Veteran actor Mohammad Bakri, widely known to U.S. audiences for his role on the hit series Homeland, has died at the age of 72.
According to multiple reports, Bakri passed away on December 24 after suffering heart problems. CNN reported that he was born in northern Israel and that his funeral was held the same day in his hometown of al-Bi’neh. The Associated Press noted that hundreds of mourners attended the service to pay their respects.
Bakri earned international recognition for portraying the fictional vice president of Afghanistan on Homeland, a role that introduced him to a wide American audience. Over the years, he built an extensive career across film and television, appearing in HBO’s The Night Of, FX’s Tyrant, and Peacock’s historical epic Those About to Die.
Long before his U.S. television work, Bakri gained acclaim for his performance in the Oscar-nominated 1984 prison drama Beyond the Walls, which remains one of his most celebrated film roles.
In addition to acting, Bakri was also a filmmaker. He directed the 2003 documentary Jenin, Jenin, which examined the aftermath of an Israeli military operation in the West Bank. The film was banned in Israel and became the subject of years-long legal battles, further cementing Bakri’s reputation as a controversial and outspoken artistic figure.
Bakri is survived by his wife and six children. Three of his sons — Saleh, Ziad, and Adam — followed in his footsteps and pursued acting careers of their own.