Brian George
{{Short description|British actor (born 1952)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brian George
| image = Brian George CFC (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = George at the 2011 Canadian Film Centre
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|7|27|df=yes}}{{cite book |last1=Nigro |first1=Nicholas |title=Seinfeld: Everything Left to Know About the Show About Nothing |date=2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781495035364 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNCGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT237 |access-date=April 23, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Brian George |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/70056%7C0/Brian-George |website=Turner Classic Movies |access-date=April 23, 2022}}
| birth_place = Nahariya, Israel
| alma_mater = University of Toronto
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1984–present
}}
Brian George (born 27 July 1952) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Pakistani restaurateur Babu Bhatt in Seinfeld (1989–1998), the Indian gynecologist father of Raj Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019), the voice of Chutney in Father of the Pride (2004–2005), and spiritual guide Guru Pathik in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008).
Early life
George was born on 27 July 1952 in Nahariya, Israel, to Jewish parents of Indian and Iraqi descent,{{cite news|last=Hughes|first=Mike|date=26 September 2018|title=Familiar voice plays dad on 'I Feel Bad'|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/entertainment/television/2018/09/26/familar-voice-plays-dad-feel-bad/37844317/|work=Lansing State Journal|access-date=3 April 2023}} who immigrated to Israel. His father was born in Iraq and grew up in Bombay, India, in a multi-religious family, with his half-sister being Muslim.{{cite web |date=16 October 2013 |title=Did You Know That BABU From Seinfeld Was Born In… |url=https://www.jewsnews.co.il/2013/10/16/did-you-know-that-babu-from-seinfeld-was-born-in.html |access-date=18 May 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite web | url=https://dctheaterarts.org/2017/11/30/interview-brian-george-seinfeld-big-bang-theory-discusses-vicuna-american-epilogue-mosaic-theater-company/ | title=Interview: Beyond 'Seinfeld,' Brian George Moves from Sitcom to Stage in 'Vicuña' at Mosaic Theater Company of DC | date=30 November 2017 }} His mother was born 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.
George 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 theatre productions. He left before graduation and formed a theatre group. When it failed to succeed, he moved on to join The Second City, where he trained with John Candy, among others.
Career
George appeared as a United Nations secretary in 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. He also provided the voice of Bob Fish in the last two series of Bob and Margaret.
He appeared on numerous other sitcoms, including three episodes of Seinfeld as Pakistani immigrant Babu Bhatt, who is deported to Pakistan when Elaine Benes fails to give Jerry Seinfeld his mail, which contains Babu's visa application, in time. George returned in the series' finale.{{cite web|title=Brian George talks about 'Seinfeld' and his long career|url=http://www.fromthegrapevine.com/arts/brian-george-talks-about-seinfeld-and-his-long-career-character-actor|website=From the Grapevine|access-date=27 September 2016}} He also appeared in two episodes of Ellen as Ranjit, a member of the book club that gathers in Ellen's book shop.
He had a recurring role as newsman Hugh Persons on Doctor, Doctor during its second season.
He made a guest appearance in the first season of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda as Wayist religious leader Vikram Singh Khalsa. He also appeared in One Tree Hill as Brooke's taxi driver when she goes to launch her clothes line in New York.
George has done voiceover work in animated shows such as Batman: The Animated Series (as musician turned gangster Jimmy "The Jazzman" Peake); Handy Manny; Kim Possible as 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, Brion James), 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 Pugg in the 1993 revival series of The Pink Panther. He played a guru in the film Inspector Gadget who trains with Inspector Gadget.
He also made a small guest appearance in the second season of The Mentalist in episode 16 entitled "Code Red". He played a professor working at the Northern California Technology Institute.
His other appearances include the role of Mr. Pashmutt on Desperate Housewives (in the 2005 episode "You Could Drive a Person Crazy") and Ali on American Dad! (in the 2005 episode "Stan of Arabia: Part 2"). 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.
He also voiced Sahin the Falcon, Stuart Black and Colonel Edwardson in the Age of Empires III series. 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 also voiced Captain Barbossa in the video game Kingdom Hearts II, a role he would reprise in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Disney Infinity, and Kingdom Hearts III.
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, George 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.
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.
George 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 Beware the Batman 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 Jafar.{{cite web|title=Once Upon a Time in Wonderland 1.07 Review: "Bad Blood|url=http://www.tvovermind.com/once-upon-a-time-in-wonderland/upon-time-wonderland-1-07-review-bad-blood|publisher=tvovermind.com|access-date=27 September 2016|date=7 December 2013}}
He guest starred in SpongeBob SquarePants in the episode "Drive Happy" as Coupe, an arrogant and sarcastic sentient car that SpongeBob buys.
He also had a featured role in the Uttera Singh-directed comedy short film Fanny Pack.
George reprised his role as Doctor Sleevmore in the That's So Raven spin-off Raven's Home for a three episode special.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 1985
|Mr. Fetuccini, additional voices |Voice |
| 1987
|Doctor | |
| 1989
|Valentino Rosatti | |
| 1993
|Dungeon Maitre'D | |
| 1994 |
| 1997
|Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery |UN Secretary | |
| 1998
|Additional voices |Direct-to-video |
| 1999
|Sore Guru | |
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Nasser | |
| Keeping the Faith
|Paulie Chopra | |
| rowspan="2" |2001
|Sidewinder Boss | |
| Bubble Boy
|Push Pop | |
| rowspan="2" | 2006
|Crumbs |Dry Cleaner | |
| Employee of the Month
| Iqbal Raji | |
| 2008
|O'Fallon, Arman, Scruffy Man |
| 2009 |
| 2010
|Ra's al Ghul Assistant |
| rowspan="3" |2012
|Mayor |
| Hotel Transylvania
|Suit of Armor |
| Delhi Safari
|Bat |
| rowspan="4" |2014
| Dr. Hugo Strange |Voice, short; uncredited |
| Postman Pat: The Movie
|Ajay Baines |
| The Boxtrolls
|Boulanger |
| Beethoven's Treasure Tail
|Trentino | |
| 2016
| rowspan="3" |Alfred Pennyworth |
| 2019 |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham{{cite news |author=Couch |first=Aaron |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/batman-the-doom-that-came-to-gotham-cast-1235275547/ |access-date=December 19, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} |
| Merry Little Batman
|Voice; direct-to-streaming film{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=November 19, 2023 |title=Trailer: Merry Little Batman Brings a Lighter Dark Knight Tale to Prime Video |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/11/trailer-merry-little-batman-brings-a-lighter-dark-knight-tale-to-prime-video/ |access-date=November 20, 2023 |language=en-US}} |
| 2025
|The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep |Barkeep, Herald |
=Television=
==Live-action performances==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 1984–1986
|Sgt. Paganee |13 episodes |
| 1991
|Chef |Episode: "Look Who's Barking" |
| 1991–1998
|Babu Bhatt |3 episodes |
| 1992
|Ben |Episode: "Moments to Live" |
| rowspan="2" |1992–1993
|Additional Voices |Unknown |
| Coach
|Rami |3 episodes |
| 1993
|Arthur Prabnanda |Episode: "The Jaws of Life" |
| 1993
|Butler Inspector #2 |Episode: "The Butler, the Husband, the Wife and Her Mother" |
| rowspan="2" |1994
|Client |Episode: "Love, Mancini Style" |
| Blossom
| Shakir | Episode: "Oh, Baby" |
| 1994
|Dean of Admission |Episode: "My Bodyguard" |
| 1994–1996
|Mr. Palate |6 episodes |
| 1995
|Ranjit |2 episodes |
| rowspan="4" |1997
|Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman |Misha |Episode: "The Family Hour" |
| Caroline in the City
|Mr. Tedescu | |
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
|Richard Bashir |Episode: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" |
| Boy Meets World
|Eduardo |Episode: "Chasing Angela" |
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Project Doctor |Episode: "The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati" |
| Star Trek: Voyager
|Ambassador O'Zaal |Episode: "Drive" |
| 2001
|Dr. Ramu Banerjee | |
| 2003–2006
|Dr. Sleevemore | 2 episodes |
| 2005
|TV Narrator |Episode: "Those Big Pink Things with Coconut" |
| 2006
|Dauod |Episode: "All Tomorrow's Parties" |
| 2007
|NCIS |Dr. Ameen Temani |Episode: "Trojan Horse" |
| 2007–2019
|14 episodes |
| 2007
|Claudio Borghi |Episode: "The Starzi Mutation" |
| 2008
|Sanjay Ramanujan |Episode: "Pay to Play" |
