStage Blog |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=26 August 2020}}
=Theatre=
In 2014, Momen starred as Prakash in a production of Sultans of the Street presented by Young People's Theatre in Toronto. For his performance, Momen was nominated for a Dora Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in the Theatre for Young Audiences division.{{cite web |last1=Rostas |first1=Daniel |title=Announcement: 2014 Dora Mavor Moore Awards Nominees |url=https://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2014/06/02/announcement-2014-dora-mavor-moore-awards-nominees-with-links-to-mot-reviews/ |website=Mooney on Theatre |access-date=28 April 2024 |date=2 June 2014}}
Momen starred as Abe in the Canadian premiere production of Disgraced, which played at the Panasonic Theatre between April 3 and 24, 2016. The drama set a box office record for the theatre, having been seen by over 10,000 patrons during its run.{{cite web |title=Disgraced Sets Box Office Record at Toronto's Panasonic Theatre |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/DISGRACED-Sets-Box-Office-Record-at-Torontos-Panasonic-Theatre-20160421 |website=Broadway World |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=21 April 2016}} Momen then transferred with the play to the Citadel Theatre, where it played between January 21 and February 12, 2017.{{cite web |title=Disgraced (Mirvish Productions) |url=https://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2017/11/18/review-disgraced-hope-hell-theatre-co-mirvish-productions/ |website=Mooney on Theatre |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=18 November 2017}} Momen later reprised his role when Disgraced returned to the Pansaonic Theatre in November 2017 due to popular demand.
In 2017, Momen appeared in the world premiere production of Monsoon Wedding.{{cite web |last1=Cristi |first1=A..A. |title=Berkeley Rep Announces Casting of Monsoon Wedding |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/Berkeley-Rep-Announces-Casting-of-MONSOON-WEDDING-20170125 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=17 April 2024 |date=25 January 2017}} The musical, produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre, was performed between May 5 and June 25, 2017.
Beginning in 2018, Momen portrayed the role of Kevin J., Ali and others in the Canadian production of Come from Away.{{cite web |last1=Gans |first1=Andrew |title=Canadian Production of Come From Away Begins in Winnipeg January 4 |url=https://playbill.com/article/canadian-production-of-come-from-away-begins-in-winnipeg-january-4 |website=Playbill |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=4 January 2018}} The musical opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in February 2018, and he remained with the production until performances were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to the show when performances resumed in December 2021, until Mirvish Productions announced they were forced to permanently close the show because of the lack of government support for the arts industry following the lockdowns.{{cite web |last1=Rocca |first1=Ryan |title='Come From Away' permanently closes in Toronto |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8476051/come-from-away-permanently-closes-in-toronto/ |website=Global News |access-date=10 May 2022 |date=27 December 2021}} After this, Momen reprised his role of Kevin J., Ali, and others during the North American tour of Come from Away in 2022, as well as at a special concert staging of the musical in Gander.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Margaret |title=Petrina Bromley, Clint Butler, Kate Etienne, and More Cast in Come From Away: The Concert |url=https://playbill.com/article/petrina-bromley-clint-butler-kate-etienne-and-more-cast-in-come-from-away-the-concert |website=Playbill |access-date=28 June 2024 |date=2 September 2022}}
Momen will reprise his role of Kevin J., Ali and others in the Canadian revival production of Come from Away.{{cite web |last1=Chong |first1=Joshua |title='Come From Away' announces casting for Toronto run at Royal Alexandra Theatre |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/come-from-away-announces-casting-for-toronto-run-at-royal-alexandra-theatre/article_ae620234-1e90-11ef-afb4-e71011d88656.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=28 June 2024 |date=4 June 2024}} The musical will play at the Babs Asper Theatre in Ottawa between August 14 and September 1, 2024, before transferring to the Royal Alexandra Theatre where it will begin performances on September 22, 2024.
