Nabil Shaban (1953-2025) was born in Amman, Jordan and arrived in England when he was three for treatment for his osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle-bone disease). He spent the next six years in hospital and seven in a children's home. In 1980, he and Richard Tomlinson founded Graeae (pronounced Grey Eye), a professional theatre company of disabled performers. A writer and performer with many film and television credits, he was probably best known to television viewers for his role as ruthless businessman Sil in the Doctor Who stories 'Vengeance on Varos' and 'The Trial of a Time Lord' (BBC, 1985 + 1986).

Nabil Shaban

Acting Born February 12, 1953 – Died October 18, 2025 Amman, Jordan

Nabil Shaban (1953-2025) was born in Amman, Jordan and arrived in England when he was three for treatment for his osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle-bone disease). He spent the next six years in hospital and seven in a children's home. In 1980, he and Richard Tomlinson founded Graeae (pronounced Grey Eye), a professional theatre company of disabled performers. A writer and performer with many film and television credits, he was probably best known to television viewers for his role as ruthless businessman Sil in the Doctor Who stories 'Vengeance on Varos' and 'The Trial of a Time Lord' (BBC, 1985 + 1986).

Known For

Doctor Who

Sil

Children of Men

Bexhill Market Hustler

Tales of the Tardis

Sil

South of the Border

Prosecuting Counsel

4 Play

George

City of Joy

Anouar

Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor

Sil

Doctor Who: Mindwarp

Sil

Wittgenstein

Martian

Doctor Who: Vengeance on Varos

Sil

The Story of Doctor Who

Walter

Ben Gunn