| 2008–2013
|The Secret Life of the American Teenager |Dr. Shakur |14 episodes |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|Emile Flores |Episode: "Valentine's Day Massacre" |
| The Mentalist
|Professor |Episode: "Code Red" |
| rowspan="2" |2012
|Titi's Dad |
| NCIS: Los Angeles
|Indian Restaurant Manager |Episode: "Skip Deep" |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|Once Upon a Time in Wonderland |Old Prisoner, Sultan |10 episodes |
| Dog with a Blog
|Monty Cathcart |Episode: "A New Baby?" |
| 2015
|Santhosh |2 episodes |
| 2015–2017, 2022
|Arjun Avasarala | Michael Benyaer recast for the role in 2019; reprised the role in a voice cameo in a 2022 episode |
| rowspan="3" |2017
|Dr. Aronov |Episode: "Old Wounds" |
| New Girl
|Uncle Naseer |Episode: "The Hike" |
| Prison Break
|Judge |Episode: "The Prisoner's Dilemma" |
| rowspan="3" |2018
|Tejan Pravesh |4 episodes |
| Raven's Home
|Dr. Sleevemore |3 episodes |
| I Feel Bad
|Sonny Kamala |Main role |
| 2022
|Dr. Simmons |2 episodes |
| 2025
|Ahmad |Main role |
== Voice performances ==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |1986
|MASK |Ali Bombay/Lester Sludge |8 episodes |
| Dennis the Menace
|Various |
| 1987
|Lady Lovely Locks and the Pixietails |Shinning Glory, Pixieshine, Hairball |Various |
| 1992
|Jazzman |
| 1993–1995
|Pugg |6 episodes |
| 1995–1996
|Mr. Snarzetti, Warden Riba, Doctor |
| rowspan="4" |1996
|Superman: The Animated Series |Kryptonian Councilman, Eugene |
| Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist
|Fagin, Narrator |Credited as Bob MacGarva |
| Pinky and the Brain
|Sir Niles, Drake, Critic #1 |
| Road Rovers
|Lieutenant Skeam |
| 1996–2002
|The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries |Masocks Mashoes, Commissar Lanuk, Diesel, Farmer, Conductor, Tour Guide, Immigration Agent |
| 1998
|Walter Melon |Main role; credited as Richard Bell |
| rowspan="2" |1999–2001
|Samir, Police Lieutenant, Jace, Dr. Pandu Banjahri |
| Mike, Lu & Og
|Haggis Cuzzlewit, Captain |
| 2000–2001
|Bob Fish |Seasons 3 and 4 |
| rowspan="2" |2001–2004
|Station |
| Justice League
|Parasite, President |
| 2002–2007
|Duff Killigan |14 episodes |
| 2002
|Brotok |
| 2002–2003
|Librarium Lendrum |
| 2006–2007
|Guru Pathik |
| 2007
|Dr. DasGupta |Episode: "Paging Dr. Maya" |
| 2008–2009 |
| 2008–2014
|King Katuunko, Ki-Adi-Mundi |
| 2009–2011
|Zoo Doctor |
| 2009
|Grosshomme |
| rowspan="2" |2010
|Uncle Sabu |
| Handy Manny
|Mr. Kumar | |
| 2011–2013
|Green Lantern: The Animated Series |Appa Ali Apsa, Brother Warth, LANOS |
| 2014
|2 episodes |
| 2013–2014
|Professor Pyg, Liam Taylor |
| 2015
|Pyko |
| 2016
|Mr. Frowney |
| 2016–2017
|Pickle's Father, additional voices |4 episodes |
| 2018, 2022
|Coupe, Guru |2 episodes |
| 2018
|Doctor |Episode: "Cricketsitter" |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|D.O.G. |3 episodes |
| Carmen Sandiego
|Ibrahim Al Sibaq |
| 2020–2021
|Pubgoers, Londoners |2 episodes |
| 2022
|Ki-Adi-Mundi |
| 2023
|Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years |Sal |Episode: "Are You Smarter Than a Smart Cabin?" |
| 2023
|Darvish |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1998
|Belt, Coran, Oublek | |
| 2000
| |
| rowspan="3" | 2001
| Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel |Ghoul Merchant Hieronymus, Chief Scientist DuBois, Tesla Robot, Service Robot | |
| Return to Castle Wolfenstein
|Egyptian No. 2, Prologue German No. 2 (PS2 version) | |
| Tarzan: Untamed
|Professor Porter | |
| rowspan="2" |2002
| Superman: Shadow of Apokolips |Parasite, Male Scientist, Warden |
| Law & Order: Dead on the Money
|Saheed Singh | |
| rowspan="4" |2003
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic |Master Zhar Lestin, Mysterious Man, Eli Gand, Sith Interrogator, Czerka Officer | |
| Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour
|Rodall "Demo" Juhziz |General's Challenge |
| Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
|Pvt. Battersby, Sgt. Gupta | |
| Armed & Dangerous
|Roman | |
| rowspan="5" | 2004
| Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel |Ghoul Merchant, Chief Scientist, Tesla, Service Robot | |
