Ahmed Best
Actor / Dancer
Ahmed Best is the African-American actor, musician and dancer from the theater troupe Stomp who was chosen by George Lucas to play Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999, co-starring Ewan McGregor). Best did the voice and was the model for the computer generated character that has been an object of scorn and controversy: Lucas was accused of using a racial stereotype in his depiction of Jar Jar, who provides comic relief and speaks pidgin English with a sort-of Jamaican accent. Lucas dismissed the accusations, pointing out that Jar Jar is a fictional orange amphibian from the planet Gungan. Best also voiced Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars films Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).Ahmed Best joins Samuel L. Jackson and R2-D2 in our loop on Star Wars.
Blog posts mentioning Ahmed Best:
Happy 35th Birthday, Jar Jar Binks!
Four Good Links
Jar Jar Binks
Brief bit from the official Star Wars site
Ahmed Best Official Site
With a bio, theater credits and other tidbits
Lucas Strikes Back
Creator Lucas defends the films and the character of Jar Jar
Ahmed Best Interview
He talks briefly about making The Phantom Menace
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
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Best Known As
Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace
