Erick Avari's credits include leading roles in films from Kevin Reynolds' cult classic _Beast of War, The (2000)_ to commercial mega-hits such as Planet of the Apes, Stargate, Independence Day and The Mummy. His comedic skills have landed him starring roles in the Adam Sandler remake Mr. Deeds, For Love or Money and Woody Allen's only TV film, Don't Drink the Water. He is also featured in Revelation, _Glass House, The (2001/I)_ and has a starring role in Michael Meredith's 3 Days of Rain. His long theatrical background has garnered him critical acclaim for several roles at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre in New York City, including his portrayal of Vasquez in "'Tis Pity She's a Whore" and the Broadway hit, "The King and I". He has had the pleasure of performing in some of the most prestigious regional theatres in the country, including The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Chicago's Goodman Theater and The Cleveland Playhouse, playing roles such as the King in "King Lear" and Joseph Smith in the Mabou Mines production of "The Norman Project". On television, in addition to his recurring role as Kasuf on Stargate SG-1, he has played notable roles on Cybill, Cheers, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Murder, She Wrote, NYPD Blue and several made-for-TV films. He has been working at becoming an overnight success for the past 20 years.
His childhood in Darjeeling, a mystically beautiful Himalayan town in northern India, uniquely prepared him for a career that has taken him from the cricket field to outer space and back several times. The town is a crossroads for people from Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and other exotic locales as well as a favorite vacation spot for aristocratic Europeans and, in the 60s and 70s, a required stop for youthful Americans and Australians on the so-called "hippie trail." Along with Alexis Cruz, he is one of only two actors to appear in both the original Stargate movie and the spin-off series Stargate SG-1. Has portrayed more than two dozen different nationalities in his career. Has appeared with Brent Spiner in three different productions: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Independence Day and The Master of Disguise. Was scheduled to reprise his role as Kasuf in the Stargate SG-1 Season Six finale "Full Circle" but could not due to his commitment to L.A. Dragnet. His father had been Chief Game Warden of the West Bengal Forests as a young man. Great Grandson of Sir J.J.Madan