Payman Maadi

{{Infobox person

| name = Peyman Maādi

| image = Payman Maadi and Mahnaz Afshar 20190201 04 (cropped).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Maadi at the 2019 Fajr Film Festival

| native_name = پیمان معادی

| native_name_lang = Fa

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|07|09}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| citizenship = {{flatlist|

United States
Iran

}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
screenwriter
director}}

| years_active = 2000–present

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| spouse = Faranak Qavanlou

| children = 2

| parents =

| website =

}}

Payman Maadi ({{langx|fa|پیمان معادی}}; born July 9, 1970)https://www-varandaz-com.translate.goog/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-2/8111-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%BE%D9%87%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A6%D9%88?_x_tr_sl=fa&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} also known as Peyman Moadi, is an Iranian-American actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for starring in the films A Separation (2011) and About Elly (2009) by Iranian Academy Award-winning director Asghar Farhadi and Last Knights (2015) and the independent drama film Camp X-Ray (2014). For his role in A Separation, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival (2011).{{cite web|title=Iran's "Separation" Wins Berlinale's Golden Bear|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/02/irans-separation-wins-berlinales-golden-bear-243580/|publisher=IndieWire|first=Brian|last=Brooks|date=February 19, 2011|access-date=February 19, 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/03/blu-ray-details-for-camp-x-ray-starring-kristen-stewart.html|title=Blu-ray details for Camp X-Ray starring Kristen Stewart|publisher=Flickering Myth|author=Scott J. Davis|date=March 22, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sourehcinema.com/People/People.aspx?Id=138112170105 |title=Soureh Cinema |access-date=September 22, 2009 |archive-date=April 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408182800/http://www.sourehcinema.com/People/People.aspx?Id=138112170105 |url-status=dead }}

Early life

Maadi was born in New York City to Iranian parents. When he was 5 years old, his father, an attorney, decided to move back to Iran.{{cite web | url=https://iran-times.com/male-star-of-a-separation-gets-role-in-us-television-miniseries/ | title=Male star of 'A Separation' gets role in US television miniseries – Iran Times | date=November 8, 2013 }} He graduated from the Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch with a degree in metallurgical engineering. Maadi later decided to become a screenwriter.{{cite web | url=https://www.siff.com/english/content?aid=import-cms-1261 | title=Payman Maadi: Stars are no guarantee of a film\'s success, but the script is! }}

Career

Maadi started his film career as a screenwriter with the film Swan Song in 2000. He later wrote several renowned Iranian films. He began his acting career in Asghar Farhadi's film About Elly (2009), continuing his working relationship with the director in the film A Separation, which was released to widespread critical acclaim.

Two years later, he received the Silver Bear award for Best Actor in Leading Role at the Berlin International Film Festival for his performance as Nader in Farhadi's A Separation (2011).[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1818216/bio Biography] He was seen in the indie drama Camp X-Ray, which was accepted into the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was released October 17, 2014. Maadi also appeared in the HBO television series The Night Of.[https://www.sundance.org/festival/release/2014-festival-us-world-and-next-films-announced/ sundance.org] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131213122700/https://www.sundance.org/festival/release/2014-festival-us-world-and-next-films-announced/ |date=December 13, 2013 }}[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1818216/ Festival]

In 2014 he was a jury member at the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival.

He won the Crystal Simorgh for his role in Walnut Tree (2020) at the Fajr Film Festival.This film is about a father who has to bear the burden of his children's grief under the terrible shadow of war.

