Hamza Haq (born October 27, 1990) is a Canadian actor, best known for his leading role of Bashir Hamed in the medical drama television series Transplant, which earned him three consecutive Canadian Screen Awards (2021, 2022, 2023).
Early life Hamza Haq was born to Pakistani parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before immigrating to Canada when he was nine years old, where he became a Canadian citizen. His father worked for an airline while his mother was an organic chemist. He learned English from a school in the Filipino embassy in Saudi Arabia before switching to an American school. He later attended Bell High School in Ottawa, Ontario. Haq graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in film studies with a minor in Law.
Career Haq started his career with roles on various television series, before taking on roles in feature films. As an actor, his work has included the television series Quantico and limited series The Indian Detective. He was also the host for the children's television series Look Kool.
At the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, he received a nomination for Best Performance in a Guest Role in a Drama Series for an appearance on This Life, and in 2019 he received the Star award from the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival.
In 2020, he assumed the lead role in the television series Transplant, and had a supporting role in Philippe Falardeau's film My Salinger Year.
In his year-end review of television in 2020, critic John Doyle of The Globe and Mail named Haq as having given one of the year's best performances in Canadian television.John Doyle, "Great Canadian TV performances of 2020". The Globe and Mail, December 15, 2020. The industry trade magazine Playback also named Haq as Canadian television's breakout star of 2020.Jordan Pinto, "Breakout Star of the Year 2020: Hamza Haq; The star of CTV's Transplant has emerged as one of Canadian television's leading lights, garnering international acclaim and shifting the way Muslims have historically been portrayed on screen.". Playback, December 17, 2020.
Haq won the award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for Transplant at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021 and at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.Adina Bresge, "'Scarborough' top film winner at Canadian Screen Awards" . CP24, April 10, 2022. In 2023, he won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performer in Drama Series.
Following the end of Transplant, Haq was announced as playing Tommy Hawley, a man suspected of involvement in a criminal smuggling ring, in the forthcoming Crave crime drama series The Borderline.Stewart Clarke, "Stephen Amell, Minnie Driver, Hamza Haq To Star In Crime Series ‘Underbelly’ For Canadian Streamer Crave; Shaftesbury Producing & Fifth Season Across Sales". Deadline Hollywood, October 22, 2024.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRole Notes2013Rulers of DarknessHeyman2014Girl HouseTechie #12017Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2Khalid The Glass CastleInternUncreditedMother!Refugee2018 The Death & Life of John F. DonovanJournalist #22019Run This TownDetective SharmaLong ShotMSNBC AnchorUncredited2020My Salinger YearKarl2021CrisisSupermarket Manager2022Delia's GoneLarryVikingGary2023 The Queen of My DreamsHassanWith Love and a Major OrganGeorge
Television YearTitleRole Notes2013 A Sister's RevengeRestaurant WorkerTelevision film2014 The Best Laid PlansRajEpisode: "Going Brogue"Being HumanVampire #1Episode: "Ramona the Pest"19-2OrderlyEpisode: "Winter"2015, 2016QuanticoTech / Analyst2 episodes2015–2016 The Art of MoreUzay Almasi14 episodes2015–2016Look KoolHamza24 episodes2015, 2017At Your FeetHamza / Sweet Guy2 episodes2016This LifeRaza Ali10 episodes The Perfect StalkerAmirTelevision film2017Mistakes Were MadeJohn4 episodes The Bold TypeTrevorEpisode: "The End of the Beginning"Designated SurvivorPeter JanEpisode: "Family Ties" The Indian DetectiveGopal / Amal Chandekar4 episodes2018 The DetectivesAl Lalani Jr.Episode: "Burning Season"In ContemptHakeem5 episodesNo Escape RoomTylerTelevision film2019 The 410Jass3 episodesJettFred Mooney2020–2024TransplantDr. Bashir HamedSeries lead2023Crashing EidSameerSeries lead2026The BorderlineTommy Hawley
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