Kahlil Joseph
| Kahlil Joseph | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Kahlil Iohann Joseph New Delhi, India |
| Occupation | Actor in film, stage, television, voice-over; singer; martial artist; dialect coach; teacher |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Website | http://www.kahliljoseph.com |
Kahlil Joseph (pronounced ''Kha-leel'') is an Indian-born American film, television and stage actor and teacher of performing arts who has worked extensively in North America and India, and is based in Los Angeles.
Joseph was born in New Delhi, India to mother Mary Joseph, an English Literature professor and author, and father Kurien Joseph, an architect, general manager, theatre practitioner and public speaking teacher. Joseph frequently traveled with his parents on business trips to other countries, including Australia, England, the United States of America, Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia. Shortly after his first birthday, Joseph moved to Sydney, Australia with his parents for five years due to his father’s company transferring the family on business.
While in Sydney, Joseph was introduced to the stage at five by his father, playing Noah in a production of "Noah's Ark". That created the love for performing in him. From a young age, Joseph constantly displayed a strong interest in entertaining audiences with various types of performances. Never one to be satisfied with learning one thing, he always tried to learn as many new things as he could. Joseph had an extremely keen ear for sound since childhood, and would continually mimic everyone and everything he could.
Joseph was constantly encouraged to read books that were advanced for his age. His parents introduced him to various authors, to build his interests and knowledge of other cultures and people.
In 1983, Joseph moved back to New Delhi with his parents and attended St. Columba's School, Delhi. By the age of 9, trained extensively in voice and diction by his father, Joseph started consistently winning inter-school declamation and debate championships, which continued till the time he was 17.
Simultaneously, at the age of 7, Joseph began a lifelong practice of another discipline that has had a profound effect on his work and person to this day – the martial arts. When Joseph watched the legendary Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, he was inspired immediately by the way Lee so expressed himself through his physicality and movement. Starting with Shotokan Karate, Joseph branched into Tae Kwon Do, Hung Gar Kung Fu, and boxing. He competed on a semi-contact and full-contact amateur level.
Joseph earned his first Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Ramjas College, University of Delhi, India. During his studies, he was the lead singer for various heavy metal and hard rock bands in New Delhi. He learned and developed a high respect during this time for such a type of singer, whom he believes needs even more vocal and physical strength and resilience than a speaker or singer of another genre.
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