Personal life

Maadi divides his time between Tehran and Los Angeles. He owns a watch gallery in Tehran. He identifies as Muslim.{{cite web | url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/the-night-of-hbo-payman-maadi.html | title=The Night Of's Payman Maadi on Middle Eastern Stereotypes in Hollywood and Getting Past the Censors in Iran | date=August 22, 2016 }}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%" ! scope="col" \|Year ! scope="col" \|Title ! scope="col" \|Role ! scope="col" \|Director ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \|Notes ! class="unsortable" scope="col" \|{{abbr\|Ref(s)\|references}}
scope="row" \| 2000 \| Swan Song \| \|Saeed Asadi \|As writer \|
scope="row" \| 2002 \| Thirst \| \|Mohammad Hossein Farahbakhsh \| As writer, costume designer \|
scope="row" \| 2004 \| Coma \| \|Arash Moayerian \|As writer \|
scope="row" rowspan="2" \|2006 \| Cafe Setareh \| \|Saman Moghaddam \|As writer \|
Wedding Dinner \| \|Ebrahim Vahidzadeh \| As writer, director advisor \|
scope="row" \| 2007 \| Lipstick \| \|Payman Maadi \| Short film; also as writer \|
scope="row" \| 2009 \| About Elly \| Payman \|Asghar Farhadi \| \|
scope="row" rowspan="2" \|2011 \| A Separation \| Nader \|Asghar Farhadi \| \|
Mourning \|Masoud (voice) \|Morteza Farshbaf \| \|
scope="row" \| 2012 \| The Snow on the Pines \| \|Payman Maadi \|Also as writer \|
scope="row" rowspan="3" \|2014 \| Camp X-Ray \| Ali Amir \|Peter Sattler \| \|
Tales \| Taxi Driver \|Rakhshan Banietemad \| \|
Melbourne \| Amir \|Nima Javidi \| \|
scope="row" \| 2015 \| Last Knights \| Emperor \|Kazuaki Kiriya \| \|
scope="row" rowspan="3" \|2016 \| 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi \| Amahl \|Michael Bay \| \|
Life and a Day \| Morteza \|Saeed Roustaee \| \|
Window Horses \| Payman \|Ann Marie Fleming \| Voice \|
scope="row" rowspan="2" \|2018 \| Bomb: A Love Story \|\| Iraj Zokayi \|Payman Maadi \|Also as writer \|
Pig \|Himself \|Mani Haghighi \| \|
scope="row" rowspan="3" \|2019 \|Suddenly a Tree \|Farhad \|Safi Yazdanian \| \|
Just 6.5 \|Samad Majidi \|Saeed Roustaee \| \|
6 Underground	Murat Alimov \|Michael Bay \| \|
scope="row" rowspan="2" \|2020 \| Walnut Tree \|Qader Molanpour \|Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian \|\| \|
Night Shift \|Asomidin Tohirov \|Anne Fontaine \| \|
scope="row" \| 2022 \|Leila's Brothers \|Manouchehr Jourablou \|Saeed Roustaee \| \|
rowspan="3" scope="row" \|2023 \|Opponent \|Iman \|Milad Alami \| \|
Aporia \|Jabir \|Jared Moshe \| \|
Parfum \| \|Dylan Gee \|Short film \|
scope="row" \| 2024 \|Hard Shell \| \|Majid Reza Mostafavi \| \|
scope="row" \| 2025 \|Woman and Child \| \|Saeed Roustaee \| \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%"

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Title

! scope="col" |Role

! scope="col" |Director

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes

! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|references}}

scope="row" | 2000

| Swan Song

|Saeed Asadi

|As writer

scope="row" | 2002

| Thirst

|Mohammad Hossein Farahbakhsh

| As writer, costume designer

scope="row" | 2004

| Coma

|Arash Moayerian

|As writer

scope="row" rowspan="2" |2006

| Cafe Setareh

|Saman Moghaddam

|As writer

Wedding Dinner

|Ebrahim Vahidzadeh

| As writer, director advisor

scope="row" | 2007

| Lipstick

|Payman Maadi

| Short film; also as writer

scope="row" | 2009

| About Elly

| Payman

|Asghar Farhadi

scope="row" rowspan="2" |2011

| A Separation

| Nader

|Asghar Farhadi

Mourning

|Masoud (voice)

