{{Short description|Iranian-American actor (born 1970)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Peyman Maādi | image = Payman Maadi and Mahnaz Afshar 20190201 04 (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | caption = Maadi at the [[37th Fajr Film Festival|2019 Fajr Film Festival]] | native_name = پیمان معادی | native_name_lang = Fa | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|07|09}} | birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S. | citizenship = {{flatlist| * United States * Iran }}
| occupation = {{flatlist| *Actor *screenwriter *director}} | years_active = 2000–present | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse = Faranak Qavanlou | children = 2 | parents = | website = }} '''Payman Maadi''' ({{langx|fa|پیمان معادی}}; born July 9, 1970),<ref>{{Cite web | title=پیمان معادی سازندگان عنکبوت مقدس را شست و پهن کرد + ویدئو | url=https://www-varandaz-com.translate.goog/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-2/8111-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%BE%D9%87%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A6%D9%88?_x_tr_sl=fa&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807011115/https://www-varandaz-com.translate.goog/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-2/8111-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%BE%D9%87%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A6%D9%88?_x_tr_sl=fa&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc | access-date=2025-06-25 | archive-date=2023-08-07}}</ref> 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 for Best International Feature Film|Academy Award-winning]] director [[Asghar Farhadi]], ''[[Last Knights]]'' (2015) and the independent drama film ''[[Camp X-Ray (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).<ref name="silverbear">{{cite web|title=Iran's "Separation" Wins Berlinale's Golden Bear|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/02/irans-separation-wins-berlinales-golden-bear-243580/|publisher=[[IndieWire]]|first=Brian|last=Brooks|date=February 19, 2011|access-date=February 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/03/blu-ray-details-for-camp-x-ray-starring-kristen-stewart.html|title=Blu-ray details for Camp X-Ray starring Kristen Stewart|publisher=Flickering Myth|author=Scott J. Davis|date=March 22, 2015|access-date=January 4, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sourehcinema.com/People/People.aspx?Id=138112170105 |title=Soureh Cinema |access-date=September 22, 2009 |archive-date=April 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408182800/http://www.sourehcinema.com/People/People.aspx?Id=138112170105 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Early life == Maadi was born in [[New York City]] to [[Iran]]ian parents. When he was 5 years old, his father, an attorney, decided to move back to Iran.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://iran-times.com/male-star-of-a-separation-gets-role-in-us-television-miniseries/ | title=Male star of 'A Separation' gets role in US television miniseries – Iran Times | date=November 8, 2013 }}</ref> He graduated from the [[Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch]] with a degree in metallurgical engineering. Maadi later decided to become a screenwriter.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.siff.com/english/content?aid=import-cms-1261 | title=Payman Maadi: Stars are no guarantee of a film\'s success, but the script is! }}</ref>
== 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).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1818216/bio Biography]</ref> He was seen in the indie drama ''[[Camp X-Ray (film)|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]]''.<ref>[https://www.sundance.org/festival/release/2014-festival-us-world-and-next-films-announced/ sundance.org] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131213122700/https://www.sundance.org/festival/release/2014-festival-us-world-and-next-films-announced/ |date=December 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1818216/ Festival]</ref> In 2014 he was a jury member at the [[2014 Shanghai International Film Festival|17th Shanghai International Film Festival]].
