SPARTACUS Star Nick Tarabay Joins HERO Theatre

HERO Theatre announced Nick Tarabay, best known as "Ashur" on the television drama Spartacus, has joined their resident acting ensemble. Spartacus originally on STARZ, has recently been acquired by the SyFy Network.

Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, Tarabay moved to New York City after high school. He appeared in several off-Broadway plays before moving to Los Angeles. He landed his breakout role in 2008, starring on the STARZ critically acclaimed series "Crash" based on the Oscar winning film. Tarabay was cast as police lieutenant "Axel Finet". The role was originally for two episodes, however executive producers Paul Haggis, Robert Moresco, and STARZ executives continued to develop his character and Tarabay filmed 13 episodes.

Tarabay's relationship with STARZ continued after "Crash" and in 2009 he secured the series regular role of "Ashur," a former gladiator, in "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." He went on to reprise the role later in "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," and "Spartacus: Vengeance". In 2013, Tarabay made his feature film debut in Paramount Pictures and J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. The relationship with J.J. Abrams would carry over into television in 2013, providing the opportunity for Tarabay to land his role on NBC's "Believe," for 2014. Tarabay's additional television credits include: The Sopranos, CSI: Miami, The Unit, Without a Trace, NCIS, Detroit 1-8-7, Common Law, Burn Notice, and Major Crimes.

HERO Theatre began in August 2011. The company consists of some of today's most prominent and emerging artists from diverse backgrounds and training in stage, television and film. HERO Theatre's mission is to build bridges between artists of different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds by way of the classics. The company presents classical plays and new plays by contemporary playwrights inspired by classics.

Olympia Dukakis is Chair of HERO Theatre's Advisory Board, which includes theatre notables Michael Ritchie (Artistic Director of the Center Theatre Group), Tony-winning director Darko Tresnjak and Bill Rauch (Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival).

For more information, visit www.HEROtheatre.org.