Riz Ahmed

The Real-Life Inspiration Behind 'Sound of Metal'

Riz Ahmed and writer/director Darius Marder discuss the real-life inspiration behind Sound of Metal.

Watch the interview

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 25 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

276 photos | 55 videos »

Known For

Nightcrawler Rick

(2014)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Bodhi Rook

(2016)

Four Lions Omar

(2010)

Venom Carlton Drake / Riot

(2018)

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Filmography

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Actor (42 credits)

Exit West (pre-production)

Hamlet (pre-production)
Hamlet

Invasion (pre-production)

2020/I The Long Goodbye (Short)
Riz (uncredited)

2020 Mogul Mowgli
Zed

2019 Sound of Metal
Ruben

2016-2019 The OA (TV Series)
Elias Rahim / Rahim

- Mirror Mirror (2019) ... Rahim

- Invisible Self (2016) ... Elias Rahim

- Empire of Light (2016) ... Elias Rahim

- Paradise (2016) ... Elias Rahim

- Away (2016) ... Elias Rahim

2019 Weathering with You
Takai (English version, voice)

2018 Venom
Carlton Drake / Riot

2018 The Sisters Brothers
Hermann Kermit Warm

2017 Charli XCX: Boys (Video short)
Boy

2017 Girls (TV Series)
Paul-Louis

- The Bounce (2017) ... Paul-Louis

- All I Ever Wanted (2017) ... Paul-Louis

2017 Swet Shop Boys: Aaja ft. Ali Sethi (Video short)
Riz MC

2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Bodhi Rook

2016 T5: Swet Shop Boys (Video short)
Riz MC

2016 City of Tiny Lights
Tommy Akhtar

2016 Una
Scott

2016 The Night Of (TV Mini-Series)
Nasir 'Naz' Khan

- The Call of the Wild (2016) ... Nasir 'Naz' Khan

- Ordinary Death (2016) ... Nasir 'Naz' Khan

- Samson and Delilah (2016) ... Nasir 'Naz' Khan

- The Season of the Witch (2016) ... Nasir 'Naz' Khan

- The Art of War (2016) ... Nasir 'Naz' Khan

Show all 9 episodes

2016/I Jason Bourne
Aaron Kalloor

2014 Nightcrawler
Rick

2013/I Out of Darkness (Short)
Male

2013 Closed Circuit
Nazrul Sharma

2012 The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Changez

2012 Ill Manors
Aaron

2011 The Fades (TV Mini-Series)
Neil

- Pilot (2011) ... Neil

2011/II Day of the Falcon
Ali

2011 Trishna
Jay

2010 Centurion
Tarak

2010 Four Lions
Omar

2009 10 Minute Tales (TV Series)
Joseph

- The Three Kings (2009) ... Joseph

2009 Freefall (TV Movie)
Gary

2009/I Rage
Vijay

2008 Dead Set (TV Mini-Series)
Riq

- Episode #1.5 (2008) ... Riq

- Episode #1.4 (2008) ... Riq

- Episode #1.3 (2008) ... Riq

- Episode #1.2 (2008) ... Riq

- Episode #1.1 (2008) ... Riq (uncredited)

2008 Baghdad Express (Short)
Talal

2008 Wired (TV Mini-Series)
Manesh Kunzru

- Episode #1.3 (2008) ... Manesh Kunzru

- Episode #1.2 (2008) ... Manesh Kunzru

- Episode #1.1 (2008) ... Manesh Kunzru

2008 Shifty
Shifty

2007 Britz (TV Movie)
Sohail Wahid

2006 Berry's Way (TV Movie)
Amir

2006 The Path to 9/11 (TV Mini-Series)
Yosri

- Episode #1.2 (2006) ... Yosri

- Episode #1.1 (2006) ... Yosri

2006 Banglatown Banquet (TV Movie)
Razual

2006 The Road to Guantanamo (Documentary)
Shafiq

2005 Got Soul (Short)

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Writer (4 credits)

2020/I The Long Goodbye (Short) (creator)

2020 Mogul Mowgli

2014 Daytimer (Short)

2011 Comedy Lab (TV Series) (creator - 1 episode)

- Kabadasses (2011) ... (creator)

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Producer (1 credit)

2020 Mogul Mowgli (producer)

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Soundtrack (1 credit)

2007 Taking Liberties (Documentary) (performer: "The Post 9/11 Blues") / (writer: "The Post 9/11 Blues")

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Director (1 credit)

2014 Daytimer (Short)

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Miscellaneous Crew (1 credit)

2017 The Ministry of Stories Anthology (creative consultant)

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Thanks (3 credits)

2018 White Boy Rick (special thanks)

2017 What Will People Say (special thanks)

2007 Taking Liberties (Documentary) (special thanks)

Show

Self (51 credits)

2020 The Graham Norton Show (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Dolly Parton/Rupert Everett/Riz Ahmed/Lolly Adefope/Sara Pascoe/Róisín Murphy (2020) ... Self - Guest

2016-2020 Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series)
Self - Guest / Self

- Riz Ahmed/Tim McGraw (2020) ... Self - Guest

- Riz Ahmet/Brad Garrett/Avril Lavigne (2018) ... Self

- Julie Bowen/Kumail Nanjiani/Fall Out Boy (2017) ... Self

- Lena Dunham/Eric Stonestreet/Riz Ahmed/Cold War Kids (2017) ... Self - Guest

- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) ... Self - Guest

2020 The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series)
Self - Musical Guest

- Season 17 Best Moments/Riz Ahmed Ft. Jay Sean (2020) ... Self - Musical Guest

2020 The Big Narstie Show (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Episode #3.5 (2020) ... Self - Guest

2019 The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Episode #1.2 (2019) ... Self - Guest

2019 BAFTAs 2019 (TV Special)
Self - Presenter

2018 Entertainment Tonight Canada (TV Series)
Self in Toronto

- ET Canada Presents: Top 5 Sexy Stars (2018) ... Self in Toronto

2018 Designing Venom (Video documentary short)
Self

2018 Venom: From Symbiote to Screen (Video documentary short)
Self

2018 Venom: The Anti-Hero (Video documentary short)
Self

2018 Venom Vision (Video documentary short)
Self

2018 Complex x Fuse (TV Series)
Self

- Episode #3.3 (2018) ... Self

2018 Sunday Today with Willie Geist (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Riz Ahmed (2018) ... Self - Guest

