Who was Homayoun Ershadi? Iranian actor of ‘Taste of Cherry’ and ‘The Kite Runner’ dies at 78

Homayoun Ershadi, the Iranian actor whose international recognition stemmed from Abbas Kiarostami’s Palme d’Or-winning film Taste of Cherry and Marc Forster’s The Kite Runner, died at 78, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. He battled cancer prior to his passing on November 11, 2025.

Born in Isfahan on March 26, 1947, Ershadi trained as an architect and spent over a decade working in Vancouver in the 1980s before returning to Iran. His entry into cinema was entirely serendipitous. While stopped at a red light in Tehran, Kiarostami approached him and asked, “I want to make a film. Would you like to be in it?” This chance encounter led to Taste of Cherry (1997), where he played a middle-aged man seeking someone to bury him after his planned suicide, a performance that won global acclaim.

Over nearly three decades, Ershadi appeared in more than 90 films, balancing Iranian arthouse cinema with international projects. He is perhaps best known to global audiences as Baba, the principled father of Amir in The Kite Runner (2007). His later work included notable international films such as Alejandro Amenábar’s Agora (2009), Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty (2012), and Hassan Nazer’s Utopia (2015).

Tributes poured in from across the film world. Khalid Abdalla, his co-star in The Kite Runner, described Ershadi as “a magnificent soul who touched millions of people around the world,” recalling the special bond formed while playing father and son on screen.

Who is Homayoun Ershadi?

Ershadi was a late entrant into acting, having worked as an architect for most of his early life. His debut role in Taste of Cherry turned him into an international film icon, celebrated for his understated, powerful performances. Beyond his screen roles, he became a symbol of the unexpected paths through which talent can emerge, inspiring generations of actors and cinephiles.

Ershadi’s career spanned Iranian arthouse classics and globally recognised productions. Taste of Cherry won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, instantly bringing him to the attention of international audiences. He continued to appear in critically acclaimed films, often portraying dignified, contemplative characters.

His portrayal of Baba in The Kite Runner earned him further recognition for embodying warmth, integrity, and the nuanced challenges of fatherhood. He worked with acclaimed directors worldwide, including Amenábar, Bigelow, and Nazer, demonstrating versatility across genres and cultures.

Beyond cinema, Ershadi’s life story is remarkable: a trained architect turned world-renowned actor through chance, talent, and dedication. His death marks the loss of a significant figure in both Iranian and international film, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and cinematic milestones.
(With PTI inputs)