Jay Abdo (Arabic: جهاد عبدو; born Jihad Abdo or Jihad Abdou; October 21, 1962) is a Syrian actor. He has been acting since 1988, and most recently starred in Queen of the Desert and A Hologram for the King.
Abdo was born in Damascus. He traveled to Cluj-Napoca, Romania to study civil engineering, and began acting there. After his success on the stage, he returned to Damascus to study acting at the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts. After graduating in 1991, he became well known in the Arab world and has starred in a number of films and television shows.
Move to America
In 2011, during a trip to Beirut where he spoke to a reporter from the Los Angeles Times, Abdo spoke out against the Assad government and how they were "responsible for killings within their borders". After returning to Syria, Abdo received a number of threats and was generally intimidated, and was criticized for his lack of patriotism. Following this, he moved to the United States in October 2011 to escape persecution. He joined his wife in Minnesota, where she was studying as a Humphrey fellow at the Fulbright Program. The couple later moved to Los Angeles so he could start acting again. After working several odd jobs, including delivering pizzas for Domino's Pizza, he landed several major roles, including Queen of the Desert and A Hologram for the King.
Filmography
Actor
2024
The Strangers' Case as
Papa Homsi
2023
Skeet as
Mohamed
2021
Neighbours as
Nahum
2020
SEAL Team (TV Series) as
Asim Al-Hazred / Asim Father
- God of War (2020) - Asim Al-Hazred
- In the Blind (2020) - Asim Father
2020
Refugee (Short) as
Papa Homsi
2020
The Way Back as
Liquor Store Owner
2019
1st Born as
Hamid
2015
Patriot (TV Series) as
Cantar Walley
- Loaded (2018) - Cantar Walley
- The Sword and the Hand (2018) - Cantar Walley
- L'Affaire Contre John Lakeman (2017) - Cantar Walley
- Milwaukee, America (2015) - Cantar Walley
2017
Ablution (Short) as
Khaled
2017
Under Concrete (Short) as
The Father
2017
Facing Mecca (Short) as
Fareed
2016
Bon Voyage (Short) as
Kareem
2016
A Hologram for the King as
Dr. Haddad
2016
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (TV Series) as
Erdem Bayar
- The Matchmaker (2016) - Erdem Bayar
2015
Queen of the Desert as
Fattuh
2014
Documenters (Short) as
Soldier
2009
Sabaya (TV Series)
2013
Father's Revenge (Short) as
Father
2013
We've Got Balls as
Butler
2012
Operation Repo (TV Series) as
Yuri
- Russian Roulette (2012) - Yuri
2012
Farouk Omar (TV Series) as
The Emporio Messenger / Satrap
- Islam Begins (2012) - The Emporio Messenger (as Jihad Abdou)
- During His Youth (2012) - Satrap
2011
Born from the Flank: Wilada Min Alkhasira (TV Series) as
Mansour Aboud
- Episode #1.1 (2011) - Mansour Aboud
2011
The Adventures of Delilah and Al Zeibaq (TV Series) as
Al Sukary
- Adventure (2011) - Al Sukary (as Jihad Abdou)
2010
Abou Khalil Al-Qabbani (TV Series) as
Eskandar Farah (2010)
2010
Baed Al Sokoot (TV Movie) as
Najy (as Jihad Abdou)
2008
The Neighbourhood's Gate (TV Series) as
Riyad
2008
Qamar Bani Hashem (TV Series)
2008
Zahret Al Nerjis (TV Series) as
Raeed
- AlNerjis (2008) - Raeed (as Jihad Abdou)
2006
Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak as
Kurdish Leader (as Jihad Abdou)
2005
The Sun Rises Again (TV Series) as
Imad
2002
Four Seasons (TV Series) as
Fouad - Guest
- Laughing dove (2002) - Fouad - Guest
1997
Hawa Bahary (TV Series)
1995
Mirrors (TV Series)(1992)
- Episode #6.1 (1995) - (1992)
1994
End of a Brave Man (TV Series) as
Barhoum Ata / Abu Al Br
- Episode #1.14 (1994) - Barhoum Ata / Abu Al Br
1992
Disappearance of a Man (TV Series)
Miscellaneous
2014
From the Sky (Short) (additional translation)
Soundtrack
2015
Queen of the Desert (performer: "Min Dira-L Dira") / (writer: "Min Dira-L Dira")
