Biography for
Sina Amedson More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

5 April 1982, Pocatello, Idaho, USA

Birth Name

David Sina Amedson

Height

5' 8" (1.73 m)

Trivia

His last name at birth was Alibaba...but his father changed it for obvious reasons when Sina was very young.

Wrote the scene that introduces his character, Nadar, in the movie Church Ball (2006). The director originally wanted to do something in an airport but couldn't do it, so Sina came up with the idea of having him being mistaken for a taxi driver. He improvised the dialogue. The man getting into the car is the director, Kurt Hale, making his cameo appearance in the film. The scene actually ended with Sina's character finally accepting to take his passenger to where he wanted to go since it was on his way...as long as he buckled up.

Tried to join the Marines at age 16 to get away from a troubled home life.

Considers himself a Progressive Libertarian.

Had the opportunity to become a professional snowboarder in the late 90s.

Has three sisters and one brother.

Began producing his own stand up comedy shows in various bars and rock venues in 2005 around Salt Lake City. Creating what he has coined "The Underground Comedy Movement" of Salt Lake City (aka U.C.M. S.L.C.) where he has drawn, with no budget, acts such as Lewis Black, Doug Stanhope, Ron Shock, Sean Rouse, Auggie Smith, Neil Hamburger, 'Pleaseeasaur', Andy Andrist, Martha Kelly, Tig Notaro and Steve Agee, plus many more.

Has been a working stand up comedian since May, 2003. After progressing very quickly, he was awarded second place in the Utah Amateur Comedy Competition in October, 2003, at Wiseguys Comedy Cafe.

Has been an improviser with the improvisational troupe Comedy Sportz (Provo chapter) since 2002.

Accepted the role in Reflections in the Mud (2009) based greatly on his faith in his good friend, Nyk Fry's directing and passion toward the project.

Is very good friends with fellow actors Trenton James, Christopher Robin Miller, Kirby Heyborne, Curt Doussett, Larry Bagby and Matt Mattson. As well as comedians Sean Rouse, Doug Stanhope, Andy Andrist, Auggie Smith and Ron Shock.

Became good friends with co-star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after sharing a trailer together on the set of Church Ball (2006). They spent their downtime on set watching the HBO original movie Rebound (2005) which featured Kareem's father and was a pivotal film in Sina's life. They also watched lots of Da' Ali G show which was the inspiration for Sina's character, Nadar, in the film. He based the character on Sacha Baron Cohen's now-famous "Borat" character. Kareem joined Sina on a few of his stand-up gigs to see what the world of stand-up was like from behind the scenes on their days off from filming Church Ball (2006). The two now stay in touch and get together whenever possible.

Received 3rd place in the 2008 Rocky Mountain Laugh Off, the largest invitation-only comedy competition in the region.

Was asked by writer/director, Maryam Keshavarz, to write the dubbing scenes in Circumstance while filming on location in Beirut, Lebanon. She felt that Sina could use his background in comedy writing to inject some humor into the scenes that were originally planned to be improvised.

Attended Cottonwood High School with Michelle Money.

Was a finalist in the long-running Uncle Clyde's Comedy Competition at Flapper's Comedy Club in Burbank, California in 2011.

Was given "Special Thanks" in the credits of the X-Box Snowboarding video game Amped.

Personal Quotes

My legs are becoming a hot commodity. I have been in skimpy shorts in just about every role I've done. When I get to be too expensive to hire, you're going to hear directors saying "We need a Sina's-Legs-type!" I don't even know why! My legs get more exposure to the camera than they do to the sun. They are so pale with dark black hair...it's like looking down on the aftermath of a forest fire in the arctic.

The idea of having fans is really strange to me. I'm not talking about supporters...I love anyone who gets what I do and they enjoy it, but the word fan just sounds a little degrading. I don't want to feel like I'm above anybody, ever.