Demián Bichir Nájera (; born 1 August 1963) is a Mexican actor. After starring in telenovelas, he began to appear in Hollywood films. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in A Better Life.
Early life Bichir was born in Torreón. His parents are actors Alejandro Bichir and Maricruz Nájera. His brothers, Odiseo and Bruno, are also actors. His paternal family is of Lebanese origin. He worked at the National Theater Company, Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky, and the Mexican Association of Theater Critics. He attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Career
Bichir played Fidel Castro in Che. He starred in the television series The Bridge and Grand Hotel. His directorial debut film A Circus Story & A Love Song premiered at the Morelia International Film Festival. Other films including A Better Life, Alien: Covenant, Chaos Walking, The Hateful Eight, The Nun, and Without Blood.
Personal life He is an American Civil Liberties Union Ambassador of Immigration Rights. His second wife, Stefanie Sherk, died in a swimming pool on 12 April 2019. Bichir has a daughter, Gala.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1987Hotel ColonialYoung Hotel Clerk1988The PenitentRoberto1989Rojo AmanecerJorge1993MiroslavaRicardo1995Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're DeadOmar1996SoloRio1997Perdita DurangoCatalina1999Sexo, pudor y lágrimasTomás2000Gimme the PowerGabriel2001Don't Tempt MeManny Chavez2004 Hypnos Miguel2007Fuera del cieloEverardo SánchezAmerican VisaMario Alvarez2008CheFidel Castro2010Hidalgo: la historia jamás contadaMiguel Hidalgo y Costilla2011A Better LifeCarlos GalindoForeverlandSalvador2012SavagesAlex ReyesEl Santos vs. la Tetona MendozaPork Gutiérrez #3Voice2013The HeatHaleMachete KillsMarcos 'The Madman' MendezDom HemingwayIvan Fontaine2014Death in Buenos AiresInspector Chávez2015The Hateful EightMarco 'The Mexican' / Señor Bob2016Good KidsYacoLowridersMiguel Alvarez7:19Fernando Pellicer2017Alien: CovenantSergeant Lope2018The NunFather Burke2019The GrudgeDetective Goodman2020The Midnight SkySanchez 2021LandMiguelChaos WalkingBen MooreGodzilla vs. KongWalter Simmons2023ChupaChava2024A Circus Story & A Love SongRefugioAlso director and writerWithout BloodTito2025Black Phone 2Armando2026DiamondAlberto Echevarria
Television Year Title Role Notes1977–1978RinaJuanito1982–1983Vivir enamoradaNacho1983Cuando los hijos se vanRicardoChoices of the HeartArmandoTelevision film1984–1985Los años felicesTomas1987–1988El rincón de los prodigiosMonchito1995–1996Lazos de AmorValente Segura1996–1997Nada personalComandante Alfonso Carbajal2001In the Time of the ButterfliesManolo TavárezTelevision film2008–2010WeedsEsteban Carlos Reyes27 episodes2013–2014The BridgeDetective Marco Ruiz26 episodes2019Grand HotelSantiago Mendoza13 episodes2022Let the Right One InMark Kane10 episodes
Awards Award Category Title ResultAriel AwardBest ActorHidalgo: La historia jamás contadaAcademy AwardsBest ActorA Better LifeALMA AwardFavorite Movie ActorIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Male LeadScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleBlack Reel AwardsOutstanding ActorGold Derby AwardsBest CastThe Hateful EightHollywood Film Awards
See also List of Mexican Academy Award winners and nominees List of actors with Academy Award nominations List of actors nominated for Academy Awards for non-English performances
Notes
References
External links
Radio interview with Demián Bichir on Fresh Air discussing The Bridge (38 mins, 2013)