Payman Maadi (; born July 9, 1970), 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, 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).
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. He graduated from the Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch with a degree in metallurgical engineering. Maadi later decided to become a screenwriter.
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).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.sundance.org 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. The 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.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes 2000 Swan SongSaeed AsadiAs writer 2002 ThirstMohammad Hossein Farahbakhsh As writer, costume designer 2004 ComaArash MoayerianAs writer2006 Cafe SetarehSaman Moghaddam Wedding DinnerEbrahim Vahidzadeh As writer, director advisor 2007 LipstickPayman Maadi Short film; also as writer 2009 About Elly PaymanAsghar Farhadi2011 A Separation Nader MourningMasoud (voice)Morteza Farshbaf 2012 The Snow on the PinesPayman MaadiAlso as writer2014 Camp X-Ray Ali AmirPeter Sattler Tales Taxi DriverRakhshan Banietemad Melbourne AmirNima Javidi 2015 Last Knights EmperorKazuaki Kiriya2016 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi AmahlMichael Bay Life and a Day MortezaSaeed Roustaee Window Horses PaymanAnn Marie Fleming Voice2018 Bomb: A Love Story Iraj ZokayiPayman MaadiAlso as writerPigHimselfMani Haghighi2019Suddenly a TreeFarhadSafi YazdanianJust 6.5Samad MajidiSaeed Roustaee 6 Underground Murat AlimovMichael Bay2020 Walnut TreeQader MolanpourMohammad Hossein MahdavianNight ShiftAsomidin TohirovAnne Fontaine 2022Leila's BrothersManouchehr JourablouSaeed Roustaee2023OpponentImanMilad AlamiAporiaJabirJared MosheParfumDylan GeeShort film 2024Hard ShellMajid Reza Mostafavi 2025Woman and ChildHamidSaeed Roustaee 2026 Crime 101 Sammy Kassem Bart Layton
Television YearTitleRoleDirectorNetworkNotes 2016 The Night Of Salim KhanSteven Zaillian, James Marsh HBO Miniseries, 8 episodes 2020 Westworld ElliotJonathan Nolan, Frederick E.O. Toye 3 episodes 2024Viper of TehranArman BayaniSaman MoghaddamFilmnetMain role; 14 episodes, also as writer 2025AzaazilBehrouz SharifiHassan FathiNamavaMain role CaviarPayman MaadiFilimoAlso writer
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Nominated work ResultAsia Pacific Screen Awards2011Best Performance by an ActorA Separation2018Best ScreenplayBomb: A Love StoryBerlin International Film Festival2011Silver Bear for Best ActorA SeparationFajr Film Festival2012Best First DirectorThe Snow on the PinesBest First ScreenplayAudience Choice of Best Film2016Best Actor in a Leading RoleLife and a Day2018Best FilmBomb: A Love StoryBest ScreenplaySpecial Jury Prize2019Best Actor in a Leading RoleJust 6.52020Best Actor in a Leading RoleWalnut TreeHafez Awards2014Best Screenplay – Motion PictureThe Snow on the Pines2016Best Actor – Motion PictureLife and a Day2019Best Screenplay – Motion PictureBomb: A Love StoryBest Motion PictureBest Actor – Motion PictureJust 6.52021Best Actor – Motion PictureWalnut Tree2024Best Actor – Television Series DramaViper of TehranBest Screenplay – Television SeriesInternational Bosphorus Film Festival2018Best International DirectorBomb: A Love StoryInternational Cinephile Society2012Best ActorA SeparationInternational Online Cinema Awards2015Best Supporting ActorAbout EllyIran Cinema Celebration2011Best Actor in a Leading RoleA Separation2014Best ScreenplayThe Snow on the PinesBest New Director2015Best Actor in a Supporting RoleTales2016Best Actor in a Leading RoleLife and a Day2019Best Actor in a Leading RoleJust 6.5Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association2009Best Actor in a Supporting RoleAbout Elly2011Best Actor in a Leading RoleA Separation2012Best DirectorThe Snow on the LinesBest Creativity and Talent (first filmmakers)2014Best Actor in a Supporting RoleTales2016Best Actor in a Leading RoleLife and a Day2018Best FilmBomb: A Love StoryBest DirectorBest Screenplay2022Best Actor in a Leading RoleWalnut TreeStockholm International Film Festival2019Achievement Award–Vesoul International Film Festival2014Golden WheelThe Snow on the PinesVillage Voice Film Poll2011Best ActorA Separation
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