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. He grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, where he attended Thornlea Secondary School. 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. 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.
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.
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. Momen then transferred with the play to the Citadel Theatre, where it played between January 21 and February 12, 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. 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. 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. 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.
Momen will reprise his role of Kevin J., Ali and others in the Canadian revival production of Come from Away. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
Credits Television Year ShowRole Notes 2008The Border Ahmed Episode S1.E8: "Enemy Contact" 2010How to Be Indie Baldev Episode S1.E16: "How to Make the Most Out of Being a Host" 2011Combat Hospital Khan Saour Episode S1.E5: "Hells Bells" 2012The L.A. Complex Navid 4 episodes 2012Mayday Saudi Air Traffic Controller Episode S11.E9: "Under Pressure" 2013Cracked Rick Carga Episode S1.E9: "Cherry Blossoms" 2013Satisfaction Douchebag #1 Episode S1.E7: "Janet" 2014Space Riders: Division Earth Pardeep Recurring role: 3 episodes 2014The Strain Dr. William Lester 2 episodes: S1.E2: "The Box"; S1.E3: "Gone Smooth" 2016Houdini & Doyle Rustom Avari Episode S1.E9: "Necromanteion" 2016Kim's Convenience Handsome Customer Episode S1.E13: "Family Singing Contest" 2017Incorporated Mr. Tahan Episode S1.E8: "Operational Realignment" 2017Save Me Plaid Shirt #2 Episode S1.E7: "Injuries Due to Distracted Walking" 2017Played Matthew Episode S1.E7: "Ghosts" 2017–2019Star Trek: Discovery Specialist Kamran Gant Recurring role: 5 episodes 2021Coroner Yash Episode S3.E5: "Back to the Future" 2021Nurses Raja Khanna Episode S2.E8: "Best Day Ever" 2021–2024Hudson & Rex David Aziz 2 episodes: S4.E5: "Rex to Riches"; S6.E8: "Doghouse" 2022–2023Workin' Moms Walker Recurring role: 8 episodes 2022–2024Transplant Dr. Karim Esfahani Recurring role: 9 episodes 2023Accused Principal Sam Canosa Episode S1.E1: "Scott's Story"
Film Year TitleRole Notes 2008Traitor Suicide Bomber #3 2013The Animal Project Shaun Uncredited 2015Drift Nadim Short film 2015Beeba Boys Nep 2021PAW Patrol: The Movie Additional voices Voice role 2022This Place Behrooz
Theater YearProductionRoleLocationCategory2008Wonderful Town Greenwich Villager / Cadet Festival Theatre Regional / Shaw Festival2010An Ideal Husband Viscount de Nanjac Festival Theatre Regional / Shaw Festival2010Serious Money Zackerman Studio Theatre Regional / Shaw Festival2012A Midsummer Night's Dream Demetrius High Park Amphitheatre Regional / Canadian Stage Company2014Sultans of the Street Prakash Susan Rubes Theatre Regional / Young People's Theatre2016Disgraced Abe Panasonic Theatre Mirvish Productions 2017 Citadel Theatre Regional / Hope and Hell Theatre Company CAA Theatre Mirvish Productions2017Monsoon Wedding Vikram Berkeley Repertory Theatre World premiere2018Come from Away Kevin Jung, Ali, and othersRoyal Manitoba Theatre CentrePre-Toronto engagement2018-2020, 2021Royal Alexandra TheatreCanadian production / Mirvish Productions 2022First National TourSteele Community CentreConcert staging: Gander 2024 Babs Asper Theatre Pre-Toronto engagement: Ottawa2024–2025 Royal Alexandra TheatreCanadian production / Mirvish Productions2026It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken Waleed Theatre Aquarius Regional/World Premiere
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