| Ground Control II: Operation Exodus
|Centurion Cezarus |
| The Bard's Tale
|{{cite video game|developer=InXile Entertainment|title=The Bard's Tale|publisher=InXile Entertainment|scene=Ending credits, 2:10:18 in, More Great Talent|year=2004}} | |
| EverQuest II
|Garion Dunam, Scribe Varion Smitelin, Armsdealer Barrik | |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
|King Théoden | |
| rowspan="4" | 2005
| Medal of Honor: European Assault |Additional voices | |
| Ultimate Spider-Man
| |
| Age of Empires III
|Sahin | |
| True Crime: New York City
|{{cite video game|developer=Luxoflux|title=True Crime: New York City|publisher=Activision|scene=Pause menu credits, 4:30:09 in, VOICE TALENT|year=2005}} | |
| rowspan="5" |2006
| |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
|King Théoden | |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow
|Hector Barbossa, Fort Guard, Captured Pirate #5 |
| Cars
|Piston Cup Racers | |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king
|King Théoden | |
| rowspan="4" | 2007
| Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |Hector Barbossa | |
| Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties
|Colonel George Edwardson | |
| Mass Effect
|Rear Admiral Kahoku, Chairman Burns, Dr. Saleon, Dr. Wayne, Rogue Al, Samesh Bhatia, businessman, Elcor Diplomat, Refugee, Salarian Soldier, Turian Customer | |
| Cars Mater-National Championship
|Fillmore | |
| rowspan="3" | 2009
| The Lord of the Rings: Conquest |Théoden, Elven Officer No. 2, Old Male Hobbit | |
| Night at the Museum: Battle of Smithsonian
|Napoleon Bonaparte, Guard No. 2 | |
| Dragon Age: Origins
|Knight-Commander Greagoir, Ser Otto, Bann Sighard, Blood Mage Leader, Howe Estate Guard, How Estate Craftsman | |
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight |Additional voices | |
| The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest
|King Théoden, Barliman Butterbur | |
| rowspan="2" | 2011
|Larius – Legacy DLC | |
| Star Wars: The Old Republic
|Devotek, additional voices | |
| rowspan="3" | 2012
|General Oleg Petrovsky – Omega DLC | |
| Diablo III
|Abd al-Hazir |
| Rush: A Disney–Pixar Adventure
|Chef Skinner | |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
|Salim Al-Kupar, Panther, Tiger |
| Disney Infinity
|Hector Barbossa | |
| DuckTales Remastered
| |
| rowspan="5" | 2014
| Abd al-Hazir | |
| Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes
|Hector Barbossa | |
| Skylanders: Trap Team
|Bernie | |
| Far Cry 4
|Additional voices | |
| Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series
| Ser Royland Degore | |
| 2015
| Hector Barbossa |{{cite video game|title=Disney Infinity 3.0|year=2015|scene=Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of|developer=Avalanche Software}} |
| 2016
| Lord Jorach Ravenholdt |
| 2018
| Ganthet | |
| 2019
| Hector Barbossa | |
| 2020 |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| Voodoo Detective | Benny | |
| Tactics Ogre: Reborn
| Duke Juda Ronway |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Brian}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:20th-century Israeli male actors
Category:21st-century Israeli male actors
Category:English emigrants to the United States
Category:English expatriates in Canada
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male video game actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English people of Indian-Jewish descent
Category:English people of Iraqi-Jewish descent
Category:English people of Israeli descent
Category:English people of Lebanese-Jewish descent
Category:Israeli emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Israeli emigrants to the United States
Category:Israeli emigrants to Canada
Category:Israeli male film actors
Category:Israeli male television actors
Category:Israeli male voice actors
Category:Israeli people of Iraqi-Jewish descent
Category:Israeli people of Indian-Jewish descent
Category:Israeli people of Indian descent
Category:Israeli people of Lebanese-Jewish descent
Category:Jewish English male actors
Category:Jewish Israeli male actors
Category:Male actors from Jerusalem