Homayoun Ershadi

Homayoun Ershadi (alternatively spelled Homayon Ershadi, ; 26 March 1947 – 11 November 2025) was an Iranian actor. He was known for his debut role in Taste of Cherry, and several subsequent Iranian and other films, including European films like Agora or Hollywood films like The Kite Runner and Zero Dark Thirty.

Early life and education Homayoun Ershadi was born in Isfahan on 26 March 1947, and spent his adolescence in Karaj and Abadan. He moved to Italy to study architecture at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice in Venice, graduating in 1970.

Ershadi initially worked in Iran as an architect, but relocated to Canada with his wife following the Iranian Revolution. He and his wife settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he continued work as an architect. Ershadi returned to Iran in 1990 after he and his wife filed for divorce.

Career Following Ershadi's return to Iran, he settled in Tehran. Ershadi was discovered by director Abbas Kiarostami, while sitting in his car in traffic. Kiarostami approached him and requested him to play the leading role of his film, Taste of Cherry. He was buried at the Behesht-e Sakineh in Karaj.

Awards Ershadi won the Sepanta Awards in 2017 for "Best Actor for Short Film" for his work in Blue Lantern, from the 10th Annual Iranian Film Festival in San Francisco, California.

Cultural reference The short story "Seeing Ershadi" by Nicole Krauss was published in The New Yorker on 5 March 2018. It is about a ballet dancer who watches a film featuring Ershadi and then becomes obsessed with his face.

Filmography