Demián Bichir
Demián Bichir Nájera (Spanish pronunciation: [deˈmjam biˈtʃiɾ ˈnaxeɾa];[lower-alpha 1] born August 1, 1963) is a Mexican-American actor and one of the members of the Bichir family of actors.[2][3] After starring in telenovelas, he appeared in Hollywood films.[4] He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Better Life.
Demián Bichir | |
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Bichir at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con | |
Born | Demián Bichir Nájera August 1, 1963 |
Citizenship |
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Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1977–present |
Spouse(s) | |
Partner(s) | Stefanie Sherk (2011–2019, died) |
Children | 1 |
Parents |
|
Relatives |
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Family | Bichir family |
Early life
Bichir was born in Torreón, the son of actors Alejandro Bichir and Maricruz Nájera.[5] His paternal family are actors of Lebanese origins.[6][7] His brothers are Odiseo Bichir and Bruno Bichir.[8] He worked at the National Theater Company, performed Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky, and won several awards from the Mexican Association of Theater Critics.[9] He attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and worked at the Rosa Mexicano Restaurant.[10]
Career
Bichir played Fidel Castro in Che[11] and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in A Better Life.[12][13] He starred in the television series The Bridge[14][15][16] and the western film The Hateful Eight.[17] His directorial debut film, Un Cuento de Circo & A Love Song, premiered at the Morelia International Film Festival.[18][19] Bichir starred in the prequel films, Alien: Covenant[20] and The Nun.[21] He joined the cast for the film Chaos Walking, based on Patrick Ness' trilogy novels.[22] Bichir starred in the ABC remake Grand Hotel, based on the eponymous series.[23]
Personal life
Bichir was in a relationship with Stefanie Sherk from 2011 to 2019.[24][25][26] Sherk was supposed to be part of the cast for the reboot film The Grudge, but she committed suicide on 12 April 2019 and died eight days later.[27] He was married to Lisset from 2001 to 2003. His daughter, Gala, is from a brief relationship with a Spanish woman.[28][29][30] He is an American Civil Liberties Union Ambassador for Immigration Rights.[31][32][33]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | The Penitent | Roberto | |
1989 | Rojo Amanecer | Jorge | |
1993 | Miroslava | Ricardo | |
1995 | Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're Dead | Omar | |
1996 | Solo | Rio | |
1997 | Perdita Durango | Catalina | |
1999 | Todo el poder | Gabriel | |
Sexo, pudor y lágrimas | Tomás | ||
2000 | Gimme the Power | Gabriel | |
2001 | Don't Tempt Me | Manny Chavez | |
In the Time of the Butterflies | Manolo Tavárez | ||
2004 | Hipnos | Miguel | |
2007 | Fuera del cielo | Everardo Sánchez | |
American Visa | Mario Alvarez | ||
2008 | Che | Fidel Castro | |
2010 | Hidalgo: La historia jamás contada | Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla | |
2011 | A Better Life | Carlos Galindo | Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor |
Foreverland | Salvador | ||
2012 | Savages | Alex Reyes | |
El Santos vs. la Tetona Mendoza | 'Pork' Gutiérrez | Voice[34] | |
2013 | The Heat | Hale | |
Machete Kills | Marcos 'The Madman' Mendez | ||
Dom Hemingway | Ivan Fontaine | ||
2014 | Death in Buenos Aires | Inspector Chávez | |
2015 | The Hateful Eight | Marco 'The Mexican' / Senor Bob | |
2016 | Good Kids | Yaco | |
Lowriders | Miguel Alvarez | ||
7:19 | Fernando Pellicer | ||
2017 | Alien: Covenant | Sergeant Lope | |
2018 | The Nun | Father Burke | |
2020 | The Grudge | Detective Goodman | |
The Midnight Sky | Sanchez | ||
2021 | Land | Miguel | |
Chaos Walking | Ben Moore | Post-production | |
Godzilla vs. Kong | Walter Simmons | Post-production | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | Rina | Juanito | |
1982 | Vivir enamorada | Nacho | |
1983 | Cuando los hijos se van | Ricardo | |
Choices of the Heart | Armando | Television film | |
1984 | Los años felices | Tomas | |
1988 | El rincón de los prodigios | Monchito | |
1995 | Lazos de Amor | Valente Segura | |
1996 | Nada personal | Comandante Alfonso Carbajal | |
2008 | Weeds | Esteban Carlos Reyes | 27 episodes |
2013 | The Bridge | Detective Marco Ruiz | 26 episodes |
2019 | Grand Hotel | Santiago Mendoza | Main role |
Accolades
Award | Category | Title | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Academy Awards | Best Actor | A Better Life | Nominated |
ALMA Awards | Favorite Movie Actor | Nominated | |
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Male Lead | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | |
Black Reel Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |
Gold Derby Awards | Best Cast | The Hateful Eight | Nominated |
Hollywood Film Awards | Best Cast | Won |
Notes
- In isolation, Demián is pronounced [deˈmjan].
