Parviz Sayyad
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Parviz Sayyad | |
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![]() Sayyad in 1965 | |
Born | |
Other names | Parviz Say'yad |
Alma mater | University of Tehran, City University of New York |
Occupation(s) | Actor, director, translator, screenwriter |
Years active | 1970–present |
Known for | Samad My Uncle Napoleon |
Spouse | Parvin Sayyad |
Children | 2 |
Parviz Sayyad (Template:Lang-fa; born 22 March 1939)[1] is an Iranian-born American celebrated actor, director, translator, and screenwriter of Iranian cinema. He was one of the earliest television stars in Iran.[1]
Early life
Parviz Sayyad was born on March 22, 1939 in Lahijan, Pahlavi Iran.[1]
Throughout the 1960s Sayyad starred in many plays that were adapted for television; and he was in the first Iranian television program titled Amir Arsalan alongside Mary Apick.[1]
Career in Iran

His first film, a comedy Hasan Kachal (1970), or "Hasan the Bald", is well remembered. He gained more fame starring in one of the oldest Iranian TV series "OKTAPUS" playing the role of a well mannered, diplomatic sneaky and soft-spoken board member.
He is best known for his role as Samad, on the television series Sarkar Ostovar.[1] The character Samad was a naive, street smart country boy (somewhat reminiscent of the American "Ernest" series). After this, Sayyad went on to star in the famous "Samad" film series. His character, Samad (or Samad Agha, as he demanded others call him), was a prominent comedic icon of Iran during the 1970s. The Iranian Revolution took place shortly after his 7th feature-length "Samad" film was released.
His 1977 film Dead End was entered into the 10th Moscow International Film Festival.[2] Other noteworthy roles include "Asdollah Mirza" in Daii jan Napelon.
Career in the United States
Sayyad migrated to the United States shortly after the Iranian Revolution, where he continued to act, write, direct and produce. He received a PhD from the City University of New York (CUNY).[1]
In 1983, he directed and starred in the film The Mission (Ferestadeh), which was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival; and won the Jury Grand Prize award (1983) at the Locarno Film Festival.[3][1]
Sayyad is married to Parvin Sayyad and has two daughters.
Filmography
(As an actor)
- Hasan Kachal (Hasan the Bald) (1970)
- Samad va Ghalicheye Hazrate Soleyman (1971)
- Samad va Fulad Zereh Div (1971)
- Khastegar (1971)
- Sattar Khan (1972)
- Samad va Sami, Leila va Leili (1972)
- Samad be Madreseh Miravad (Samad Goes to School) (1973)
- Kaaf Show (TV show) (1974)
- Samad Artist Mishavad (1974)
- Mozaffar (1974)
- Maslakh (1974)
- Asrare Ganje Darreye Jenni (1974)
- Zanburak (1975)
- Samad Khoshbakht Mishavad (1975)
- Dar Ghorbat (1975)
- Daii jan Napelon (My Uncle Napoleon) (1976)
- Bon Bast (Dead End ) (1976) Directed by Parviz Sayyad. Architect, art director and production designer: Amir Farrokh Tehrani
- Samad dar Rahe Ejdeha (1977)
- Samad dar-be-dar Mishavad (1978)
- The Mission (Ferestadeh) (1983)[1]
- Samad be Jebhe Miravad (1984)
- Samad az Jang bar Migardad (1986)
- On Wngs of Eagle (1986)
- Checkpoint (1987)
- Babak and Friends - A First Norooz (2005)
- The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008)
- Liberation (2009)
- Homeland, season 3 (TV series) (2012)
- The Persian Connection (2016)
(As a director)
- Dar Emtedade Shab (1978)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lorentz, John H. (April 2010). The A to Z of Iran. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-8108-7638-5.
- ^ "10th Moscow International Film Festival (1977)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
- ^ "Berlinale: 1983 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
External links