Ahmed Best
Ahmed Best (born August 19, 1973) is an American actor, voice actor, and musician. He gained recognition in the 2000s for providing motion capture and voice of the character of Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars franchise. He also created, wrote, directed and produced his own TV show, which he titled This Can't Be My Life.
Best likewise collaborated with director George Lucas in three films and five episodes of the cartoon show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He won the Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production for lampooning Jar Jar Binks in Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II.
Early life
Ahmed Best was born on August 19, 1973 in New York City. He lived the majority of his formative years in the Soundview section of the Bronx. He moved to Maplewood, New Jersey in 1984. He attended Columbia High School. He then
studied percussion at the Manhattan School of Music.[1]
Career
In 1994, Ahmed joined the acid jazz group The Jazzhole. He contributed to the success of the group for two years. He co-wrote and co-produced three albums for the group including The Jazzhole, And the Feeling Goes Around and The Beat is the Bomb. In 1995, he co-wrote and co-produced Escape by Bill Evans.
In 1995, he joined the cast of the Obie Award winning cast of Stomp. He toured with the cast of Stomp throughout the US and Europe.[1]
In 1997, after casting director Robin Gurland had observed his flexible, athletic movements in Stomp, Ahmed was cast as Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005). He reprised the role on the Star Wars themed episode of Robot Chicken (as well as its sequel), Star Wars: The Clone Wars and on an episode of Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report. Unfortunately for Best, Binks drew hostility from moviegoers. Much to his subsequent credit, Best also appeared with fellow Star Wars alumni Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor and Daran Norris on the TV show Big Time Rush.
Discography
| Song |
Note |
| "The Jazzhole" |
Co-wrote and co-produced |
| "And The Feeling Goes Around" |
| "The Beat is the Bomb" |
| "Secret" |
|
| "Falling Apart" |
|
| "Take Time" |
|
| "Mean What You Say" |
|
| "Sweet Child" |
|
| "I Wonder" |
|
| "Is It Worth" |
|
| "Dear James" |
|
| "It's the Jazz" |
on the album "Vitality of Expression" by Jeff Peretz |
| "Forms of the Rhythm" |
Filmography
Film
Television
Short films
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Note |
| 2002 |
Friendly Criminal |
Himself |
|
| 2003 |
The Stockholm Syndrome |
Himself |
|
| There's a Sucker Born Every Minute |
Nathan |
|
| 2005 |
Escorched |
Richard Prentiss |
|
| 2007 |
Charlie's Bitch Ass Hos |
Makeafoolofme West |
|
| 2008 |
This Can't Be My Life |
Ahmed |
|
Documentary
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Note |
| 1999 |
From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Magic |
Himself |
|
| 2001 |
The Beginning: Making Star Wars Episode 1 |
Himself |
|
| R2-D2: Beneath the Dome |
Himself |
uncredited |
| 2005 |
Science of Star Wars |
Himself |
|
| 2009 |
Black to the Future |
Himself |
|
| 2010 |
The Life of Bob Marley |
Bob Marley |
|
| 2001 Maniacs: Behind the Screams |
Himself |
|
Music
| Year |
Title |
Songs |
| 2010 |
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams |
"The South's Gonna Rise Again"
"Rot in Hell"
"Hey Hey Howdy Howdy Hey"
"Fun, Games and Feastin'"
"Building From the Ground Up" |
Composer
| Year |
Title |
Note |
| 2008 |
This Can't Be My Life |
Episode: The Pink Pages (Theme song) |
Director
| Year |
Title |
Note |
| 2008 |
This Can't Be My Life |
Short film |
| Episode: The Pink Pages |
Video games
Producer
| Year |
Title |
Note |
| 2007 |
The DL Chronicles |
Episodes: Wes & Robert (executive producer)
Boo & Mark (co-executive producer) |
| 2008 |
This Can't Be My Life |
Episode: The Pink Pages (co-producer) |
Writer
| Year |
Title |
Note |
| 2008 |
This Can't Be My Life |
Short film |
| Episode: The Pink Pages |
Theatre
References
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ahmed Best. |
