The Unexpected Perspective is Natural for Babak

Babak Haleky has a very successful career as a television and feature film actor. While he possesses all of the skill and talent that is required of every actor who accumulates fame and notoriety, what’s most special about Haleky is that he has found a way to approach his roles and present them in contrast to what might seem obvious. He’s been continually hired for the fact that he brings something surprising and unique to these characters, a much admired quality in any film hub whether it be his home of Canada, Hollywood, China, or the other locations which have called upon him. Babak attributes this ability to desire and the hurdles he has cleared in his life. Perhaps the reason he is so adept at communicating stories is because his life would itself make quite an interesting one. More than once he has been required to make something new of himself, which is precisely what actors like Haleky do for a living.

When he was just a boy, Babak and his family emigrated from Iran to Canada. During the middle of their lives, with children, his parents reestablished themselves in a different part of the world in search of a better life. From a very young age, Babak learned to rely on his intelligence and charm to make new friends while also learning the value of commitment and determination from his parents. Although originally studying at University to become a doctor, he found his true passion lay in acting. He recalls, “I approached an agent and convinced her to take me on as a client with no acting background. She took a chance on me and within seven days I got my first role on a TV show called Sue Thomas F.B.EYE. Within six months I landed a second role on a show called The News Room and soon after that my first leading role in Rose. This TV movie was an instant step up for Haleky as he was costarring with career actors such as Bruce McFee (from the film version of Hairspray with John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer, both Oscar Nominated) and Christy Bruce (of the Golden Globe Winning Series A Handmaid’s Tale). Babak’s portrayal of Mahmoud, a cabbie with a tough exterior but warm heart who helps Sam (McFee) find his long lost love (Bruce), received tremendous attention and praise. This was particularly meaningful to Haleky because he based it on his own father and his commitment to family.

Babak appeared with film and TV action star Steven Seagal in the television series True Justice. As CIA agent Ibrahim Feraj, Haleky put a heroic face to this Middle Eastern born character’s commitment to infiltrating and taking down terrorists. Fans of Seagal’s numerous hit films for Warner Bros (Under Siege, Above the Law, Exit Wounds, etc.) flocked to the show. Babak admits to possessing some of this as well as he states, “I wouldn’t call myself an action star actor but I trained in my teens and early twenties in martial arts. Of course I loved actions films starring Steven Seagal and it was a bonus for me to work with him on True Justice after watching him in so many films.” Seagal reciprocates stating, “We had some very well-known actors on the show; Tia Carrera (True Lies, Lilo and Stich) …a lot of very recognizable pros. We hired Babak because he had that special quality and really stood out. In fact, he auditioned for another part but the producers liked what he did so much that he inspired a character we’d been wanting to create for the show. He really added something special.”

As his reputation and visibility increased, Babak now finds himself completing the action/adventure film Wings Over Everest in China. This story of Team Wings, a group of high altitude rescuers who are enlisted to save survivors from a plane crash on top of Mount Everest, boast a truly international cast and crew. Haleky appears as Suya, the eyes and ears of Team Wings who keeps them on point and oversees their financial well-being. Award-winning Japanese actor Yakusho Koji, known for films including: Shall We Dance, Babel (in which he starred with Brad Pitt and Oscar Winner Cate Blanchett), and Tampopo appears as team leader Captain Jiang. China’s own Jingchu Zhang (Rush Hour 3, Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation with Tom Cruise) plays mountain climber/team member Xiaodaizi who begins to suspect that everything is not as it seems during the rescue attempt. The experience was remarkable for Babak who notes, “Not only were the cast and crew extremely talented and professional but it was a truly unique experience due to the fact that there were so many different languages being spoken on set. It wasn’t uncommon for actors to have one or even two interpreters to communicate properly. Seeing everyone coordinate and perform so well in spite of this necessity, you really admire what they bring once the camera starts rolling. The best of the best were there behind the camera as well. Our stunt coordinators Han Guahua (The Foreigner) and Dan Redfold (Oscar Winning Film The Revenant) and our production manager Mark Voyce (The Bourne Legacy) were amazing to work with!” Wings Over Everest is set for a 2019 release.

In an industry that too often likes to present audiences with the most easily digestible version of a character or a group of people, Haleky has made a career of presenting characters which contrast this and in so doing bringing greater depth to his own work and the community in general. He explains, “I’ve been fortunate to play different roles in my career so far. Some of the roles I’ve played have been specific to my ethnicity and some have been general. A casting director once told me that I have kind eyes and that if I wanted to play bad guys I’d need to transform myself. I’ve never wanted to be that simple of an actor. The ‘bad guy’ doesn’t think he’s bad…at least not most of them. A series of events from his past have brought him to where we join him in this story and those events make up who he is and what he values. When approaching the character that way, it’s easy for me to just be in the moment and live and breathe rather than letting the mind think too much and reveal what the audience needs to wait for. I’d much rather be human and interesting than one-dimensional or obvious.”