Biography
Who is Ahmed Best?
Early life and education
Ahmed Best was born in New York City on August 19, 1973. He arrived at Roosevelt Hospital and spent his childhood years living in the Soundview area of the Bronx. In 1984, his family relocated to Maplewood, New Jersey. He completed his secondary education at Columbia High School, where he graduated in 1991.
After finishing high school, he pursued higher education at the Manhattan School of Music. There, he focused his studies on percussion instruments. These musical foundations later supported his career as a musician and stage performer before he entered the world of global film franchises.
Music and early career
Before his major film roles, Ahmed was active as a musician. In 1994, he joined a group called the Jazzhole. He remained with this acid jazz band for two years, where he contributed as a co-writer and co-producer for three albums, including the self-titled The Jazzhole. He also worked on the 1995 release Escape by Bill Evans.
Beyond his studio work, he joined the performance troupe Stomp in 1995. This role involved significant physical movement and athletic choreography. He toured extensively with the Stomp cast throughout the United States and Europe. These athletic skills caught the attention of casting directors, leading him toward future motion-capture opportunities.
Star Wars and Jar Jar Binks
In 1997, casting director Robin Gurland noticed his agility during a Stomp performance, which led to his casting as Jar Jar Binks for the Star Wars prequel trilogy. During production, he wore a full body suit and performed motion capture to provide reference points for digital artists. He also supplied the character's voice at the request of George Lucas.
While Jar Jar Binks appeared in the prequel films, the character received significant criticism. Ahmed later noted that this negativity sometimes felt personal, leading to deep struggles. However, in later years, the prequel trilogy underwent a reappraisal. Many fans and cast members, including Anthony Daniels and Liam Neeson, publicly defended his performance, citing his humor and talent.
Recent roles and teaching
In 2020, Ahmed joined the Star Wars universe again as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq. He first appeared in the game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge. He later returned to the role in the third season of The Mandalorian, where his character rescued Grogu. He has expressed interest in continuing to look at this character and potentially creating a martial arts project within the franchise.
Outside of his acting career, Ahmed has worked as an adjunct professor at Stanford University. His academic work at the institution has covered subjects such as Afrofuturism and art. Also, he wrote and produced the pilot for a television show titled This Can't Be My Life in 2008.
Birthday and age
Ahmed Best was born on August 19, 1973, which makes Ahmed 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Ahmed shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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