Biography

Hayman Homer is an American actor and film producer known for his role as Jesus Christ in the 2024 historical film The Messiah. The film was screened at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., the largest Bible museum in the world. With this role, he became the first Kurd to portray Jesus Christ. Hayman also appears as a war medic in the 2024 war drama short film Aman.

Hayman hails from a Kurdish family in Erbil, a city known for its ancient history and vibrant culture with roots in the historic Soran Emirate. After completing his high school education, Hayman lived in various countries, including Kurdistan, Greece, Italy, France, and England. These experiences contributed to his worldview and influenced his artistic pursuits. His father, Homer Eli, was an intelligence operative with the Kurdish Peshmerga army from the 1970s to the 1990s, fighting against the former Iraqi regime. Eli's involvement in the Kurdish independence revolution led to his capture as a prisoner of war, where he lost his life. Hayman was ten years old at the time of his father's death. Following this, he was raised by his mother, Bediah Azeez, along with his seven siblings, which include five brothers and two sisters.

Hayman relocated to the United States, initially settling in Nashville, Tennessee. This move signaled the beginning of a new phase in his life and career, where he began to establish his presence in the film industry, integrating his cultural background with his interest in storytelling.

Hayman earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and international relations, providing him with a foundation in global politics and social issues. Following his interest in cinema, Hayman pursued further education in film at the Nashville Acting Studio. Hayman's interest in cinema was influenced by Yol (The Road), a 1981 political thriller film directed by Kurdish filmmaker Yilmaz Güney. Yol, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, addressed political and social issues related to the Kurdish people in Turkey.

Hayman's early work from 2018-2022 began as a model and gained recognition in 2018 as the face of The Escape Game commercial, which featured his image on billboards in major malls across the United States. This exposure, along with appearances in several country and Hollywood music videos, helped to establish his presence in the entertainment industry. These early roles demonstrated his versatility and on-screen presence, eventually leading to opportunities in film.

Hayman in 2023 started his leading roles in film with his portrayal of Jesus Christ in The Messiah. Principal photography for the film started in December 2023 in Columbia, Tennessee, produced by JMC Studios in collaboration with the Museum of the Bible. In addition to The Messiah, Hayman completed filming a war drama short film titled Aman in Adairsville, Georgia, in November 2023. Hayman also worked on a commercial with Philip Morris International, filmed in Hollywood, California, alongside various other projects in Europe and the Middle East. Hayman's further involvement in the film industry was marked by his attendance at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival and the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. Hayman is working on bringing the saga of a world-renowned mythological character to life in a Hollywood blockbuster.
- IMDb mini biography by: Robbie Grayson, CEO of TraitMarker

Hayman obtained a bachelor of arts degree in political science and international relations. His mother initially hoped he would pursue a career in diplomacy, given his family's political service background, his proficiency in multiple languages and extensive travel experience. She envisioned him serving in a diplomatic role that would bridge cultures and contribute to foreign relations. However, Hayman ultimately chose to follow his passion for cinema, which led him to a career in acting and film production.

Hayman is an avid enthusiast for classic Hollywood films to name a few are: John Ford's Stagecoach (1939), Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men (1957), Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960), Marlon Brando's On The Waterfront (1954), Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960), Humphrey Bogart's Casablanca (1942), Orson Welles' Citizen Kane (1941), Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972), Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990), William Wyler's Roman Holiday (1953), David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America (1984) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' (1954).

Visionary Kurdish filmmaker Yilmaz Guney and his film Yol (The Road) significantly influenced Hayman Homer and his journey in cinema. Released in 1982, Yol co-directed by Serif Goren and Yilmaz Guney, the screenplay was written by Guney, who, due to his imprisonment, directed the film through detailed instructions given to Goren. After escaping from prison, Guney took the film's negatives to Switzerland and later completed the editing in Paris. The film, which highlighted the harsh realities faced by the Kurds in Turkey, including systemic racism and oppression, was controversial and banned in Turkey for its critical portrayal of the country which was under a dictatorship rule. Despite this, Yol achieved international acclaim, inspiring Hayman Homer greatly in his cinematic pursuits. Yol won numerous prestigious honors, including the top prize, the Palm d'Or, at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. This accolade marked a significant victory for Yilmaz Gunay overcoming immense difficulties and injustices to achieve this monumental success. He was recognized as the first revolutionary Kurdish filmmaker. Additionally, Yol was selected as the Swiss entry for Best Foreign Film at the 55th Academy Awards.

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