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Jay Abdo is a Syrian American actor based in Los Angeles, born in Damascus in 1962. From a young age, he was captivated by acting, inspired by films like Dr. Zhivago, The Godfather, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. His initial foray into performance came through his talent as a concert violinist in primary school, which deepened his passion for the performing arts. He earned a scholarship to study Civil Engineering in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where he also began acting on stage. Despite performing in a newly learned language, Jay impressed theater critics and received positive reviews. This success led him to change his educational focus and return to Damascus to study acting at the prestigious Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts.
After graduating, Jay quickly rose to become an A-list actor in Syria and the Arab world, securing leading roles in more than 40 Syrian films and over 1,000 television episodes. He has performed in over 20 theatrical productions in English, Spanish, Romanian, and Arabic. Beyond acting, Jay is a dedicated grassroots activist, using his fame to support orphans, children with special needs, and those battling cancer.
In March 2011, his refusal to publicly endorse the repressive Syrian regime resulted in personal threats and professional pressure. Assumed to sympathize with Syrian freedom seekers, Jay ultimately fled Syria by late 2011. He moved to the United States, where his wife, Fadia Afashe, was a Humphrey fellow at the University of Michigan. After her graduation, they relocated to Los Angeles, where Jay began rebuilding his career from scratch, working as a driver and pizza delivery person. Within his first year, he booked several supporting roles until he met Werner Herzog, who cast him as 'Fattuh' opposite Nicole Kidman in "Queen of the Desert." He later appeared alongside Tom Hanks in "A Hologram for the King." Most recently, Jay starred in "Bon Voyage," a successful film shortlisted for the 2017 Oscars.