References
- Bichir, Demian (2 July 2012). "Demian Bichir: 'What It Means To Be American' (VIDEO)". HuffPost.
- Smiley, Tavis (18 July 2014). "Actor-activist Demián Bichir". Tavis Smiley. PBS. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Bichir, Demian (10 June 2014). "Exiled: The Obama Administration's Horrifying Deportation Record". HuffPost.
- Main, Ph.D.first1=S.J. (27 February 2012). "Actor Demian Bichir Talks Hollywood, Scarlett, Oscars & Being Latino (PHOTOS)". HuffPost.
- "Demián Bichir" (in Spanish). cronica.com.mx. Televisa. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- Gayle, Carter. "Demián Bichir Runs a Miami Hotel Full of Sexy Secrets in 'Grand Hotel'". Aarp.org.
- "Medalla de plata Filmoteca UNAM al primer actor Demian Bichir". filmoteca.unam.mx.
- "Demián Bichir" (in Spanish). Milenio. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- "The Stubbornness of Demian Bichir". Backstage.com. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- Corcoran, Katherine (23 February 2012). "Demian Bichir: Oscar Nominee For 'A Better Life' Interview On Leaving Mexico And His Move To The U.S." HuffPost.
- Balfour, Brad (6 June 2009). "The Young Castro Comes Alive In Soderbergh's Epic Che Through Actor Demian Bichir's Performance". HuffPost.
- "Nominees-The Oscars 2012". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- Rodriguez, Cindy Y. (24 January 2012). "Demián Bichir: Mexican Actor Nominated For An Academy Award For Best Actor In 'A Better Life' (VIDEO)". HuffPost.
- Petrarca, Emilia (10 July 2013). "Crossing the Bridge". Interview. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Sager, Mike (23 July 2014). "Demian and Bruno Bichir Talk Working Together on The Bridge". Esquire. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Amatangelo, Amy (10 September 2014). "Catching Up With Demian Bichir of The Bridge". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Ramisetti, Kirthana (November 6, 2014). "'The Hateful Eight' cast announced: Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Channing Tatum among all-star cast in Quentin Tarantino's latest film". Daily News. New York City. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- Aguilar, Carlos (5 September 2014). "Demian Bichir Talks Diversity and Latino Representation in Film and TV". Indiewire. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- de la Fuente, Anna Marie (20 August 2016). "Morelia Film Fest To Unveil Demian Bichir's Debut 'Un Cuento de Circo & a Love Song'". Variety. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- Fleming, Jr., Mike (February 22, 2016). "Demian Bichir Joins Ridley Scott's 'Alien: Covenant'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- McNary, Dave (5 April 2017). "Demian Bichir to Star in 'Conjuring 2' Spinoff 'The Nun'". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
- N'Duka, Amanda (3 August 2017). "Demian Bichir Joins Lionsgate's 'Chaos Walking'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- Boucher, Ashley (2 March 2018). "Lands 'Grand Hotel' Pilot at ABC". The Wrap. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- "Demián Bichir's Wife Stefanie Sherk's Cause of Death Revealed as Suicide by Drowning". PEOPLE.com.
- "Demian Bichir and wife Stefanie Sherk: Through the years". www.azcentral.com.
- "From soccer dreams to 'The Bridge:' Demian Bichir shares his passion for acting". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- "Demian Bichir's wife Stefanie Sherk drowned in pool, death ruled as suicide". meaww.com.
- Mandell, Andrea (18 January 2012). "Demian Bichir disappears into Oscar-worthy role". USA Today. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Grossman, Samantha (24 January 2012). "Demián Bichir, Star of A Better Life and Surprise Oscar Nominee". Time. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Kuckzynski, Alex (19 August 2011). "The Devil and Demian Bichir". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "Demian Bichir: ACLU Ambassador Project". ACLU. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- "Mexican Actor Demian Bichir Named New ACLU 'Ambassador On Immigration Rights'". Fox News Latino. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- Carter, Gayle Jo (23 July 2014). "Demian Bichir builds a 'Bridge' from acting to activism". USA Today. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- "Personajes". El Santos vs. La Tetona Mendoza. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
External links
- Demián Bichir at IMDb
- Radio interview with Demián Bichir on Fresh Air discussing The Bridge (38 mins, 2013)