Cas Anvar (; born 15 March 1966) is a Canadian actor known best for his role in the SyFy/Amazon Prime Video science fiction television series The Expanse.
Early life and education Anvar was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Iranian parents. They moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he was raised. He graduated from Beaconsfield High School in 1983.
He became interested in acting after playing Hamlet in a high school production of Shakespeare's play. Anvar has said that after early studies of psychology and sciences at McGill University, he changed fields and graduated from the National Theatre School in 1989.
Career He was founding artistic director of Repercussion Theatre. Anvar told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning that he founded the company in order to avoid being typecast, so that he could cast himself in the roles he wanted to play. Since 1988 the company toured parks of Montreal, and then throughout North America, with the annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival. Meanwhile, he continued performing in theatre.
In 1992, he debuted in Urban Angel, and has continued to perform roles in television and film.
Anvar starred as journalist Kambiz Foroohar in the 2003 film Shattered Glass.
Anvar guest-starred in an episode of NCIS that premiered in 2007.
In 2011, he voiced Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. In the same year, he co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in the science fiction film Source Code.
Anvar also appeared alongside John Cusack and Jennifer Carpenter in the horror film The Factory.
Anvar was part of the cast of Argo, which won the SAG Award for Best Cast Performance in 2013. Anvar appeared as Dodi Fayed with Naomi Watts in the film Diana in 2013.
Anvar starred in the science fiction television series The Expanse as Alex Kamal. It was first broadcast in December 2015. Anvar co-starred in the 2015 Oscar-nominated film Room. Anvar also starred in the 2015 mythological drama series Olympus, which aired on Syfy.
In 2016, he joined season 3 of The Strain as Sanjay Desai.
Anvar starred in the independent drama The Lie, an English-language adaptation of the German film Wir Monster, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018. In the same year, Anvar starred alongside Diane Kruger in the thriller The Operative.
In 2019, he had a recurring role on How To Get Away With Murder as Robert Hseih.
In November 2020, Alcon announced that Anvar would not be returning for the sixth and final season of The Expanse.
In 2021, Anvar had a guest-role on the television series FBI: International.
In 2024, Anvar had a supporting role in the comedy film Doin’ It, starring Lilly Singh.
Anvar appeared in director Marc Furmie's 2025 action drama Viper as Rafiq “Razor” Alizai.
Personal life Anvar is fluent in English, French, and Persian, and also speaks some Arabic, Hindi, and Spanish.
Sexual misconduct allegations In June 2020, Alcon Entertainment hired an independent firm to investigate over 30 allegations of sexual harassment and assault made against Anvar. Anvar released a statement in response indicating his intent to cooperate with the investigation, saying that the accusers should be heard, but that he intended to clear his name. The report was never released and no charges or civil actions against Anvar were ever filed.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 Witchboard III: The Possession Paramedic #1 1997 Afterglow Frederico 1998 Twist of Fate Goldwin 1998 The Incredible Adventures of Marco Polo Youssef 1998 Sublet Nightclub Man 2000 Seducing Maarya Zakir 2001 Cause of Death Leonard Sheck 2001 Hidden Agenda Agent McCoomb 2002 Wrong Number Thomas Pitrillo 2003 Comment ma mère accoucha de moi durant sa ménopause Médecin, examen gynéco 2003 Shattered Glass Kambiz Foroohar 2003 Timeline E.R. Doctor 2004 The Terminal CBP Officer #3 2008 Punisher: War Zone Plastic Surgeon 2009 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Egyptian Interpol Officer #1 2011 Source Code Hazmi 2012 Argo Revolutionary Guard 2012 The Factory Phil Uncredited 2012 The Son of an Afghan Farmer Michael 2013 Diana Dodi Fayed 2013 The Factory Phil 2014 Fall Reza 2015 Miss India America Deep Panday 2015 The Vatican Tapes Dr. Fahti 2015 Room Dr Mittal 2017 Nobility Captain Eric Cern 2018 The Lie Sam Ismali 2019 The Operative Farhad 2019 Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ra's al Ghul Voice 2019 Draupadi Unleashed Manu 2024 Doin' It Farhad 2025 Viper Rafiq “Razor” Alizai 2026 Foreign Tongue Faroukh
Television Year Title Role Notes 1991–2005 Watatatow Atys Main role 1998 La Femme Nikita Halir Episode: "Old Habits" 2005 The Tournament Dr. Singh Main role, 17 episodes 2007 NCIS Masoud Tariq Television TV series, Season 4 Episode 12 2009 The Phantom Rhatib Singh Television miniseries 2009 24 Dr. Wyndham Television TV series 2010 Lost Omer Jarrah Episode: "Sundown" 2011 Leverage Oscar San Guillermo Episode 4.15: "The Lonely Hearts Job" 2011 Neverland Gentleman Starkey Television miniseries 2011–2012 Xeno-Date Sirus Webseries, 8 episodes 2014 Castle Dr. Rampanel Episode: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 2014 Intelligence Ibrahim Al-Munin Episode: "Red X" 2015 Olympus Xerxes Recurring role, 7 episodes 2015–2021 The Expanse Alex Kamal Main role, 56 episodes 2016–2017 The Strain Sanjay Desai Recurring role, 10 episodes 2019–2020 How To Get Away with Murder Robert Hsieh Recurring role, 4 episodes 2020 Cardinal Taj Roy Episode 4.02: "Adele" 2021 FBI: International Ali Majidi Episode 1.06: "The Secrets She Knows" 2023 Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation Seller Television film
Internet video Year Title Role Notes 2017 Star Trek Continues Sentek Episodes: "To Boldly Go" Part 1; "To Boldly Go" Part 2
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2011 Assassin's Creed: Revelations Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad Voice role 2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Mullah Rahmaan Voice role 2012 Halo 4 Dalton Voice role
References
External links