Omid Djalili

Omid Djalili, an acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, established his presence in Hollywood with notable roles in several major films, including ‘The Mummy’ (1999), ‘Notting Hill’ (1999), and the Oscar-winning ‘Gladiator’ (2000), where he played a Slave Trader. His comedic roots trace back to the 1995 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his debut show, ‘Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son,’ followed by ‘The Arab and the Jew’ in 1996, performed alongside comedian Ivor Dembina. This early success laid the groundwork for a multifaceted career. He also appeared in ‘The World Is Not Enough’ (1999).

His continued excellence in comedy was acknowledged with an Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize in 2016. Most recently, Djalili has maintained a strong presence across film, television, and gaming. He starred in HBO/BBC’s fantasy series ‘His Dark Materials’ (2019-2020) and Netflix’s ‘The Letter for the King’ (2020). In 2023, he returned to the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ universe, voicing Yusuf Amir once again in ‘Grand Theft Auto Online: The Chop Shop.’ Beyond his performances, Djalili demonstrated his commitment to social advocacy by participating in the Iran Solidarity Rally in 2023, supporting women’s rights.

In 2024, he further expanded his industry contributions by launching Tiny Speck Productions, a new company dedicated to developing unscripted and scripted comedies.