Youssef Kerkour (born 9 June 1978) is a Moroccan-British actor. He is best known for portraying Syrian refugee Sami in the comedy-drama series Home (2019–2020), for which he was nominated at the 2020 British Academy Television Awards, and Steely Pate in the fantasy drama series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026).
Early life and education Kerkour grew up in Rabat, Morocco. His father was a Moroccan mathematics professor and his mother an English schoolteacher; they had met in France in the 1960s and moved together to Morocco. As a child, Kerkour loved to sing and dance, and idolised Bruce Lee after his father took him to a screening of the film Enter the Dragon. In his early teens, Kerkour took a school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, the home town of William Shakespeare, and attended a production of Henry V; he credits this experience with inspiring his love of acting.
Kerkour moved to the United States to study psychology at Bard College, but spent much of his time taking dance and acting classes instead. He began pursuing an acting career at the encouragement of a university professor.
Career In 2001, Kerkour played The Visitor in a production of the Steve Martin play Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Unable to obtain a visa to remain in the United States, Kerkour moved to England and continued his acting career. He spent two years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and five years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Kerkour starred in the comedy-drama TV series Home, which debuted in March 2019 and lasted for two series. In the series, he played Sami Ibrahim, a Syrian asylum seeker who moves in with a middle-class English family. The role was based on the experiences of real-ife Syrian refugee Hassan Akkad. Kerkour had not expected to be cast as Sami, since it was such a departure from the typecast violent characters he would usually play. In 2020, he said:"I spent my life playing terrorists. That's my USP, that's why I grew my beard. I'm a very big guy. I speak Arabic, so a big bearded Arabic man, there's really one kind of part, traditionally. [Playing] Sami is the first time somebody has taken the chance and given me something more."For his role as Sami, Kerkour was nominated for Best Male Comedy Performance at the 2020 British Academy Television Awards, losing the award to Jamie Demetriou (for Stath Lets Flats). In 2021, Kerkour starred in Ridley Scott film House of Gucci, playing the role of Iraqi Turkmen financier Nemir Kirdar. He has a role in Scott's 2023 historical drama Napoleon, alongside Joaquin Phoenix. Kerkour is slated to appear in a film adaptation of The Alchemist, alongside Sebastian de Souza and Tom Hollander. In 2026, he portrayed Steely Pate in the HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Personal life , Kerkour is married, with a two-year-old daughter. He has described himself as a "notorious coffee drinker" in the cafes of Soho.
Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released
Film +YearTitleRole NotesRef. 2004 American Tale Nate Collins Short film2006 Cross Eyed Ernie Infinite Justice Drunk G.I. The Discipline of D.E. Bartender / Drunkard / Cop Short film 2010 Idle-Hands Achilles Short film2011 360 Policeman Phoenix (Morgue) The Lighter Boris Short film2013 Hummingbird Bouzanis Side by Side Dark Knight 2017 Lost in London Winston the Bouncer 2018 Another Day of Life Farrusco2019 Close Mr Kabila Hamsbury Book Club George Short film2021 Ron's Gone Wrong Additional voices House of Gucci Nemir Kirdar Pirates Uncle Ibbs 2022 A Bit of Light Joseph2023 Matar Jameel Napoleon Marshal Davout 2025 Steve Owen The Actor Black Jack / Ed / Defense Attorney / Bus driver 2026 The Gallerist
Television YearTitleRole NotesRef. 2006 The Path to 9/11 Red / Abouhalima 2 episodes 2007 Holby City Jalil Amara Episode: "Someone to Watch Over Me" 2013 Royal Shakespeare Company: Richard II Lord WilloughbyTelevision film2014 Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry IV Part IWestmoreland Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry IV Part II Royal Shakespeare Company: The Two Gentlemen of Verona Eglamour, Sir 2016 Marcella Hassan El-Sayed 2 episodes2017 Doctors Jamahl Habib Episode: "It's Strange" Strike Back Sabil Adiz Episode: "Retribution: Part 1" Bounty Hunters Youssef 3 episodes2018 Jack Ryan Mr Sadik Episode: "End of Honor" Nightflyers Hartley Suczek 3 episodes2019 Criminal: UK Jay Muthassin Episode: "Jay" Gavin & Stacey Emlyn Episode: "A Special Christmas" 2019–2020 Home Sami 12 episodes2020 Dracula Olgaren Episode: "Blood Vessel" Sex Education Nathan Episode #2.5 Baghdad Central Karl 6 episodes Cursed Pellam 3 episodes Worzel Gummidge Farmer Brawn Episode: "Saucy Nancy"2021 0121 Mr Simmons Miniseries Domina Maecenas 3 episodes Stay Close Fester 6 episodes2022 Murder, They Hope Bob Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Scream" Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor Adventures Agrandir (voice) Episode: "London Orbital"2023 Man Like Mobeen Megalodon 4 episodes Significant Other Sam 6 episodes Death in Paradise Dave Chadwick Episode: "Christmas Special"2024 We Might Regret This Baker Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3" Disclaimer Richard Perkins Episode: "I" 2025Lockerbie Nabil 1 episode 2026A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Steely Pate 3 episodes 2026Ride or Die Brian 1 episode Assassin's Creed Recurring role
Video games YearTitleRoleRef. 2003 Conflict: Desert Storm II US Foley, US Sgt. Arnold 2004 Street Racing Syndicate Voice 2020 Assassin's Creed Valhalla French Militant 2021 Assassin's Creed Valhalla – The Siege of Paris Voice 2023 Saltsea Chronicles Jayantha / Miquel / QA (voice) 2024 Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Orod / Deserter / Erlik (voice)
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