Omid Djalili
This physically imposing comedian uses his Iranian heritage as a springboard for sharp, boundary-pushing observations on culture, politics, and the universal absurdities of life.
Born 1965 (age 61)·British stand-up comedian and actor·Birthday: September 30·Generation X
Biography
Omid Djalili's comedy is a high-wire act of cultural collision. Born in London to Iranian parents, he studied Middle Eastern studies and pursued a career in acting before finding his true calling on the stand-up stage. His breakthrough at the 1995 Edinburgh Fringe introduced a bold, physical performer who could pivot from a belly-dancing routine to a incisive bit on Middle Eastern geopolitics. Djalili refuses to be pigeonholed; he tackles stereotypes head-on, using his heritage not as a niche but as a unique lens to examine broader human follies. This intelligence has translated to a parallel career in film and television, where he has taken on roles ranging from a bumbling terrorist in 'The Mummy' to a nuanced Fagin in a TV adaptation of 'Oliver Twist.' Through it all, his comedy remains a potent mix of the personal and the political, delivered with disarming charm.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Omid was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Omid Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Omid's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the coveted Perrier Comedy Award nomination at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for his breakthrough solo show in 1995.
- Starred in his own BBC One sketch show, 'The Omid Djalili Show,' which ran for two series and showcased his range.
- Performed to sold-out audiences on multiple international stand-up tours, building a global fanbase.
- Acted in major Hollywood films like 'The Mummy' and 'Gladiator,' as well as acclaimed British television dramas.
Did You Know?
He is a fluent speaker of Persian (Farsi).
Djalili was a competitive weightlifter in his youth and remains physically active.
He initially trained as an actor at the prestigious Drama Centre London.
He provided the voice for a character in the popular video game 'The Last of Us.'
“I'm not an ethnic comedian. I'm a comedian who happens to be ethnic. There's a difference.”
