Demián Bichir Nájera (born August 1, 1963) is a Mexican actor known for his work in both Mexican telenovelas and international cinema. He gained widespread acclaim for his performance in A Better Life (2011), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Coming from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts, Bichir is the son of actors Alejandro Bichir and Maricruz Nájera and the brother of actors Odiseo and Bruno Bichir. He began his acting career in theater, working with the National Theater Company and participating in productions of Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky before transitioning to film and television.
Bichir studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in the United States, which helped him transition successfully into Hollywood. Beyond his film work, he is also recognized for his activism as an Ambassador of Immigration Rights for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). On a personal note, Bichir faced tragedy when his wife, Canadian actress Stefanie Sherk, passed away in 2019. He is also a father to a daughter named Gala.
