Farrid Murray Abraham Actor Date of Birth: 24.10.1939 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Career
2. Theater and Early Film Roles
3. Recognition and Breakthrough
4. Role of Antonio Salieri
5. Career and Awards
6. Recent Works

Early Life and Career

Farid Murray Abraham, known as Fahrid Murray Abraham, was born in 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father was a Syrian immigrant and a mechanic, while his mother was an Italian homemaker. He spent his childhood in El Paso, near the Mexican border. As a teenager, Murray found romance in the company of a teenage gang involved in minor crimes. However, he chose not to pursue a career in crime and instead enrolled at the University of Austin in Texas.

Theater and Early Film Roles

After graduating from university, Abraham began his acting career on the theater stage. In 1966, he made his debut in Ray Bradbury's play "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit." The following year, he appeared in the off-Broadway production of "The Fantasticks," alongside Jerry Orbach and Nancy Allen. Abraham's first film role came in Anthony Harvey's "They Might Be Giants," although his part was not significant at the time.

Recognition and Breakthrough

Although Abraham's early film roles did not bring him fame or awards, he continued to hone his craft and caught the attention of several directors. In the early 1970s, he gained recognition for his role in Herbert Ross' "The Sunshine Boys," which won multiple Academy Awards. Throughout the decade, he appeared in films such as Alan J. Pakula's "All the President's Men" and Dan Cohen's "Madman," where his character was the title role.

Role of Antonio Salieri

In 1983, Abraham starred in Brian De Palma's film "Scarface," which marked a turning point in his career. However, it was his role as Antonio Salieri in Milos Forman's "Amadeus" in 1984 that forever changed his status, character roles, and ambitions. Abraham's portrayal of Salieri was hailed as truly brilliant, overshadowing his co-star Tom Hulce. Many believed that the film should have been titled "Salieri" instead of "Amadeus" due to Abraham's exceptional performance.

Career and Awards

Following the success of "Amadeus," Abraham's career soared, and he became one of the most recognizable faces in the film industry. He has since appeared in nearly one hundred roles, with the majority being substantial characters rather than minor parts. Abraham has received numerous prestigious awards from film festivals and academies, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Recent Works

In 2009, Abraham played leading roles in Slava Tsukerman's drama "Perestroika" and the historical drama "Barbarossa" directed by Renzo Martinelli. Despite his extensive career, Abraham continues to take on new projects and has established himself as a highly respected and talented actor in the film industry.