Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved, famous, and non-famous man. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to Iranian-British actor, comedian, and writer Omid Djalili.
Djalili was born in Chelsea, London, on September 30, 1965, to Iranian Baháʼí parents. His persistence led him to attend Ulster University in Northern Ireland after being rejected by 16 drama schools and fabricating his A-level exam scores.
His stand-up comedy career saw its first major breakthrough at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1995 with “Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son,” and then with “The Arab and the Jew” alongside comedian Ivor Dembina in 1996. Djalili has showcased his talent from Australia to Ireland, Sweden to Belgium, Canada to the United States, and even had his own HBO Special.
Djalili’s film credits include notable works such as Gladiator, The World Is Not Enough, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
The Noor Iranian Film Festival appointed him as an official judge in 2008. During a Meltdown Festival concert in June 2010, Djalili showcased his talent as the narrator in ‘Rubaiyat,’ a tone poem by Alan Hovhaness.
Djalili’s comedy has earned him awards. He has received many awards, including the EMMA Award, Time Out Award, LWT Comedy Award for Best Stand-up Comedian, Spirit of the Fringe Award, and the One World Media Award for his Channel 4 documentary Bloody Foreigners.
Among his accolades are nominations for the European TV Award for his Bloody Foreigners and the Perrier Award for Best Comedian.
Djalili and actress Annabel Knight became husband and wife in 1992, and they now have three children. He actively follows the Baháʼí religion. Djalili was present for the Iran Solidarity Rally, which took place in Trafalgar Square in January 2023 to support protests in custody and death.
Djalili discusses representation as a Middle Eastern comedian in the West:
I was very well aware that I was the first Middle Eastern comedian doing comedy in the English language. I’m not doing it for my people, I’m doing it for everyone, really. But to be a representative gives you extra motivation. You’ve got to be a little bit more careful about what you say. There’s more to navigate but the rewards are bigger as well.
Today, we honor Omid Djalili as our Evolved Man of the Week.
Evolving Folks Project 