Christopher Maher (born as Maher Boutros; born 1955) is an American film and television actor, as well as a chef.

Christopher Maher
Born
Maher Boutros

1955 (age 68–69)
NationalityAmerican
EducationNeighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
Occupation(s)Actor, chef
Years active1978–present
SpouseValerie
AwardsJames Beard Foundation
Websitecookingstudiotaos.com

Background edit

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Maher's family moved to Toronto in the 1960s. He started pre-med studies but changed to acting at the University of Toronto. Arriving in New York in 1978, he studied acting further at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.[1][2]

Maher worked at Tavern on the Green, where he met Drew Nieporent.[1][2]

He broke into Entertainment with a year-long role as assassin Colonel Hashim on Another World.[1][2]

Career edit

Acting edit

In 1982, Maher moved to Los Angeles to pursue motion-picture roles. He changed his name from Maher Boutros to Christopher Maher. "I was typecast as a dumb Arab or a bad Arab, one or the other. It depressed me, and I just refused to do any more."[1][2]

He has appeared in feature films and television episodes from Taxi and Hill Street Blues to Law and Order, 24, The West Wing and NCIS. He was in the film Olive, in which he starred with Gena Rowlands.

Cooking edit

Maher was also recognized by the James Beard Foundation as one of the great regional chefs of America and has cooked at the Beard House in New York City.

He runs a cooking school called "Cooking Studio Taos" plus natural and organic food venture in Taos.[3] The food products are sold under the name "Caleb&Milo", named after their two sons. They sell their products in whole food markets and other gourmet markets.

Personal edit

Maher lives in Taos, New Mexico, where he runs a cooking school called "Cooking Studio Taos" with wife Valerie[1][2] [3]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Best Defense Sayyid, Landry's Tank Crew
1987 Mannequin Armand
1989 Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog Emile
1996 Executive Decision Kahlil
2002 Enough Phil
2004 The West Wing Iranian ambassador
2009 The Men Who Stare at Goats Iraqi Driver
2011 Olive Cyrus

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Juliette Rossant (November–December 2003). "Lights, Camera — Cook!". Saudi Aramco World: 33–35.
  2. ^ a b c d e Juliette Rossant. "Lights, Camera — Cook!". JulietteRossant.com. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b "home". Cooking Studio Taos. Retrieved 2 November 2013.

External links edit