Omar Doom | |
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Born |
Omar Makhdomi June 29, 1976 Easton, Pennsylvania, US |
Occupation | Actor/musician |
Years active | 2007–present |
Omar Doom (born June 29, 1976) is an American actor, musician and artist. Doom is best known to film audiences for his role as PFC Omar Ulmer in the 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds, directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Omar Doom was born Omar Makhdomi (pronounced Makhdoomi) in Easton, Pennsylvania, to parents, Dr. Rashid and Jawahira Makhdomi. Both his parents originate from the Kashmir region in India. His father is a physician at Easton Hospital. He was one of four siblings, including his three sisters. Doom's parents would take the family to a cultural institution or exhibit every week. For example, the family would attend an opera or play in Manhattan, New York City, or a film at a local art house theater.
Doom graduated from Easton Area High School in 1994 and fronted a band called Ordeal, while attending the school. Following graduation, Doom attended Parsons The New School for Design, where he pursued a degree in painting.
Doom returned to a music career after Parsons. He became the frontman of a two-person electronic rock band called Doomington, along with Stretch Armstrong, a successful DJ and music producer. The duo is now defunct.
Doom met director Quentin Tarantino in Los Angeles in 1998 through mutual friends. They have reportedly been close friends ever since. Tarantino has been known to invite Doom over to his home for movie marathons. At one point, Tarantino held a birthday party for Doom. The party included screening of old television shows, cartoons, as well as films including Hammerhead and The Mack.
Tarantino encouraged Makhdomi to both pursue an acting career and adopt the shorter stage name, Omar Doom. Doom was not pursuing acting at the time. Instead, he was working as a musician and a co-running a clothing line, called Diabla, with one of his sisters, Saira. Following Tarantino's advice, Doom began studying acting. In an interview during a press junket in Berlin for Inglourious Basterds, Doom described Tarantino's encouragement, "Quentin told me I'd be great in movies. He really pushed me. I decided to go for it. I took his advice, and studied acting.