Araya Mengesha (born July 23, 1987) is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as himself on the kids documentary mystery series Mystery Hunters and as Mark Yohannes in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, in which he currently stars. He had a role in the Bob Odenkirk action film Nobody, and had a recurring role in the period drama Anne with an E. He is a claimant to the throne of Ethiopia, abolished in 1974.

Biography

Mengesha was born in Toronto to Ethiopian-Canadian International business consultant Prince Stefanos Mengesha Seyoum and Eritrean-Canadian Selamawit Kiros. Through his father, he is a member of the Imperial family of Ethiopia. He is the cousin of theatre director Weyni Mengesha.

From 2002 to 2009, together with David Acer and Christina Broccolini he was a presenter of the documentary television series Mystery Hunters.

His short film Defund, co-directed with Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, and was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2021.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002–2009Mystery HuntersHimself78 episodes
2002ConvictionWilliam ConamacherTV movie
2008Nurse.Fighter.BoyKandae
2010NikitaBen Prentice
2011Degrassi: The Next GenerationFrat Guy #1
2012Cul de sacMichaelShort
2013Saving HopeDen Bailli
2014Ruby Skye P.I.: The Maltese PuppyZoffiWeb series
Ryan Gosling Must Be StoppedBus Stop GuyTV Miniseries
2018–2019Anne With An EElijah5 episodes
2020Tiny Pretty ThingsTyler Stroyer5 episodes
2021NobodyPavel
DefundBrother
2022Revenge of the Black Best FriendPhil
Hello (Again)DouggieSeries regular
2023RegularReggieShort film
2024–presentLaw & Order Toronto: Criminal IntentMark YohannesSeries regular

External links