He won the Crystal Simorgh for his role in [[Walnut Tree (2020 film)|''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]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/the-night-of-hbo-payman-maadi.html | title=The Night Of's Payman Maadi on Middle Eastern Stereotypes in Hollywood and Getting Past the Censors in Iran | date=August 22, 2016 }}</ref>
== Filmography == === Film === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" |Director ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|references}} |- ! scope="row" | 2000 | ''Swan Song'' | |Saeed Asadi |As writer | |- ! scope="row" | 2002 | ''[[Thirst (2002 film)|Thirst]]'' | |Mohammad Hossein Farahbakhsh | As writer, costume designer | |- ! scope="row" | 2004 | ''Coma'' | |Arash Moayerian |rowspan="2" |As writer | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |2006 | ''Cafe Setareh'' | |Saman Moghaddam | |- | ''Wedding Dinner'' | |Ebrahim Vahidzadeh | As writer, director advisor | |- ! scope="row" | 2007 | ''Lipstick'' | |Payman Maadi | Short film; also as writer | |- ! scope="row" | 2009 | ''[[About Elly]]'' | Payman |rowspan="2" |[[Asghar Farhadi]] | | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |2011 | ''[[A Separation]]'' | Nader | | |- | ''Mourning'' |Masoud (voice) |[[Morteza Farshbaf]] | | |- ! scope="row" | 2012 | ''[[The Snow on the Pines]]'' | |Payman Maadi |Also as writer | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3" |2014 | ''[[Camp X-Ray (film)|Camp X-Ray]]'' | Ali Amir |Peter Sattler | | |- | ''[[Tales (film)|Tales]]'' | Taxi Driver |[[Rakhshān Banietemad|Rakhshan Banietemad]] | | |- | ''[[Melbourne (film)|Melbourne]]'' | Amir |[[Nima Javidi]] | | |- ! scope="row" | 2015 | ''[[Last Knights]]'' | Emperor |[[Kazuaki Kiriya]] | | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3" |2016 | ''[[13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi]]'' | Amahl |[[Michael Bay]] | | |- | ''[[Life and a Day]]'' | Morteza |[[Saeed Roustayi|Saeed Roustaee]] | | |- | ''[[Window Horses]]'' | Payman |[[Ann Marie Fleming]] | Voice | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |2018 | ''[[Bomb: A Love Story]]'' || Iraj Zokayi |Payman Maadi |Also as writer | |- |[[Pig (2018 film)|''Pig'']] |Himself |[[Mani Haghighi]] | | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3" |2019 |''Suddenly a Tree'' |Farhad |Safi Yazdanian | | |- |''[[Just 6.5]]'' |Samad Majidi |Saeed Roustaee | | |- | ''[[6 Underground (film)|6 Underground]]'' | Murat Alimov |Michael Bay | | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |2020 | ''[[Walnut Tree (2020 film)|Walnut Tree]]'' |Qader Molanpour |[[Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian]] | | |- |''[[Night Shift (2020 film)|Night Shift]]'' |Asomidin Tohirov |[[Anne Fontaine]] | | |- ! scope="row" | 2022 |''[[Leila's Brothers]]'' |Manouchehr Jourablou |Saeed Roustaee | | |- ! rowspan="3" scope="row" |2023 |''[[Opponent (film)|Opponent]]'' |Iman |[[Milad Alami]] | | |- |''[[Aporia (2023 film)|Aporia]]'' |Jabir |[[Jared Moshe]] | | |- |''Parfum'' | |Dylan Gee |Short film | |- ! scope="row" | 2024 |''Hard Shell'' | |Majid Reza Mostafavi | | |- ! scope="row" | 2025 |''[[Woman and Child]]'' |Hamid |Saeed Roustaee | | |- ! scope="row" | 2026 | ''[[Crime 101 (2026 film)|Crime 101]]'' | Sammy Kassem | [[Bart Layton]] | | |- |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size:100%" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" |Director ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Network ! scope="col" |Notes ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|references}} |- ! scope="row" | 2016 | ''[[The Night Of]]'' | Salim Khan |[[Steven Zaillian]], [[James Marsh (director)|James Marsh]] |rowspan="2" | [[HBO]] | Miniseries, 8 episodes | |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | ''[[Westworld (TV series)|Westworld]]'' | Elliot |[[Jonathan Nolan]], [[Frederick E.O. Toye]] | 3 episodes | |- ! scope="row" | 2024 |''[[Viper of Tehran]]'' |Arman Bayani |Saman Moghaddam |Filmnet |Main role; 14 episodes, also as writer | |- ! scope="row" | 2025 |''Azaazil'' |Behrouz Sharifi |[[Hassan Fathi]] |Namava |Main role | |- |{{TBA}} |''Caviar'' | |Payman Maadi |[[Filimo]] |Also writer | |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominated work ! scope="col" | Result ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref(s)|references}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |[[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]] |[[5th Asia Pacific Screen Awards|2011]] |[[Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor|Best Performance by an Actor]] |[[A Separation]] |{{nom}} | |- |[[12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards|2018]] |[[Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] |[[Bomb: A Love Story]] |{{nom}} | |- ! scope="row"|[[Berlin International Film Festival]] |[[61st Berlin International Film Festival|2011]] |[[Silver Bear for Best Actor]] |[[A