Home / Arts and Entertainment / Acclaimed Iranian Actor Ershadi Dies After Cancer Battle
Acclaimed Iranian Actor Ershadi Dies After Cancer Battle
11 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Ershadi's first big break came in 1997 after meeting director Kiarostami by chance
- Gained international fame for roles in 'The Kite Runner' and other films
- Worked in over 90 projects in less than 3 decades
On November 11, 2025, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported the passing of acclaimed actor Ershadi at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. Ershadi's acting career took off in 1997 after a chance encounter with renowned director Abbas Kiarostami in Tehran. Kiarostami had tapped on Ershadi's car window and asked him to star in his Cannes Palme d'Or winning film 'Taste of Cherry'.
Following his breakout performance in 'Taste of Cherry' as a man searching for someone to bury him, Ershadi's acting career skyrocketed. Over the next three decades, he racked up over 90 credits, gaining international renown for his role as the father figure Baba in the 2007 film 'The Kite Runner'. Other notable international roles included 'Agora' and 'Zero Dark Thirty'.
Back in Iran, Ershadi continued to work steadily, appearing in films like the female racing driver drama 'Lelah' and the mountain village tale 'Mahoor' in his later years. He was also rumored to have been cast in Terrence Malick's long-awaited 'The Way of the Wind', though this has not been confirmed. Ershadi's passing marks the end of an era for Iranian cinema, as the country mourns the loss of one of its most acclaimed and versatile actors.
