Ahmed Best

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Ahmed Best (born August 19, 1973) is an American actor, comedian and musician. He is known for providing the voice and motion capture for the character Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars franchise.

Best likewise collaborated with director George Lucas in three films and seven episodes of the animated show Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He won the Annie Award for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production for portraying Jar Jar Binks in Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II. He also voices Roux, a powerful mythical being in the video game South of Midnight.

Early life

1973-1993: Childhood and education

Ahmed Best was born in New York City on August 19, 1973.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Born in Roosevelt Hospital, he lived the majority of his formative years in the Soundview section of the Bronx. Best and his family moved to Maplewood, New Jersey in 1984.<ref>Givens, Roy. "Jar Wars: Fame & Blame", New York Daily News, June 3, 1999. Accessed July 15, 2022. "Best himself was born at Roosevelt Hospital and grew up in the Soundview neighborhood in the Bronx. Best's family moved to Maplewood, N.J."</ref> He attended Columbia High School, graduating in 1991. He then studied percussion at the Manhattan School of Music.<ref name=OfficialBio>Template:Cite web</ref>

Best is the younger brother of Dunia Best Sinnreich, lead singer and co-founder of Brave New Girl, Dubistry and Agent 99 and formerly with The Slackers.

Career

1994-1995: Early work

In 1994, Best 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 Obie Award-winning cast of Stomp. He toured with the cast of Stomp throughout the US and Europe.<ref name=OfficialBio />

Star Wars

1997-2014: Star Wars prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars

Template:See also 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).Template:Sfn His first audition for George Lucas "was a motion-capture session."Template:Sfn He wore a full body suit on set during principal photographyTemplate:Sfn and originally, it was planned to only animate his character's head.Template:Sfn Best described his character as, "A loyal, honest, innocent character who really means well."Template:Sfn His involvement on the production is featured in the 2001 documentary, The Beginning: Making Star Wars Episode I.

Best reprised the role in the Robot Chicken specials Robot Chicken: Star Wars and Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and an episode of Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report.Template:Episode needed Best also portrayed an Outlander Club patron, Achk Med-Beq in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.Template:Sfn C-3PO actor, Anthony DanielsTemplate:Efn told Best "that they were going to let [him] reveal [his] face" in the film so Best decided to take part in the scene.Template:Sfn His character can be seen in the Outlander Club on Coruscant when Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi pursue the changeling assasin, Zam Wesell.

Initially, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace received mixed reviews, however, it became the highest grossing film of 1999 and the highest-grossing Star Wars film at the time of its release. Best said he put a lot of himself into the character, so when Jar Jar drew hostility from audiences, it sometimes extended toward the actor or he otherwise interpreted it personally. Best reprised his role in the following two films rounding up the prequel trilogy but appeared in few scenes. The character of Jar Jar Binks was so disliked that Best considered suicide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="News18">Template:Cite news</ref> This evoked support from fans and some of the cast including Frank Oz and Star Wars: The Last Jedi film director, Rian Johnson.<ref name="News18"/> Oz said, "I just will never understand the harshness of people's dislike of [Jar Jar Binks]. I do character work. He is a GREAT character!"<ref name="News18"/> Johnson tweeted, "Lots of love to you Ahmed. I think there are many of us who'd get quite a lot from hearing your story."<ref name="News18"/>

2019: Reappraisal

Following a reappraisal of the prequel trilogy, Anthony Daniels said in his memoirs that "the years have been kinder to this, the first Prequel. Many, who were young at the time, still hold it, and Jar Jar Binks as their dearest memory of the Saga."Template:Sfn Daniels praised Best for his "quick-witted humour" during the first Star Wars Celebration held at Denver, Colorado, a few weeks before the release of The Phantom Menace.Template:Sfn A lot of the cast (including Liam Neeson) and crew defended Best. Neeson, who was aware about the criticism Best faced, praised him for his humour and talent. He said that Best "was probably one of the funniest guys and talented guys I have ever worked with."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jake Lloyd who also faced criticism over his performance also praised Best for his humour saying, "He is one of the coolest guys that I've ever met."Template:Sfn

