Akbar Abdi

Akbar Abdi, born in Tehran back in 1958, has been a total staple of Iranian cinema for decades. If you know anything about movies from that part of the world, you’ve probably spotted him—even if you didn’t realize it at first. He’s the sort of performer who can jump between comedy and drama like it’s no big deal. One minute, he’s making you laugh so hard you nearly choke, and the next, he’s playing some serious, heartwrenching role that sticks with you for ages. Some of his most memorable performances? Well, “I Feel Sleepy” from 2012 is one that stands out—Abdi pulls off this hilarious, slightly tragic character who’s always just a bit off-kilter, and you can’t help but root for the guy. Then there’s “Scandal” (2013), which leans a bit more into the dramatic, and “Dreamy” (2014), where he totally flips the script again. It’s kind of wild how he manages to transform himself from film to film; he’s never just playing himself. What really makes Abdi interesting, though, isn’t just his range. It’s the way he brings this raw, totally relatable vibe to his roles. He can be goofy or somber, but he’s always somehow familiar, like that uncle everyone has who’s secretly the best storyteller in the family. People in Iran basically grew up with his movies, and his face is just everywhere. Even now, with new actors popping up all the time, Abdi’s legacy is pretty much set in stone.