Omid Djalili

Biography

Omid Djalili is a prominent British stand-up comedian, actor, television producer, and writer, born on September 30, 1965, in Kensington, London. He hails from a family with Iranian Baháʼí roots; his parents, Ahmad and Parvaneh Djalili, emigrated from Tehran to the UK in 1958. Omid grew up with a brother and sister, and his mother worked as a dressmaker, even assisting the renowned Iranian singer Googoosh at one point. His father served as a liaison officer at the Iranian embassy, providing medical care and capturing images as a photographer whose work featured in the newspaper Kayhan.

Djalili attended Holland Park School, where he faced challenges, notably failing his A-levels six times. Undeterred, he faked his results to gain admission to Ulster University in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where he pursued English and theatre studies after being rejected by 16 drama schools. Influenced by cinematic greats such as Jack Lemmon and Meryl Streep, he found his comedic voice.

His breakthrough came at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1995 with his show "Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner's Son," followed by "The Arab and the Jew" with Ivor Dembina. Djalili has appeared in notable films including Gladiator, The Mummy, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. He also starred in the sitcom Whoopi and received accolades, including the EMMA Award and the Spirit of the Fringe Award, recognizing his contribution to comedy and television.