In 2019, as part of the 20th anniversary, Best cited the audience (The Phantom Menace was aimed for) reaching adulthood and their perspective on the film as some of the reasons for the reappraisal of the prequel trilogy. He said, "the prequels, that's theirs, and they defend the prequels. So I see the same thing. I see the resurgence of The Phantom Menace."<ref name="SW2019">Template:Cite web</ref> Initially, Best was hesitant about attending Star Wars Celebration Chicago in 2019 due to the criticism and spending "most of [his] time defending" the film and his character.<ref name="SW2019"/> However, he was moved by the warm welcome he received from the crowd during the Star Wars Show Live and The Phantom Menace 20th anniversary panel - as well as positive reception and the newfound appreciation for the film.<ref name="SW2019"/><ref name="BBCNews">Template:Cite news</ref> George Lucas named Jar Jar as his favourite character and praised Best, saying, "Ahmed, you did a fantastic job. It was very, very hard."<ref name="BBCNews"/>

Best appeared with fellow Star Wars alumni Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, and Daran Norris on the TV show Big Time Rush.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also appeared in the second season of the documentary television series, Light & Magic and talked about the significance of his character (being Lucasfilm's first CGI character), the experience making The Phantom Menace, as well as the criticism he faced following the film's release.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020-present: Return to Star Wars franchise

Template:Quote box In late May 2020, Lucasfilm announced that Best would star as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in the game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, which premiered in June 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best reprised the role of Beq in the third season of The Mandalorian, a live-action series set in the Star Wars universe.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine</ref> His character rescued Grogu from Darth Sidious's Jedi Purge and acted as his protector preceding the Mandalorian.<ref name="RadioTimes">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn Best received praise for his performance from the crew and audience.

Dave Filoni said, "We love Ahmed, and he did such a great job. It was a real thrill for us to get him involved."<ref name="EW">Template:Cite web</ref> Filoni and Jon Favreau said that there is a possibility that Best could appear as Kelleran Beq again.<ref name="EW"/> Best confirmed that Kelleran Beq is related to Achk Med-Beq.<ref name="RadioTimes"/> In 2023, when discussing the possibility of playing Jar Jar again, Best said, “I would never say never. I don’t feel like Jar Jar’s story was ever closed”.<ref name="Guardian">Template:Cite web</ref> He has expressed an interest in exploring Kelleran Beq further and doing "a Star Wars martial arts show".<ref name="Guardian"/>

Best voiced Darth Jar Jar, a Sith Lord version of his character in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy (2024-2025).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He reprised this role in the video game Fortnite Battle Royale.<ref name="VergeFortnite">Template:Cite web</ref>

Best has attended several conventions as part of Star Wars Celebration as a guest since 1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Sfn He attended Star Wars Celebration Japan in April 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 11 October 2025, an upcoming Marvel Comics comic book title, Jar Jar Binks #1 was announced at New York Comic Con. Best and Guggenheim will write the issue and it will feature Best's characters, Jar Jar Binks and Kelleran Beq.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other work

In addition to his acting roles, Best has worked as an adjunct professor at Stanford University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His Stanford classes have touched on subjects such as art and Afrofuturism.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2008, he also wrote, directed, and produced the pilot for a television show called This Can't Be My Life.