=Business=
Momen co-founded the dating app Bokay, which was officially launched in March 2024.{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Phoebe |title=Someone in Toronto has created a dating app that's basically Love Is Blind |url=https://www.blogto.com/tech/2024/03/toronto-dating-app-love-is-blind-bokay/ |website=BlogTO |access-date=27 March 2024 |date=18 March 2024}} Loosely inspired by the premise of Love Is Blind, Bokay users are instead required to get to know each other through a series of personality-revealing prompts before finally seeing photos of each other. In June 2024, "Juno" was launched as part of the app, which is an AI relationship coach that supports users on Bokay.{{cite web |title=Dating App Bokay Launches First Ever Built-In Relationship Coach 'Juno' |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/dating-app-bokay-launches-first-130000484.html |website=Yahoo Finance |access-date=28 June 2024 |date=5 June 2024}}
Activism
In 2020, Momen began advocating for an "Arts New Deal", an initiative aimed at revitalizing the arts sector in Canada that has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title='Come From Away's Ali Momen pushing for funding to get Canadian artists back to work |url=https://more.ctv.ca/your-morning/news/come-from-aways-ali-momen-pushing-for-funding-to-get-canadian-artist-back-to-work.html |website=CTV |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=30 July 2020}} Inspired by how President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported arts and culture workers during the Great Depression, Momen advocates for the Canadian government to pay artists to produce various types of work.{{cite web |last1=Fricker |first1=Karen |last2=Maga |first2=Carly |title=After Come From Away's cast and crew left the stage, they found new roles in a pandemic |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/after-come-from-away-s-cast-and-crew-left-the-stage-they-found-new-roles/article_967bcfba-c287-5205-9bbc-198c3017202a.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=12 August 2020}} Momen advocates for embedding art into all aspects of Canadian society, with a goal of promoting cultural growth and economic recovery through a more integrated and supported arts community.{{cite web |title='Come from Away' star Ali Momen's new project |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/7234347/come-from-away-star-ali-momens-new-project |website=Global News |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=30 July 2020}}
In 2021, Momen announced that he would be seeking the Liberal nomination in the provincial riding of Toronto-St. Paul's. However, he lost the nomination race to Dr. Nathan Stall.{{cite web |last1=Nanji |first1=Sabrina |title=Scoop: Paging Dr. Stall to St. Paul's |url=https://qpobserver.ca/p/paging-dr-stall-to-st-pauls |website=Queen's Park Observer |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=3 August 2021}}
Credits
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Show !Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| Ahmed | Episode S1.E8: "Enemy Contact" |
| 2010
| Baldev | Episode S1.E16: "How to Make the Most Out of Being a Host" |
| 2011
| Khan Saour | Episode S1.E5: "Hells Bells" |
| 2012
| Navid | 4 episodes |
| 2012
| Saudi Air Traffic Controller | Episode S11.E9: "Under Pressure" |
| 2013
| Rick Carga | Episode S1.E9: "Cherry Blossoms" |
| 2013
| Douchebag #1 | Episode S1.E7: "Janet" |
| 2014
| Pardeep | Recurring role: 3 episodes |
| 2014
| Dr. William Lester | 2 episodes: S1.E2: "The Box"; S1.E3: "Gone Smooth" |
| 2016
| Rustom Avari | Episode S1.E9: "Necromanteion" |
| 2016
| Handsome Customer | Episode S1.E13: "Family Singing Contest" |
| 2017
| Mr. Tahan | Episode S1.E8: "Operational Realignment" |
| 2017
|Save Me | Plaid Shirt #2 | Episode S1.E7: "Injuries Due to Distracted Walking" |
| 2017
|Played | Matthew | Episode S1.E7: "Ghosts" |
| 2017–2019
| Specialist Kamran Gant | Recurring role: 5 episodes |
| 2021
| Yash | Episode S3.E5: "Back to the Future" |
| 2021
| Raja Khanna | Episode S2.E8: "Best Day Ever" |
| 2021–2024
| David Aziz | 2 episodes: S4.E5: "Rex to Riches"; S6.E8: "Doghouse" |
| 2022–2023
| Walker | Recurring role: 8 episodes |
| 2022–2024
| Dr. Karim Esfahani | Recurring role: 9 episodes |
| 2023
| Principal Sam Canosa | Episode S1.E1: "Scott's Story" |
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title !Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| Suicide Bomber #3 | |
| 2013
| Shaun | Uncredited |
| 2015
|Drift | Nadim | Short film |
| 2015
| Nep | |
| 2021
| Additional voices | Voice role |
| 2022
| Behrooz | |
= Theater =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Production !Role !Location !Category !{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| 2008
| Greenwich Villager / Cadet | Festival Theatre | Regional / Shaw Festival | |
| 2010
| Viscount de Nanjac | Festival Theatre | Regional / Shaw Festival | |
| 2010
| Zackerman | Studio Theatre | Regional / Shaw Festival | |
| 2012
| Demetrius | High Park Amphitheatre | Regional / Canadian Stage Company | |
| 2014
|Sultans of the Street | Prakash | Susan Rubes Theatre | Regional / Young People's Theatre | |
| 2016
| rowspan="3"|Disgraced | rowspan="3"| Abe |
| rowspan="2"| 2017
| Regional / Hope and Hell Theatre Company | |
| CAA Theatre
| |
| 2017
|Monsoon Wedding | Vikram | World premiere |
| 2018
| rowspan="6"|Come from Away | rowspan="6"| Kevin Jung, Ali, and others |Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre |Pre-Toronto engagement |
| 2018-2020, 2021
|Canadian production / Mirvish Productions |{{cite web |last1=Szekeres |first1=Joe |title=Toronto Company of 'Come From Away' returns to the Royal Alexandra Theatre |url=https://www.onstageblog.com/onstage-blog-news/2021/11/2/toronto-company-of-come-from-away-returns-to-the-royal-alexandra-theatre |website=OnStage Blog |access-date=18 March 2024 |date=2 November 2021}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2022
| colspan="2"|First National Tour |
| Steele Community Centre
|Concert staging: Gander |
| 2024
| Babs Asper Theatre | Pre-Toronto engagement: Ottawa |
| 2024–2025
|Canadian production / Mirvish Productions |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=3106534}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Momen, Ali}}
Category:Canadian male musical theatre actors
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)