Parviz Parastui
An Iranian cinematic pillar whose everyman authenticity and dramatic depth have made him the most awarded leading actor in his country's history.
Born 1955 (age 71)·Iranian actor·Birthday: April 25·Baby Boomers
Biography
Parviz Parastui's journey to becoming a defining face of Iranian cinema was unconventional; he began his professional life as a car mechanic. His entry into acting was almost accidental, but his natural, grounded presence quickly resonated with audiences and directors alike. Parastui possesses a rare ability to bridge the gap between comedy and profound drama, often playing ordinary men caught in extraordinary circumstances. He became a frequent collaborator with major directors like Dariush Mehrjui and Kamal Tabrizi, delivering performances that balanced social commentary with deep humanism. His unprecedented four Crystal Simorgh awards for Best Actor from the Fajr Film Festival are not just personal accolades but markers of his consistent ability to channel the anxieties, hopes, and complexities of contemporary Iran. He is less a star and more a mirror, reflecting the nation's soul back to itself.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Parviz was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Parviz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Parviz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
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 50
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 60
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 70
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 71 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the record for most Crystal Simorgh wins for Best Actor at Iran's Fajr Film Festival, with four.
- Starred in 'The Snowman,' a film that became one of the highest-grossing Iranian movies of its time.
- Won the Hafez Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'Here Without Me' (2011).
- His role in 'The Fish Fall in Love' showcased his adept skill in blending romantic comedy with social themes.
Did You Know?
He worked as a mechanic and even owned an auto repair shop before becoming a full-time actor.
He is a trained martial artist in Kung Fu.
He turned down a role in Asghar Farhadi's Oscar-winning film 'A Separation' due to scheduling conflicts.
“I learned about people from under the hood of a car before I ever learned about them from a script.”
