Jamshid Mashayekhi
Iranian actor and pillar of Iranian cinema history.
Jamshid Mashayekhi (Persian: جمشید مشایخی, November 26, 1934 – April 2, 2019) was an Iranian actor. Alongside Ali Nasirian, Ezatollah Entezami, Mohammad Ali Keshavarz, and Davoud Rashidi, he is counted among the five most influential figures in Iranian cinema history.
Mashayekhi started his professional acting career on stage in 1957. His first film role came in *Brick and Mirror* (1965, directed by Ebrahim Golestan). After a four-year pause, he appeared in *The Cow* (1969, directed by Darius Mehrjui) and *Qeysar* (1969, directed by Masoud Kimiai). Because of his white hair and his charismatic face and physique, he was often cast as an elderly grandfather. For his performance in *The Grandfather* (1985, directed by Majid Gharizadeh), he won a best performance award at the First Festival of Non-aligned Countries in North Korea.
His selected filmography includes *Brick and Mirror* (1964), *Qeysar* (1969), *The Cow* (1969), *The Curse* (1973), *Prince Ehtedjab* (1974), *Breath of Hope* (1977), the TV series *Hezar Dastan* (1978–1987), *Kamalolmolk* (1983), *The Lead* (1988), *Honeymoon* (1992), *The Fateful Day* (1994), *A House Built on Water* (2001, directed by Bahman Farmān'ārā), *Rising* (2001, directed by Hossein Shahabi), *Abadan* (2003), *The Thirteenth Bridge* (2005, directed by Farhad Gharib), *A Teensy Kiss* (2005, directed by Bahman Farmān'ārā), and *In Search of Peace* (2016–2017, directed by Saeed Soltani).
- Born
- November 26, 1934
- Died
- April 2, 2019
- Field
- Acting
- Nationality
- Iranian
- Known for
- One of the five most important actors in Iranian cinema; commonly appeared as an elderly grandfather
Lore & Background
Jamshid Mashayekhi began professional acting on stage in 1957. His first feature film role was in *Brick and Mirror* (1965), directed by Ebrahim Golestan. After a four-year break, he acted in *The Cow* (1969, Darius Mehrjui) and *Qeysar* (1969, Masoud Kimiai). He commonly appeared as an elderly grandfather because of his white hair and charismatic face and figure.
Mashayekhi received a best performance award for *The Grandfather* (1985, Majid Gharizadeh) from the First Festival of Non-aligned Countries in North Korea. His selected filmography includes notable works such as *Prince Ehtedjab* (1974), *Kamalolmolk* (1983), and *A House Built on Water* (2001). He also appeared in the TV series *Hezar Dastan* (1978-1987).
Reader's Guide
Jamshid Mashayekhi's significance lies in his status as one of the five most influential actors in Iranian cinema, a group recognized for shaping the nation's film history. His career spanned from stage acting in 1957 to film roles in the 1960s, including key works like The Cow and Qeysar, which are landmarks of Iranian cinema. His frequent portrayal of elderly grandfathers, due to his white hair and charismatic presence, made him a beloved figure. The best performance award he received for The Grandfather at an international festival in North Korea underscores his recognition beyond Iran. His legacy endures through his extensive filmography and his place among the pantheon of Iranian acting greats.
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