Paul Ahmarani

One of Canada's most respected actors, Paul Ahmarani chose a variety of roles that endeared him to audiences from all walks of life. The Quebec, Canada native was born in 1972 to an Egyptian father and Canadian mother. A 1989 graduate of the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Quebec, he attended the Conservatory of Dramatic Art in Montreal. Early in his career, Ahmarani worked on stage and served as master of ceremonies for the Cirque du Soleil production of "Mystère" in Las Vegas. He made his Canadian television debut in 1999 on the sci-fi series "Dans une galaxie près de chez vous," before appearing that same year in "Le dernier soufflé." Ahmarani quickly moved up to starring roles, headlining in "Rats and Rabbits" (2000), "The Left-Hand Side of the Fridge" (2000), and the fantasy thriller "The Marsh" (2002), playing a 19th-century outcast accused of murder. Aside from acting, Ahmarani also established a successful recording career. In 2005, he released the album Portrait vivant under the billing Paul Ahmarani et les nouveaus maries (Paul Ahmarani and the Newlyweds). He continued wowing audiences with his onscreen projects, such as the TV movie "Marie-Antoinette" (2006) and the critically acclaimed film "Congorama" (2006), which earned Ahmarani his second Jutra Award for Best Actor (he had received his first in 2001 for "The Left-Hand Side of the Fridge"). In 2011, Ahmarani delivered another knockout performance in the drama "The Future Is Now!" as the main character simply named Man of Today.