Amir Talai (born June 24, 1977) is an American actor. He is best known for voicing Alastor in the Amazon Prime Video adult animated musical series Hazbin Hotel (2024–2025). He also voiced Crane in the Nickelodeon animated comedy series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016), and Skidmark in the Netflix animated comedy adventure series Turbo Fast (2013–2016). Talai appeared in numerous television series, including portraying Abdul in the Oxygen sitcom series Campus Ladies (2006–2007), Cyrus in the CBS comedy-drama series The Ex List, and Alan in the Fox sitcom series LA to Vegas (2018). He also portrayed Raza Syed in 2008 comedy film Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Wendell in the 2011 teen comedy television film Best Player, Patel in 2012 romantic comedy film What to Expect When You're Expecting, Rami in the 2018 crime drama film A Patient Man, and Bill Morley in the 2024 family comedy film The Present. Talai is also a musical theatre performer.

Early life and education Talai was born on June 24, 1977, in San Francisco, California, United States, as a child of Persian immigrants from Iran. He grew up in a Muslim family. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in mass communications, with a minor in dramatic arts. After graduation, he moved to West Hollywood, California.

Career Talai is an actor with numerous credits, mostly in episodic roles. He had several recurring roles including as Abdul in the Oxygen sitcom series Campus Ladies (2006–2007), Cyrus in the CBS comedy-drama series The Ex List, and Alan in the Fox sitcom series LA to Vegas (2018). He also appeared in series such as American Horror Story (2016), Bosch (2016, 2020), The Shrink Next Door (2021), Ghosts (2022), and High Potential (2025). Talai portrayed Raza Syed in 2008 comedy film Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Wendell in the 2011 teen comedy television film Best Player, Patel in 2012 romantic comedy film What to Expect When You're Expecting, Rami in the 2018 crime drama film A Patient Man, and Bill Morley in the 2024 family comedy film The Present. He also plays Haled in the upcoming 2026 independent romantic comedy film Go-Love-Go.

He is best known for portraying Alastor the Radio Demon, one of the main characters in Hazbin Hotel which has aired on Amazon Prime Video since 2024. His other main roles include Crane in the Nickelodeon animated comedy series Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016), and Skidmarks in the Netflix animated comedy adventure series Turbo Fast (2013–2016). He also voiced numerous episodic and background characters in the adult animated comedy series Family Guy (2005, 2016, 2023–2025) and American Dad! (2008–2014, 2020–2026).

Talai also performs in the musical theater, including portraying Bert Healy in the 2018 rendition of Annie at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Michael Arden. In 2024, he also performed songs of Alastor from Hazbin Hotel at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. Additionally, the 2024 electro swing pop song "Stayed Gone", which he performed for Hazbin Hotel together with Christian Borle, was listed on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, peaking at number eleven.

Talai was also a board member of the Los Angeles division of the SAG-AFTRA labor union. He also advocates for representation of marginalized artists and performers in media and has written articles related to the matter in publications such as BuzzFeed and Vulture.

Personal life Talai has a wife, and lives in West Hollywood in California, United States.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes2002 Hum Simon Gould Feature film Plugged In Foreign caller Short film 2003 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Associate Feature film 2004 Adventures in Homeschooling Baliotis Short film The Florist Masood Short film Homeland Security Babir Alkazar Television film; uncredited Jihad Mohammad Short film November George Feature film One Night Stand Up Mahesh Suresh Short film 2005 Fractalus Lee Short film 2006 Fighting Words Ralph Feature film More, Patience Hypochondriac Television movie The Pursuit of Happyness Clerk Feature film 2008 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Raza Syed Feature film The Onion Movie Ahman Feature film 2009 Don't Ruin American Healthcare Kevin Short film Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl Angie the Ox Short film Joey Biltmore2011 Being Bin Laden Omar Short film Best Player Wendell Television film Johnny Bravo Goes to Bollywood Ahmet Television film; voice Voodoo Guru Thug #2 Me, Inc. Kevin Short film 2012 Love, Sex and Missed Connections Ted Feature film What to Expect When You're Expecting Patel Feature film 2013 Hummingbird Kevin Feature film; uncredited Inequality for All Documentary film; special thanks2014 10 Cent Pistol Amir Feature film Petunia P.I. Rambo Borigald Television film Ricky Robot Arms Mike Short film2015 Down Dog Matt Jobrani Short film Grandma Omid Feature film The King of 7B Darren Television film Marvin Mr. Donaldson Short film 2016 Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse Fahreed Feature film How to Survive a Breakup Amir Short film This is Now Daniel Feature film2017 The Circle Matt Feature film Killing Gunther Izzat Feature film 2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Night shift physician Feature film; uncredited The First Lady Amir Short film; also screenwriter Stuck Mo Feature film 2019 Marriage Story Amir Feature film A Patient Man Rami Feature film Stay Home Dario Short film 2022 The Present Bill Morley Feature film 2026 Go-Love-Go Haled Feature film; upcoming

Television