|Morteza Farshbaf

scope="row" | 2012

| The Snow on the Pines

|Payman Maadi

|Also as writer

scope="row" rowspan="3" |2014

| Camp X-Ray

| Ali Amir

|Peter Sattler

Tales

| Taxi Driver

|Rakhshan Banietemad

Melbourne

| Amir

|Nima Javidi

scope="row" | 2015

| Last Knights

| Emperor

|Kazuaki Kiriya

scope="row" rowspan="3" |2016

| 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

| Amahl

|Michael Bay

Life and a Day

| Morteza

|Saeed Roustaee

Window Horses

| Payman

|Ann Marie Fleming

| Voice

scope="row" rowspan="2" |2018

| Bomb: A Love Story

|| Iraj Zokayi

|Payman Maadi

|Also as writer

Pig

|Himself

|Mani Haghighi

scope="row" rowspan="3" |2019

|Suddenly a Tree

|Farhad

|Safi Yazdanian

Just 6.5

|Samad Majidi

|Saeed Roustaee

6 Underground

Murat Alimov

|Michael Bay

scope="row" rowspan="2" |2020

| Walnut Tree

|Qader Molanpour

|Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian

Night Shift

|Asomidin Tohirov

|Anne Fontaine

scope="row" | 2022

|Leila's Brothers

|Manouchehr Jourablou

|Saeed Roustaee

rowspan="3" scope="row" |2023

|Opponent

|Iman

|Milad Alami

Aporia

|Jabir

|Jared Moshe

Parfum

|Dylan Gee

|Short film

scope="row" | 2024

|Hard Shell

|Majid Reza Mostafavi

scope="row" | 2025

|Woman and Child

|Saeed Roustaee

= Television =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%" ! scope="col" \|Year ! scope="col" \|Title ! scope="col" \|Role ! scope="col" \|Director ! class="unsortable" scope="col" \|Network ! scope="col" \|Notes ! class="unsortable" scope="col" \|{{abbr\|Ref(s)\|references}}
scope="row" \| 2016 \| The Night Of \| Salim Khan \|Steven Zaillian, James Marsh \| HBO \| Miniseries, 8 episodes \|
scope="row" \| 2020 \| Westworld \| Elliot \|Jonathan Nolan, Frederick E.O. Toye \| HBO \| 3 episodes \|
scope="row" \| 2024 \|Viper of Tehran \|Arman Bayani \|Saman Moghaddam \|Filmnet \|Main role; 14 episodes, also as writer \|
scope="row" \| 2025 \|Azaazil \|Behrouz Sharifi \|Hassan Fathi \|Namava \|Main role \|
{{TBA}} \|Caviar \| \|Payman Maadi \|Filimo \|Also as writer \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%"

