Hassani Shapi (born 15 July 1973) is a Kenyan actor, particularly active in Italian cinema. ^{[1] [2]} He is best known for the roles in the films Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace , The World Is Not Enough and Il maresciallo Rocca . ^[3]

Personal life [ edit ]

He was born on 15 July 1973 in Mombasa , Kenya. He obtained his master's degree in Paris, France, in veterinary science. After becoming a veterinary doctor, he worked in a private clinic in Paris. After a few years, he quit the job to get into acting. ^[4]

Career [ edit ]

He first worked with an English theatre company in Paris called ACT. He has been involved in theater and played in several plays such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , Animal Farm , The Old Man and the Sea and Don Quixote . In 1992, he made his television debut in some episodes of the series Runaway Bay directed by Tim Dowd. After six years in 1998, he reappeared in television for a single episode of the serial The Ambassador . In 2009, Shapi starred in the role of 'Saddam Hussein' in the Italian television serial Intelligence - Servizi & Secrets .

After he moved to America, he joined the cast of Law & Order in 2010. However, his most notable film appearance came through the role of Jedi Master 'Eeth Koth' in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace which was filmed by George Lucas in 1999. In the film, he acted along with renowned actors, Liam Neeson , Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman .

With the success of Star Wars , he was invited to taken part in several major international productions such as Agent 007 , The world is not enough , Irina Palm and Don't desire the woman of others . Meanwhile, he appeared in several Italian comedies such as Our Marriage Is In Crisis , Lezioni of Chocolate , Today Married , Sharm el Sheikh - An Unforgettable Summer , Nobody Can Judge Me , Females Versus Males , Without Art or Part , Chocolate Lessons 2 and The Extra Day With Fabio Volo .

Filmography [ edit ]

• Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
• The World Is Not Enough (1999)
• Our Marriage Is In Crisis (2002)
• Don't Desire the Other Woman (2004)
• Murder Unveiled (2005)
• Irina Palm (2007)
• Lessons in Chocolate (2007)
• Just Married (2009)
• Oggi sposi (2009)
• Sharm el Sheikh - An Unforgettable Summer (2010)
• Women vs. Men (2011)
• No One Can Judge Me (2011)
• Without Art or Part (2011)
• Chocolate Lessons 2 (2011)
• One Day More (2011)
• Escort in Love (2011)
• Land Gold Women (2011)
• The Extra Day (2011)
• Make a Fake (2011)
• Damascus Cover (2017)
• Scappo a casa (2019)
• Pop Black Posta (2019)

Television [ edit ]

• Runaway Bay (1 episode, 1992)
• The Ambassador (1 episode, 1998)
• Arabian Nights ? 1st Army Kaptain (2000)
• Murder Prevention (1 episode, 2004)
• Apparitions (2008)
• Intelligence - Services & Secrets (3 episodes, 2009)
• Inspector Coliandro (3rd season, episode 4, 2009)
• Law & Order: UK (1 episode, 2010)
• The Island (2012)
• Welcome to Table 2 - North vs South (1 episode, 2013)
• Anti-Mafia Squad - The Boss Returns Episode 8 (2016)
• The Island of Pietro (2017)

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• Hassani Shapi at IMDb