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Ari'el Stachel

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Ari'el Stachel
Stachel in 2018
Born (1991-07-29) July 29, 1991 (age 33)
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Alma materNew York University, Tisch School of the Arts
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2014–present

Ari'el Stachel (born July 29, 1991)[1] is an American actor. He won the 2018 Tony Award for Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in The Band's Visit.[2][3]

Early life

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Stachel was born and raised in Berkeley, California. His father, Aaron Yeshayahu,[4] the son of Yemenite Jewish immigrants, was born and raised in Israel; his mother, Laura Stachel, is an Ashkenazi Jew from New York. The two met while at Jewish folk dancing in San Francisco.[5]

Stachel has said that while growing up, he was uncomfortable with his ethnic heritage. His parents divorced when he was young, and he chose to use his mother's last name in part to avoid being associated with his father's Middle Eastern background. He was in fifth grade when the 9/11 terror attacks occurred, and rather than be identified as part Arab, he told friends he was half Black. As a teenager, he avoided being seen in public with his father, and even excluded him from his high school graduation, as he "didn’t want to be seen with somebody who looked like an Arab." He finally embraced his heritage after being cast in The Band's Visit.[4][6][7][8]

Stachel had his first role in a school musical at age 15, after which he left Berkeley High School to attend the Oakland School for the Arts.[6] He went on to study drama at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Career

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Following graduation, Stachel landed several stage roles and appeared on the CBS drama Blue Bloods and the Netflix series Jessica Jones before reading the script for The Band's Visit. He auditioned seven times over nine months before landing the role,[6] for which he received Lortel Award and Drama Desk Award nominations before winning the Tony Award.[9] In an emotional acceptance speech, Stachel thanked his parents and acknowledged his long struggle to accept his heritage. He stated, "I want any kid that's watching to know that your biggest obstacle may turn into your purpose."[10] In 2019, Stachel began starring in the LGBTQ+ fantasy podcast The Two Princes as Prince Amir.[11]

In 2020, Stachel became a recurring cast member on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Sergeant Hasim Khaldun.[12]

Stachel appeared 2021 film Zola as Sean, the title character's fiancé.[13]

In 2020, Stachel was set to appear in a starring role alongside David Hyde Pierce in The Public Theater's new musical adaptation of the 2007 film The Visitor.[14] Stachel, who is of Yemeni and Ashkenazi Jewish descent, was cast to play the character of Tarek, an undocumented Syrian refugee. Stachel publicly discussed his frustration over his character’s accent. During an interview with Playbill, Stachel stated his intent to "speak English without any hint that [his character] was not raised in the United States," unlike in the original film.[15] Due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the show’s Off-Broadway premiere was postponed. A few weeks into lockdowns, The Public Theater released a video of a musical number from the show that featured lead vocals from Stachel.[16] By October 2021, the show was set to return to the stage for its official opening. However, a few days before previews were slated to begin, the show was delayed to address depictions of race and Arab-American representation.[17][18] A few days later, it was announced that Stachel and The Public Theater's leadership had made a “mutual decision” that Stachel would depart the production.[19] Stachel was replaced by his understudy, Ahmad Maksoud.[18]

Personal life

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Stachel is in a relationship with KiKi Layne, whom he met on the set of Don't Worry Darling in the fall of 2020.[20]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 Zola Sean
2022 Don't Worry Darling Ted

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Blue Bloods Chuck Murtaugh Episode: "Rush to Judgment"
2015 Jessica Jones Victor Episode: "AKA You're a Winner!"
2019 Billions Brian Dana Episode: "Infinite Game"
2020–2022 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sergeant Hasim Khaldun 6 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2017 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical The Band's Visit Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical[21] Nominated
2018 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Won
2019 Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album[22] Won
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program (with the cast of The Band's Visit) Won

References

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  1. ^ "Ariel Stachel, Born 07/29/1991 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "The Band's Visit Standout Ari'el Stachel Wins First Tony Award: 'Know That Your Biggest Ostacle May Turn into Your Purpose'". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  3. ^ "Ari'el Stachel Says Playing a 'Non-Terrorist' Character in The Band's Visit Feels 'Seismic'". People. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  4. ^ a b "Tony winner Ari'el Stachel embraces his identity while starring in 'The Band's Visit'". Jewish Ledger. 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  5. ^ Wall, Alix (9 June 2023). "Tony Winner Ariel Stachel Comes Home to Berkeley to Premiere Deeply Personal One Man Show". J. J Weekly. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c North, Steve (20 December 2017). "Berkeley actor finds Jewish-Arab identity on Broadway in 'Band's Visit' adaptation". J. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. ^ Stachel, Ari'el (4 June 2018). "I Once Hid My Middle Eastern Identity. Being Cast in the Musical The Band's Visit Changed That". Time. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  8. ^ Quinn, Dave (30 May 2018). "Ari'el Stachel Says Playing a 'Non-Terrorist' Character in The Band's Visit Feels 'Seismic'". People.com. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Ari Stachel". Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "Read Ari'el Stachel's full Tony acceptance speech". Los Angeles Times. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Introducing: The Two Princes | The Two Princes". Gimlet. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  12. ^ "Are Rollins and the New Guy Getting Together and Is This the End of Rollisi?". Distractify. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  13. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (2018-11-20). "Ari'el Stachel Joins 'Zola';' Dirk Gently's Fiona Dourif Cast In 'Unsinkable'". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  14. ^ "David Hyde Pierce & Ari'el Stachel in New Musical The Visitor & More Set for Public Theater's 2019-2020 Season". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  15. ^ Meyer, Dan (April 5, 2021). "Why Ari'el Stachel Insisted His The Visitor Character's Accent Be Removed". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  16. ^ Clement, Olivia (April 15, 2020). "See Ari'el Stachel and David Hyde Pierce Perform 'Heart in Your Hands' From The Visitor". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  17. ^ McPhee, Ryan (September 29, 2021). "The Visitor, A Week Before Starting, Pauses to Reflect and De-Center Whiteness". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  18. ^ a b Evans, Greg (2021-10-20). "Ari'el Stachel Departs Stage Adaptation Of 'The Visitor'; Tony-Winning Actor Had Expressed Concern Over Musical's Depiction Of Arab-American Character". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  19. ^ "Jewish actor declines Off-Broadway role as Syrian immigrant amid conversation about representation". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  20. ^ KiKi Layne Says She’s “Still Thriving” Despite Scenes Being Cut From ‘Don’t Worry Darling’
  21. ^ Cox, Gordon (2017-05-08). "Tony-Nominated 'Oslo' Tops Off Broadway's Lortel Awards (Full List)". Variety. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  22. ^ TV News Desk. "The Band's Visit, Carousel & More Nominated for 2019 Grammy Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
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