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Bahar Soomekh

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Bahar Soomekh
بهار سومخ
Born (1975-03-30) March 30, 1975 (age 49)
Tehran, Iran
EducationUniversity of California, Santa Barbara (B.A. 1997)
OccupationActress
Years active2002–2014
Notable credit(s)Crash, Saw franchise
Spouse
Clayton Frech
​
(m. 2001)​
Children3, including Ezra Frech
RelativesSaba Soomekh (sister)
Websitelabahar.com

Bahar Soomekh (Persian: بهار سومخ, born March 30, 1975) is an American former actress. She is best known for her roles in Crash and the Saw franchise.

Early life and education

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Bahar was born in Tehran, Iran, to a devout Persian-Jewish family.[1][2] She moved with her parents and sister, Saba Soomekh, to Los Angeles, California, United States in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution of Iran.[1][3][4] Soomekh attended Sinai Akiba Academy and Beverly Hills High School.[5][6]

Bahar later attended the University of California, Santa Barbara.[2] She graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in environmental studies.[2]

Career

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After graduating from UCSB, Soomekh worked in motivational sales while taking acting classes.[5][6] At the beginning of her acting career, Soomekh guest starred on several television programs, including JAG and 24. She ultimately quit her day job to pursue acting full-time and landed her role in Crash less than three months later.[5][6]

Soomekh's breakthrough role came as Dorri in the Academy Award-winning movie for Best Picture, Crash. Following her success in Crash, People magazine listed Soomekh as a member of the Class of 2006 as "New on the Scene".[7] She followed up with roles in Syriana and Mission: Impossible III. In 2006, she had a leading role as Dr. Lynn Denlon in the horror film Saw III. Soomekh had a recurring role as Margo in the television series Day Break and guest appearances on shows such as Ghost Whisperer and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Her last film role was in Just like a Woman, released in 2012.

After the Southern California area experienced the loss of film industry jobs to other locations, Soomekh decided to pursue a real estate career to remain close to her family.[8][9]

Personal life

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Bahar married Clayton Frech in 2001.[2] The couple have three children.[2] One of their children, Ezra Frech, was born without most of his left leg (missing a knee and fibula) and missing fingers on his left hand. He was a double gold medalist at the 2024 Summer Paralympics[10] and was named as a finalist for the 2014 Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year.[11][12][13]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Without a Trace Lemese Salman
JAG Jasmine Season 8, Episode 10 "The Killer"
2003 Naked Hotel Bhurka Woman
2004 JAG Amira Sattar Season 9, Episode 20 "Fighting Words"
Intermission Hair Wearer
Crash Dorri
A Lousy Ten Grand Najah
2005 24 Habib Marwan's Wife (deleted scenes)
Bones Sahar Masruk
Syriana Yassi (Director's Uncut Version)
2006 In Justice Neena Oponi
Mission: Impossible III Davian's Translator
The Unit Firefly Season 2, Episode 1 "Change of Station"
Day Break Margo (2006–2007)
Saw III Lynn Denlon
2008 The Oaks Hollis Unaired TV pilot
Ghost Whisperer Tricia Season 4, Episode 6 "Imaginary Friends and Enemies"
2009 Lost & Found Abigail
2010 Miami Medical Vanessa Season 1, Episode 8 "An Arm and a Leg"
2011 Castle Nazihah Alhabi Season 3, Episode 16 "Setup"; Season 3, Episode 17 "Countdown"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Sylvia Sloane Season 12, Episode 10 "Genetic Dsorder"
2012 Parenthood Dr. Haryana Season 4, Episode 3 "Everything Is Not Okay"
Just like a Woman Soha
2014 Perception Yael Season 3, Episode 5 "Eternity"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bahar Soomekh Prominent Iranian-Americans". usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rishon, Shais (May 13, 2016). "The Journeys of Six Jewish Americans". Tablet. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee (February 4, 2014). "Iranian Jewish scholar breaks stereotypes while studying them". The Times of Israel. German Colony, Jerusalem. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Melamed, Karmel (April 28, 2006). "Tom Cruise's Persian Princess". The Forward. New York City. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Melamed, Karmel (February 11, 2007). "Exclusive Interview: Iranian Jewish Actress Bahar Soomekh". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Wilson, Kathryn (March 17, 2006). "So, Did You Hear The One About The Iranian Deadhead In Hollywood?". MTV. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  7. ^ "New on the Scene". People. Vol. 65, no. 18. May 8, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  8. ^ "Bahar Soomekh's Second Act". 2015 Business Directory & Community Guide. West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. 2015. pp. 38–45. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "Nourmand & Associates Realtors: About the Agent". Michael.Nourmand.com. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  10. ^ Woodyatt, Amy; Sterling, Wayne (September 4, 2024). "American Ezra Frech completes incredible Paralympic gold double". CNN.
  11. ^ Sandoval, Curt (October 10, 2014). "Local kid a finalist for 'Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year'". KABC-TV. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  12. ^ O'Keefe, Brian (April 16, 2010). "Boy's NBA-Size Dream Comes True". ABC News. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  13. ^ Torok, Ryan (July 20, 2016). "Moving and shaking: Angel City Games with Adam Sandler, CIJE and more". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
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