Homayoun Ershadi: The Actor Discovered at a Red Light
According to Khabar Online, Ershadi, who had been battling cancer, passed away today.
Ershadi often described his entry into cinema—and his discovery by the renowned filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami—as a stroke of luck.
In an interview published by Iran newspaper on December 24, 2020, he recalled the moment he was unexpectedly cast for the critically acclaimed film Taste of Cherry:
“One day, I was waiting at a red light on one of Tehran’s streets when someone knocked on my car window. I turned and realized it was Abbas Kiarostami. I rolled down the window and he said, ‘I am Abbas Kiarostami. I’m making a film and I would like you to be in it.’”
He continued: “The next day Kiarostami came to my office. We talked for about an hour. He told me he would soon be traveling abroad for a festival and asked me to visit his office and audition for his assistant. I went, did the screen test, and three weeks later they called to say I had been chosen for the role in Taste of Cherry.”
Homayoun Ershadi was born on March 25, 1947, and passed away on November 11, 2025, at the age of 78, following a period of illness.
Homayoun Ershadi: The Actor Discovered at a Red Light
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