Homayoun Ershadi Passes Away; The Creator of ‘Taste of Cherry’ Turns Bitter

 Homayoun Ershadi Passes Away; The Creator of ‘Taste of Cherry’ Turns Bitter

Homayoun Ershadi, Iranian film, theatre, and television actor, and one of the country’s international cinematic figures, passed away this morning, November 11, 2025 (corresponding to 20 Aban 1404, at the age of 78. The cause of the artist’s death, as announced by his family and sister, was due to cancer metastasis after a period of illness

A Rebirth in Cinema Through a Coincidence

Homayoun Ershadi’s artistic life is a story much like cinema itself; a story that began with a simple coincidence

• Background: Ershadi was born in 1326 (1947) in Isfahan. In his youth, he went to Italy to study Architecture and returned to Iran eleven years later
• The Turning Point (Taste of Cherry): A brief encounter with Abbas Kiarostami at a traffic light changed his destiny. Kiarostami, who was looking for “unsettled calmness” in the face of the lead character, Badii, found this inner and outer tranquility in Ershadi
• Global Recognition: In 1375 (with the film’s international release in 1997, he starred in the leading role in “Taste of Cherry”. The film won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Kiarostami, and introduced Ershadi internationally as a man searching for someone to bury his body after his suicide
• Badii’s Role: The character of Badii in “Taste of Cherry,” with its profound silences and deep hesitation between life and death, presented a philosophical and enduring image of introverted acting

 A Prolific Career in Iran and Hollywood

Following “Taste of Cherry,” Ershadi continued his career in cinema, collaborating with major Iranian directors and even venturing into international projects

• Key Iranian Collaborations: Immediately after “Taste of Cherry,” he starred in “The Pear Tree” directed by Dariush Mehrjui, and appeared in works such as “Party,” “The Fifth Reaction,” “Orange Suit,” and “The Queen
• International Experience: In 2007, Ershadi played a role in the Hollywood film “The Kite Runner”, directed by Marc Forster, marking his first serious international experience. He also acted in other notable films such as “Agora” and the latest work by Terrence Malick, which unfortunately, he did not live to see

Cinematic associations and institutions, including the House of Cinema, have offered their condolences on the passing of the artist

Condolence Message from iimdb.ir

The iimdb.ir website extends its condolences on the passing of the esteemed artist, the late Homayoun Ershadi, to the country’s art community, filmmakers, and his respected family. His legacy of profound, subtle, and global acting will forever remain in the history of Iranian cinema

May his soul rest in peace and his memory be cherished

The funeral procession for the late Homayoun Ershadi will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, November 12, 2025 (21 Aban), at Behesht-e Sakineh in Karaj

For more detailed analysis of films and series, as well as news about international and Iranian festivals, please visit the website www.iimdb.ir/en