Ezzatollah Entezami

Ezzatollah Entezami, born in 1924 in Tehran, Iran, was a celebrated Iranian actor whose contributions to cinema have left an indelible mark. After completing his studies at the theater and cinema school in Hanover, Germany, in 1958, Entezami embarked on his acting journey on stage in 1941. He made his cinematic debut in 1969 and gained international acclaim for his performance in Darius Mehrjui’s iconic film, The Cow (Gaav), which earned the Golden Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1971. In this memorable role, he portrayed a simple villager who, devastated by the death of his beloved cow, begins to believe he is the cow itself.

Regarded as one of the most significant figures in Iranian cinema, Entezami has been hailed as the greatest actor in the history of Iranian film. His collaborations with esteemed directors such as Darius Mehrjui (eight films), Ali Hatami (four films), Nasser Taqvaee, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Behrouz Afkhami, and Rakhshan Bani-Etemad have further solidified his legacy. He received the Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor twice at the International Fajr Film Festival for his performances in Grand Cinema and The Day of Angel. In recognition of his remarkable career, a tribute was held for him at the Iranian cultural center in Paris in October 2006, celebrating his impact on the arts.