#raheem

Updated Oasis Springs Portrait

On location filming for Juice - Baltimore, MD  1991

left to right:

Khalil Kain (Raheem), Omar Epps (Q), Jermaine Hopkins (Steel), Tupac Shakur (Bishop) RIP

Juice  (1992)

Actor Anthony Keyvan Previews Season 2 of ‘Love, Victor’

Keyvan’s latest role is one that he’s especially excited about. In Love, Victor, he portrays Raheem, an unrestrained and funny LGBTQ student. Keyvan identifies with Raheem, since both of them have friendly and exciting personalities.

“He is a really funny and stylish LGBTQ+ student,” Keyvan says. “He is a character who is at the start of his coming-out journey. It is difficult, exciting, scary, and new for him. I am just very glad to be able to tell his story and all that entails in this upcoming season.”

At the forefront of Raheem’s character is his diverse background. Raheem was originally named Syrus (Keyvan’s actual middle name) but was later changed after a Muslim writer was hired to consult on the series.

It is that kind of representation that excites Keyvan, who is of Filipino, Persian, Asian and Middle Eastern descent.

“For my character in the show, it is not as easy for him to come out as it was for Simon, due to his cultural background,” he says. “I really hope what viewers take away from this season is that while it might not be easy for everyone to come out, if you have the right people around you, you should be able to get through it.”

Today’s TV shows and films don’t typically show people of color going through these kinds of struggles, so Keyvan feels a duty to represent his character with authenticity and respect.