Best also holds the rank of Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Note	Template:Tooltip
1989	Lean on Me	Extra
1999	Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace	Jar Jar Binks	Voice and motion capture	<ref name="btva">Template:Cite web A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>Template:Sfn
2002	Friendly Criminal	Himself	Short film
	Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones	Jar Jar Binks and Achk Med-Beq	Voice and cameo	<ref name="btva" />Template:Sfn
	Armitage: Dual Matrix	Mouse	Voice; English version
2003	The Stockholm Syndrome	Himself	Short film
	There's a Sucker Born Every Minute	Nathan	Short film
2004	Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.!	Louis Booker	Voice	<ref name="btva" />
2005	Escorched	Richard Prentiss	Short film
	Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith	Jar Jar Binks	Voice
2006	Open Window	Rufus
2007	Charlie's Bitch Ass Hos	Makeafoolofme West	Short film
2009	Mother and Child	Julian
2010	The Pink House	Actor Judge
	2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams	Crow
2011	Poolboy: Drowning Out The Fury	Sidney Moncrief
	Some Guy Who Kills People	Mayor Maxwell
2012	FDR: American Badass!	Curtis
2013	DJ	Mouse (Armitage segments)
	W.M.D.	News Reporter

Television

Year	Title	Role	Note
2003	Alias	Seth	Episode: "A Free Agent"
2006	The Colbert Report	Jar Jar Binks (voice)	Episode: "George Lucas"
2007	Robot Chicken: Star Wars	Jar Jar Binks, AT-AT Driver (voice)	Television film
	The DL Chronicles	Template:N/A	Episodes: Wes & Robert (executive producer) Boo & Mark (co-executive producer)
2008	This Can't Be My Life	Ahmed	Episode: "The Pink Pages"; also composer, co-producer, writer, and director
	Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II	Jar Jar Binks, Stormtrooper (voice)	Television film Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form
	5 Second Movies	Himself
2008–14	Star Wars: The Clone Wars	Jar Jar Binks, Lyonie (voice)	7 episodes<ref name="btva" />
2009	Cougar Town	Dwayne	Episode: "Mystery Man"
2009–12	Big Time Rush	Marketer, Rob	3 episodes
2010	Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III	Jar Jar Binks, Carl the Stormtrooper (voice)	Television film
2011	Law & Order: LA	Dell Gregory	Episode: "Runyon Canyon"
	Zeke and Luther	Sal Sackelson	Episode: "Bro'd Trip"
	In the Flow with Affion Crockett	Black Jock
2012	Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out	Jar Jar Binks (voice)	Television short
2020	Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge	Jedi Master Kelleran Beq	<ref name=":0" />
	The George Lucas Talk Show	Himself	Episode: "Best in Show"
2023	The Mandalorian	Kelleran Beq	Episode: "Chapter 20: The Foundling"<ref name=":0" />
2024	Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy	Darth Jar Jar Binks (voice)	<ref name="Lego Rebuild">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="btva" />

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 I	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	Template:Citation needed
	2001 Maniacs: Behind the Screams	Himself
2025	Light & Magic	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"

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Note	Template:Tooltip
1999	Star Wars: Yoda's Challenge Activity Center	Jar Jar Binks	Voice	<ref name="btva" />
	Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
	Star Wars: The Gungan Frontier		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
2000	Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
	Star Wars: Early Learning Activity Center		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
	Star Wars: Jar Jar's Journey Adventure Book		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
2001	Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
	Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing		Voice	<ref name="btva" />
2005	Lego Star Wars: The Video Game		Uncredited
2007	Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga		Uncredited
2009	Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2	Cloak	Voice
2011	Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars	Jar Jar Binks	Voice	<ref name="btva" />
2015	Disney Infinity 3.0		Voice	<ref>Template:Cite video game</ref>
2020	Fallout 76: Wastelanders	Carver Timmerman, James Addison, Jide	Voice DLC	<ref>Template:Cite video game</ref>
	The Last of Us Part II	Additional voices
2025	South of Midnight	Performance and voice director		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Fortnite Battle Royale	Darth Jar Jar		<ref name="VergeFortnite"/>

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Note
1995	Stomp	Sarge	Winner of Obie Award
1997	The Tempest	Lead
2002	Uncle Tom's Cabin	Lead
	Jack	Sammy
2003	Vacuums	J. Buttersworth III

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"
Celebrity EP	as DJ Starfaker

References

Print sources

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Template:IMDb name