Amir Arison
An actor who brought quiet intelligence and emotional depth to a beloved tech genius on one of television's longest-running thrillers.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American actor·Birthday: March 24·Generation X
Biography
Amir Arison carved out a unique space in network television not as a typical leading man, but as the indispensable heart of a high-stakes drama. For a decade on NBC's 'The Blacklist,' his character, Aram Mojtabai, evolved from a shy, brilliant tech analyst in a hoodie to a confident and morally centered pillar of the FBI task force. Arison's performance made the 'geek' archetype profoundly human, layering vulnerability, wit, and unwavering loyalty into every scene. His tenure on the show made him a familiar face, but his career extends beyond the Blacklist's servers. A dedicated stage actor, he has performed in numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions, showcasing a range that television often only hints at. Arison represents a breed of actor who builds a legacy through consistent, nuanced work, earning the deep affection of a global fanbase one episode at a time.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Amir was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Amir Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Amir's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed FBI technical analyst Aram Mojtabai for ten seasons on the hit NBC series 'The Blacklist', becoming a series regular.
- Performed in the Off-Broadway production of 'The Who & The What' at Lincoln Center Theater in 2014.
- Appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series 'Girls' as Laird, the ex-convict neighbor.
- Starred in the independent film 'The Last Airbender' in a supporting role directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Did You Know?
He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied Middle Eastern Studies.
Arison is of Israeli and Persian Jewish descent.
He is an advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his own experiences with therapy.
Before landing his role on 'The Blacklist', he had guest spots on shows like 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Homeland'.
“The quietest person in the room is often the one watching everything.”
