His work in both film and television spanned several genres including historical epics, Westerns, and science fiction.

[2] Michael George Ansara was born in a small village in the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, and his family emigrated to the United States when he was two years old.

He originally wanted to be a physician, but developed a passion for becoming a performer after he began taking acting classes at Pasadena Playhouse to overcome his shyness.

He was educated at Los Angeles City College, from which Ansara earned Associate of Arts degree.

[4] Being Syrian-American, he was often cast as an Arabic character, including his screen debut in the role of Hamid in the 1944 RKO Radio Pictures film Action in Arabia, The Desert Hawk (1950), and Soldiers Three (1951).

A talent scout from Warner Brothers saw the performance and Ansara was signed for the role of "Tuscos" in Only the Valiant (1951).

[12] That same year he appeared as Pindarus in Joseph Mankiewicz's big screen adaptation of Julius Caesar, with Marlon Brando, James Mason and John Gielgud.

Following his role in Only the Valiant, Ansara appeared in several Western films, including Brave Warrior (1952),[13] The Lawless Breed (1953),[14] Three Young Texans (1954),[15] The Lone Ranger (1956),[16] and Pillars of the Sky (1956).

[17]The popularity of the Western film Broken Arrow starring James Stewart led to the creation of a television series of the same name in 1956.

However, Montalbán did not want to commit to a series, and after a screen test with 20th Century-Fox, Ansara was cast in the role.

[21] Although Ansara received top billing, it was his portrayal of Cochise that he blamed for his later typecasting in Native American roles.

[22] Ansara starred in the ABC-TV series, Law of the Plainsman (1959–1960), with Gina Gillespie and Robert Harland.

[25] Ansara guest starred on several other television Westerns, including The Rebel,[26] Wagon Train,[27] Rawhide,[28] The Virginian,[29]Branded,[30] Daniel Boone,[31] and Gunsmoke.

This included two episodes of the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea after having starred in the film of the same name, The Outer Limits, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, and Land of the Giants.

[39] While making the Broken Arrow series, the 20th Century-Fox publicity department arranged a date between Ansara and actress Barbara Eden, whom he later married.

[44] Ansara starred in Infidel Caesar with the silent film actor Ramon Novarro at the Music Box Theater on Broadway.

[45][46] In the 1970s, Ansara appeared in a number of low budget exploitation films, including Dear Dead Delilah (1972),[47] Day of the Animals (1977),[48] and The Manitou (1978).

[3][63] His interment is at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, next to his son Matthew.