Separation]] |{{won}} | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="9" |[[Fajr International Film Festival|Fajr Film Festival]] | rowspan="3" |2012 |Best First Director | rowspan="3" |[[The Snow on the Pines]] |{{nom}} | |- |Best First Screenplay |{{nom}} | |- |[[Crystal Simorgh for Audience Choice of Best Film|Audience Choice of Best Film]] |{{won}} | |- |2016 |[[Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor|Best Actor in a Leading Role]] |[[Life and a Day]] |{{nom}} | |- | rowspan="3" |2018 |[[Crystal Simorgh for Best Film|Best Film]] | rowspan="3" |[[Bomb: A Love Story]] |{{nom}} | |- |[[Crystal Simorgh for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] |{{nom}} | |- |[[Crystal Simorgh of Special Jury Prize|Special Jury Prize]] |{{won}} | |- |[[37th Fajr Film Festival|2019]] |[[Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor|Best Actor in a Leading Role]] |[[Just 6.5]] |{{nom}} | |- |[[38th Fajr Film Festival|2020]] |[[Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor|Best Actor in a Leading Role]] |[[Walnut Tree (2020 film)|Walnut Tree]] |{{won}} | |- ! rowspan="8" scope="row" |[[Hafez Awards]] |2014 |Best Screenplay – Motion Picture |[[The Snow on the Pines]] |{{nom}} | |- |2016 |Best Actor – Motion Picture |[[Life and a Day]] |{{nom}} | |- | rowspan="3" |2019 |Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | rowspan="2" |[[Bomb: A Love Story]] |{{nom}} | |- |Best Motion Picture |{{nom}} | |- |Best Actor – Motion Picture |[[Just 6.5]] |{{won}} | |- |2021 |Best Actor – Motion Picture |[[Walnut Tree (2020 film)|Walnut Tree]] |{{won}} | |- | rowspan="2" |2024 |Best Actor – Television Series Drama | rowspan="2" |Viper of Tehran |{{nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=بازیگران و سریالهای نامزد دریافت تندیس حافظ را بشناسید - خبرگزاری مهر {{!}} اخبار ایران و جهان {{!}} Mehr News Agency |url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/6291653/%DA%86%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AE%D8%B5-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.mehrnews.com}}</ref> |- |Best Screenplay – Television Series |{{nom}} |- ! scope="row"|International Bosphorus Film Festival |2018 |Best International Director |[[Bomb: A Love Story]] |{{won}} | |- ! scope="row"|[[International Cinephile Society]] |2012 |Best Actor |[[A Separation]] |{{draw|Runner-up}} | |- ! scope="row"|International Online Cinema Awards |2015 |Best Supporting Actor |[[About Elly]] |{{nom}} | |- ! rowspan="6" scope="row" |Iran Cinema Celebration |2011 |Best Actor in a Leading Role |[[A Separation]] |{{nom}} | |- | rowspan="2" |2014 |Best Screenplay | rowspan="2" |[[The Snow on the Pines]] |{{nom}} | |- |Best New Director |{{nom}} | |- |2015 |Best Actor in a Supporting Role |[[Tales (film)|Tales]] |{{nom}} | |- |2016 |Best Actor in a Leading Role |[[Life and a Day]] |{{won}} | |- |2019 |Best Actor in a Leading Role |[[Just 6.5]] |{{nom}} | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="10" |Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association |2009 |Best Actor in a Supporting Role |[[About Elly]] |{{nom}} | |- |2011 |Best Actor in a Leading Role |[[A Separation]] |{{won}} | |- | rowspan="2" |2012 |Best Director | rowspan="2" |[[The Snow on the Pines|The Snow on the Lines]] |{{nom}} | |- |Best Creativity and Talent (first filmmakers) |{{nom}} | |- |2014 |Best Actor in a Supporting Role |[[Tales (film)|Tales]] |{{nom}} | |- |2016 |Best Actor in a Leading Role |[[Life and a Day]] |{{won}} | |- | rowspan="3" |2018 |Best Film | rowspan="3" |[[Bomb: A Love Story]] |{{nom}} | |- |Best Director |{{nom}} | |- |Best Screenplay |{{nom}} | |- |2022 |Best Actor in a Leading Role |[[Walnut Tree (2020 film)|Walnut Tree]] |{{nom}} | |- ! scope="row"|[[Stockholm International Film Festival]] |2019 |Achievement Award |– |{{won}} | |- ! scope="row"|[[Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema|Vesoul International Film Festival]] |2014 |Golden Wheel |The Snow on the Pines |{{nom}} | |- ! scope="row"|[[Village Voice Film Poll]] |2011 |Best Actor |[[A Separation]] |{{draw|Fourth Place}} | |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} <!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only --> * {{Official website|https://paymanmaadi.com}} * {{IMDb name|1818216}}
{{Silver Bear for Best Actor}} {{Crystal Simorgh Best Actor}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maadi, Payman}} [[Category:1970s births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Iranian male film actors]] [[Category:Iranian screenwriters]] [[Category:Male actors from New York City]] [[Category:Silver Bear for Best Actor winners]] [[Category:21st-century Iranian male actors]] [[Category:Islamic Azad University alumni]] [[Category:Male actors from Tehran]] [[Category:Iranian film directors]] [[Category:Iranian male stage actors]] [[Category:Crystal Simorgh for Best Actor winners]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]