Patrick Sabongui

Patrick Sabongui
[[File:|200px|Patrick Sabongui]]
{{{credit}}}
Portrays:	Weasely Bouncer
Date of Birth:	January 09, 1975
Date of Death:	Missing required parameter 1=month!
Age:	51
Nationality:	CAN
Related Media
		@ BW Media
[{{{site}}} Official Site]
IMDb profile

Patrick Sabongui is a Canadian actor, stunt performer, theater educator, director, and producer who portrayed a Weasely Bouncer in New Cap City in Caprica's "Ghosts in the Machine".

Early Life and Education

Sabongui was born on January 9, 1975, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Egyptian immigrant parents. His father, Wadid Sabongui, is a psychologist, and his mother, Leila, is a French teacher and librarian. He has three older brothers and a younger sister, and was raised in a trilingual household, speaking French, English, and Arabic.

Growing up, Sabongui was a competitive athlete, martial artist, and mountaineer. His artistic journey began when he fell in love with Shakespeare in a literature class, leading him to found a theatre club, produce, co-direct and play Hamlet in his college's first theatrical production of a classical play, receiving surprising critical acclaim.

Sabongui earned a collegiate degree in Communications: Drama from Vanier College, a BFA in Drama for Human Development from Concordia University in Montreal in 2000, a Certificate from the National Theatre Conservatory in Colorado in 2001, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of California, Irvine in 2005.

Career

Film

Sabongui's film career includes prominent roles in major Hollywood productions. He appeared in 300 (2007) as the Persian General, and in Watchmen (2009). Other film credits include The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Sucker Punch (2011), The Bourne Legacy (2012), The Cabin in the Woods (2012), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part Two (2012), Warm Bodies (2013), White House Down (2013), Tomorrowland (2015), The Predator (2018), Godzilla (2014), and Black Adam (2022).

Television

Sabongui is best known for portraying Captain David Singh in the Arrowverse, appearing in The Flash, Arrow, and Supergirl. He portrayed this character for a decade, from his first appearance in 2013 to his final appearance in 2023.

Other major television roles include Reda Hashem, a civil liberties lawyer, in season six of Homeland. In 2025, he stars as CIA agent Jacob Hassani in NBC's The Hunting Party.

Additional television credits include Firefly Lane, Virgin River, The Good Doctor, Shameless, The Magicians, Shooter, Blood & Treasure, Get Shorty, The Murders, Kung Fu, and Hudson & Rex.

He appeared in the Hallmark film Christmas Sail (2021) alongside Katee Sackhoff and Terry O'Quinn, portraying Luke Fletcher.

Theater

Sabongui is recognized for the Canadian premiere of Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced. He also originated the role of Foster Bryant in the World Premiere production of "Inside the Seed."

Directing and Producing

Sabongui is a writer, producer, and director who has created several award-winning short films. As President and co-founder of Life Force Films Inc, a production company dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and BIPOC filmmakers, he has produced, directed, and executive-produced multiple projects.

His directing credits include Chained (2012), a mythological tale that earned him an Action on Film International Film Festival Award for Best Visual Effects. He also directed The Prince (2017), which screened at festivals including the Crazy8s Film Festival.

He received a Leo Award nomination in 2018 for Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture for his role in Drone.

Academia

Sabongui is an Assistant Professor of Theater at Brooklyn College and serves as Head of the BFA Acting Program. He continues to develop new works as a film and theatre artist.

Personal Life

Sabongui married actress Kyra Zagorsky on August 5, 2002. Both are graduates of the University of California, Irvine, though from different years. The couple has two children: a daughter named Ashé Alexandria Sabongui and a son named Bodhi Gabriel Sabongui. Both children have pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Bodhi Sabongui gained recognition for his role in Black Adam.

The family resides in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Commentary

On His Artistic Journey

In a 2017 interview with Chloe Magazine, Sabongui reflected on his attraction to acting, stating that he discovered his passion for self-expression through martial arts, particularly the Hung gar style based on five animals. He explained that the experience of embodying different animals to express movement translated into his approach to acting and character work. He described acting as a gateway into experiencing more facets of life, noting that when done correctly, it connects performers viscerally to different experiences their characters might have.

Influences and Activism

Sabongui has cited activism and artists who use their platform to create social impact as major influences. In a 2021 interview with Pop Culturalist, he identified musicians Chuck D from Public Enemy and Bob Marley as significant inspirations, noting their use of art to send messages and speak truth. He expressed his aspiration to be an artist who uses talent and platform to make a positive impact on the world.

Career Philosophy and Work Ethic

Reflecting on his career trajectory in the Chloe Magazine interview, Sabongui emphasized the importance of continuous effort in the entertainment industry. He noted that contrary to common assumptions, achieving success on a major series doesn't mean an actor can sit back and choose projects. He described himself as a journeyman, blue-collar actor rather than a household name, maintaining a philosophy of not taking opportunities for granted.

On 300 as a Career Turning Point

Sabongui has identified his work on 300 as a landmark experience in his career. In the Pop Culturalist interview, he explained that while serving double duty as both an actor and stunt team member, he hit his stride and felt it represented a turning point where he knew he wanted to make a living in the film industry. He credited director Zack Snyder with creating a magical experience that affirmed his commitment to the filmmaking community.

Approach to Storytelling

In discussing his work behind the camera, Sabongui told Pop Culturalist that he focuses on intention rather than specific credits, choosing projects based on the stories being told and the people he believes in. He expressed his interest in participating in female-forward stories, particularly drawn to Firefly Lane because it centered on friendship between women without violence, believing it's important to amplify female voices.

On The Flash and Representation

Discussing his role as Captain David Singh on The Flash, Sabongui told Pop City Life in 2014 that he was initially drawn to the character's drive and self-confidence, as well as the interesting dynamic of a police captain whose partner is a vigilante who breaks the law. He emphasized the importance of playing the first openly gay character in the DC Universe, noting that Singh is treated with respect and that representing diversity in a meaningful way could inspire viewers who feel marginalized.

On The Hunting Party

In a 2025 interview with Nerds That Geek, Sabongui discussed his role as Jacob Hassani in NBC's The Hunting Party, expressing that the project represented everything he had worked toward in his career. He described Jacob as a multidimensional character who balances being the strong arm of the government with a human, family-oriented side. He explained that what grounds him in the role is the extensive narrative Jacob must balance mentally, including the mission at hand, secrets to keep, protecting the team, and concerns about his family's safety.

Sabongui praised the collaborative environment on The Hunting Party, noting that the cast genuinely enjoys each other and actively engages with the material, bringing ideas and questions to the showrunners. He described the show as a successful blend of true crime, procedural storytelling, and serialized family drama that pulls together popular cultural elements.

Interest in Comedy

Despite being primarily cast in dramatic and action roles, Sabongui has expressed interest in comedy. In the Chloe Magazine interview, he noted that people who know him personally often assume comedy is his genre because of his personality, recalling that a casting director once told him he would find his real success in comedy—a prediction that had yet to materialize a decade later.

References