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Title

! scope="col" |Role

! scope="col" |Director

! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Network

! scope="col" |Notes

! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|references}}

scope="row" | 2016

| The Night Of

| Salim Khan

|Steven Zaillian,

James Marsh

| HBO

| Miniseries, 8 episodes

scope="row" | 2020

| Westworld

| Elliot

|Jonathan Nolan,

Frederick E.O. Toye

| HBO

| 3 episodes

scope="row" | 2024

|Viper of Tehran

|Arman Bayani

|Saman Moghaddam

|Filmnet

|Main role; 14 episodes, also as writer

scope="row" | 2025

|Azaazil

|Behrouz Sharifi

|Hassan Fathi

|Namava

|Main role

|Caviar

|Payman Maadi

|Filimo

|Also as writer

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Nominated work ! scope="col" \| Result ! class="unsortable" scope="col" \|{{abbr\|Ref(s)\|references}}
scope="row" rowspan="2" \|Asia Pacific Screen Awards \|2011 \|Best Performance by an Actor \|A Separation \|{{nom}} \|
2018 \|Best Screenplay \|Bomb: A Love Story \|{{nom}} \|
scope="row"\|Berlin International Film Festival \|2011 \|Silver Bear for Best Actor \|A Separation \|{{won}} \|
scope="row" rowspan="9" \|Fajr Film Festival \| rowspan="3" \|2012 \|Best First Director \| rowspan="3" \|The Snow on the Pines \|{{nom}} \|
Best First Screenplay \|{{nom}} \|
Audience Choice of Best Film \|{{won}} \|
2016 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Life and a Day \|{{nom}} \|
rowspan="3" \|2018 \|Best Film \| rowspan="3" \|Bomb: A Love Story \|{{nom}} \|
Best Screenplay \|{{nom}} \|
Special Jury Prize \|{{won}} \|
2019 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Just 6.5 \|{{nom}} \|
2020 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Walnut Tree \|{{won}} \|
rowspan="8" scope="row" \|Hafez Awards \|2014 \|Best Screenplay – Motion Picture \|The Snow on the Pines \|{{nom}} \|
2016 \|Best Actor – Motion Picture \|Life and a Day \|{{nom}} \|
rowspan="3" \|2019 \|Best Screenplay – Motion Picture \| rowspan="2" \|Bomb: A Love Story \|{{nom}} \|
Best Motion Picture \|{{nom}} \|
Best Actor – Motion Picture \|Just 6.5 \|{{won}} \|
2021 \|Best Actor – Motion Picture \|Walnut Tree \|{{won}} \|
rowspan="2" \|2024 \|Best Actor – Television Series Drama \| rowspan="2" \|Viper of Tehran \|{{nom}} \| rowspan="2" \|{{Cite web \|title=بازیگران و سریال‌های نامزد دریافت تندیس حافظ را بشناسید - خبرگزاری مهر {{!}} اخبار ایران و جهان {{!}} Mehr News Agency \|url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/6291653/%DA%86%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF/ \|access-date=2024-11-18 \|website=www.mehrnews.com}}
Best Screenplay – Television Series \|{{nom}}
scope="row"\|International Bosphorus Film Festival \|2018 \|Best International Director \|Bomb: A Love Story \|{{won}} \|
scope="row"\|International Cinephile Society \|2012 \|Best Actor \|A Separation \|{{draw\|Runner-up}} \|
scope="row"\|International Online Cinema Awards \|2015 \|Best Supporting Actor \|About Elly \|{{nom}} \|
rowspan="6" scope="row" \|Iran Cinema Celebration \|2011 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|A Separation \|{{nom}} \|
rowspan="2" \|2014 \|Best Screenplay \| rowspan="2" \|The Snow on the Pines \|{{nom}} \|
Best New Director \|{{nom}} \|
2015 \|Best Actor in a Supporting Role \|Tales \|{{nom}} \|
2016 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Life and a Day \|{{won}} \|
2019 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Just 6.5 \|{{nom}} \|
scope="row" rowspan="10" \|Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association \|2009 \|Best Actor in a Supporting Role \|About Elly \|{{nom}} \|
2011 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|A Separation \|{{won}} \|
rowspan="2" \|2012 \|Best Director \| rowspan="2" \|The Snow on the Lines \|{{nom}} \|
Best Creativity and Talent (first filmmakers) \|{{nom}} \|
2014 \|Best Actor in a Supporting Role \|Tales \|{{nom}} \|
2016 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Life and a Day \|{{won}} \|
rowspan="3" \|2018 \|Best Film \| rowspan="3" \|Bomb: A Love Story \|{{nom}} \|
Best Director \|{{nom}} \|
Best Screenplay \|{{nom}} \|
2022 \|Best Actor in a Leading Role \|Walnut Tree \|{{nom}} \|
scope="row"\|Stockholm International Film Festival \|2019 \|Achievement Award \|– \|{{won}} \|
scope="row"\|Vesoul International Film Festival \|2014 \|Golden Wheel \|The Snow on the Pines \|{{nom}} \|
scope="row"\|Village Voice Film Poll \|2011 \|Best Actor \|A Separation \|{{draw\|Fourth Place}} \|

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Nominated work

! scope="col" | Result

! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|references}}

scope="row" rowspan="2" |Asia Pacific Screen Awards

|2011

|Best Performance by an Actor

|{{nom}}

|{{nom}}

scope="row"|Berlin International Film Festival

|2011

|Silver Bear for Best Actor

|A Separation

|{{won}}

scope="row" rowspan="9" |Fajr Film Festival

| rowspan="3" |2012

|Best First Director

| rowspan="3" |The Snow on the Pines

|{{nom}}

Best First Screenplay

|{{nom}}

Audience Choice of Best Film

|{{won}}

2016

|Best Actor in a Leading Role

|Life and a Day

|{{nom}}

rowspan="3" |2018

|Best Film

| rowspan="3" |Bomb: A Love Story

|{{nom}}

Best Screenplay

|{{nom}}

Special Jury Prize

|{{won}}

2019

|Best Actor in a Leading Role

|Just 6.5

|{{nom}}

2020

|Best Actor in a Leading Role

|Walnut Tree

|{{won}}

rowspan="8" scope="row" |Hafez Awards

|2014

|Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

|The Snow on the Pines

|{{nom}}

2016

|Best Actor – Motion Picture

|Life and a Day

|{{nom}}

rowspan="3" |2019

|Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

| rowspan="2" |Bomb: A Love Story

|{{nom}}

Best Motion Picture

|{{nom}}

Best Actor – Motion Picture

|Just 6.5

|{{won}}

2021

|Best Actor – Motion Picture

|Walnut Tree

|{{won}}

rowspan="2" |2024

|Best Actor – Television Series Drama

| rowspan="2" |Viper of Tehran

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="2" |{{Cite web |title=بازیگران و سریال‌های نامزد دریافت تندیس حافظ را بشناسید - خبرگزاری مهر {{!}} اخبار ایران و جهان {{!}} Mehr News Agency |url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/6291653/%DA%86%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.mehrnews.com}}

Best Screenplay – Television Series

|{{nom}}

scope="row"|International Bosphorus Film Festival

|2018

|Best International Director

|Bomb: A Love Story

|{{won}}

scope="row"|International Cinephile Society

|2012

|Best Actor

|A Separation

|{{draw|Runner-up}}