Was working as a chauffeur when he was cast in Captain Phillips (2013). He had no previous acting experience or any aspirations to become an actor.
When he was seven years old, his family moved from Somalia to Yemen to escape the civil war. His family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota when he was age 14.
Formerly worked with his brother in a mobile phone store and also as DJ.
His father is a teacher.
Is one of four children. He has two brothers and a sister. He is the second oldest.