2018 IGN Originals (TV Series)
Self

- Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed Respond to IGN Comments (2018) ... Self

2018 The Daily Show (TV Series)
Self

- Riz Ahmed (2018) ... Self

2016-2018 Extra with Billy Bush (TV Series)
Self

- Episode #25.26 (2018) ... Self

- Episode #23.87 (2016) ... Self

2018 IMDb on the Scene - Interviews (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Venom (2018) ... Self - Guest

2017-2018 The Late Late Show with James Corden (TV Series)
Self / Self - Guest

- Riz Ahmed/Mary Elizabeth Winstead/Phosphorescent (2018) ... Self

- Kumail Nanjiani/Riz Ahmed/Sabrina Carpenter (2017) ... Self - Guest

2016-2018 WGN Morning News (TV Series)
Self

- Episode dated 2 October 2018 (2018) ... Self

- Episode dated 26 September 2018 (2018) ... Self

- Episode dated 10 September 2018 (2018) ... Self

- Episode dated 12 December 2016 (2016) ... Self

2016-2018 The Jonathan Ross Show (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Lily Allen, Riz Ahmed and Jonas Blue (2018) ... Self - Guest

- Amy Schumer, Bear Grylls, Riz Ahmed and Olly Murs (2016) ... Self - Guest

2017 Spin The Mic (Documentary)
Riz MC

2017 The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards (TV Special)
Self - Winner & Presenter

2016-2017 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Susan Sarandon/Riz Ahmed/Chord Overstreet (2017) ... Self - Guest

- Edward Norton/Riz Ahmed/Reggie Fils-Aimé (2016) ... Self - Guest

2017 Close Up with the Hollywood Reporter (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Drama Actors (2017) ... Self - Guest

2017 The Hamilton Mixtape: Immigrants, We Get the Job Done (Short)
Self

2017 Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (TV Series)
Self

- Episode #6.2 (2017) ... Self

2017 Aasif Mandvi's All Star Deportation Jamboree (TV Movie)
Self

2017 The Stories: The Making of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (Video documentary)
Self - 'Bodhi Rook'

2017 The One Show (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Episode dated 28 March 2017 (2017) ... Self - Guest

2017 The Oscars (TV Special)
Self - Co-Presenter: Best Visual Effects

2017 E! Live from the Red Carpet (TV Series)
Self

- The 2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards (2017) ... Self

2017 The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV Special)
Self - Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie & Presenter

2017 74th Golden Globe Awards (TV Special)
Self - Nominee

2016 Alan Carr: Chatty Man (TV Series)
Self

- Christmas Special (2016) ... Self

2016 Made in Hollywood (TV Series)
Self

- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story/La La Land/Collateral Beauty (2016) ... Self

2013-2016 Good Morning America (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Episode dated 16 December 2016 (2016) ... Self - Guest

- Episode dated 8 December 2016 (2016) ... Self - Guest

- Episode dated 24 April 2013 (2013) ... Self - Guest

2016 Rotten Tomatoes (TV Series)
Self

- Rogue One Cast Does Their Best Vader Impressions (2016) ... Self

2016 Celebrities Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions (TV Series)
Self

- Rogue One Stars Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions (2016) ... Self

2016 Off Camera with Sam Jones (TV Series)
Self

- Riz Ahmed (2016) ... Self

2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - World Premiere (TV Movie documentary)
Self / Bohdi Rook

2016 The Star Wars Show (TV Series short)
Self - Bodhi Rook: Rogue One

- The Cast of Rogue One Visits the Star Wars Show and More! (2016) ... Self - Bodhi Rook: Rogue One

2016 Live with Kelly and Ryan (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Guest Co-Hostess Ilana Glazer/Kate McKinnon/Riz Ahmed (2016) ... Self - Guest

2016 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Riz Ahmed/Pedro Pascal/Angel Olsen (2016) ... Self - Guest

2016 Last Week (TV Series)
Self

- Last Week I Quit My Job (2016) ... Self

2016 The EE British Academy Film Awards (TV Special)
Self - Presenter

2015 Nightcrawler: If It Bleeds, It Leads (Video short)
Self

2012 At the Movies (TV Series)
Self

- Venice Film Festival 2012 (2012) ... Self

2010 Breakfast (TV Series)
Self - Guest

- Episode dated 5 May 2010 (2010) ... Self - Guest

2009 Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam (Documentary)

2007 Taking Liberties (Documentary)
Self

2006 The Play's the Thing (TV Series documentary)
Self

- Episode #1.3 (2006) ... Self

Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

1 Article | 1 Magazine Cover Photo | See more »

Official Sites:

Instagram | MySpace | See more »

Height:

5' 8" (1.73 m)

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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I'm not in a "starry" position to be able to pick and choose, but I am interested in telling stories of substance with great directors - that's my only guiding principle. See more »

Trivia:

Riz Ahmed is also a rapper under the name Riz MC. He won several rap battles in 2005, including at Hit & Run night in Oxford, the Jump-Off, Battlescars, and DJ Nihal's "Bombay Bronx.". See more »