David Diaan, also known as David Davoodian, is a Los Angeles–based actor, writer, producer, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his satirical plays and his hilarious approach to issues surrounding the Iranian American community in the USA. He is an avid humanitarian and activist, especially in respect to the struggles of the freedom seeking citizens of his homeland, Iran.
Early life
He was born Fariborz Davoodian in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
during the era of
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
, title = Shahanshah Aryamehr Bozorg Arteshtaran
, image = File:Shah_fullsize.jpg
, caption = Shah in 1973
, succession = Shah of Iran
, reign = 16 September 1941 – 11 February 1979
, coronation = 26 Octobe ...
. His father, Elias Davoodian, was a textile distributor who had built a reputation as a trustworthy businessman. As a hobby, David's father Elias, would produce and act in community theater productions and was quite popular in his small town in Iran. His mother, Eshrat Moluk, was born into a family of prominent physicians. As a young girl, she possessed a gift for singing, but her strict parents never allowed her to perform professionally. His parents' appreciation of performing arts were an early influence on Diaan's aspirations in the entertainment industry.
Education and career
At the age of 16, Diaan left Iran and moved to
Columbia, Missouri in the Midwestern United States to continue his education. There, he attended
David H. Hickman High School. Afterwards, he went on the study Radio, Television and Journalism at the prestigious
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU was founded in ...
. However, David's ambitions of returning to his homeland to become a famous talk show host were postponed due to the sudden changes in the social and political climate of his country after the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
. Iran and the United States had at this point become enemies. Left virtually stranded away from home, David took a job as a marketing agent for a national houseware wholesaler to earn his tuition money. Prior to finishing college, David had already established himself as successful young entrepreneur. Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles, California and co-founded The Express Group, Inc. which later transformed int
deliverLA.com Among his other entrepreneurial endeavors is his partnership i
SOGOLI, Inc, a company which designs and manufactures high end custom jewelry in the United States and exports to various countries.
Artistic career
Diaan's experience in the entertainment industry began when he started "Liquid Productions" in Los Angeles, California together with other talents such as now well-known comedian
Maz Jobrani
Maziyar Jobrani ( fa, مازیار جبرانی; born February 26, 1972) is an American comedian and actor who was part of the "Axis of Evil" comedy group. The group appeared on a comedy special on Comedy Central. Jobrani has also appeared in n ...
. This young group wrote and produced the first Iranian/American play in English which became an instant hit amongst the younger generation.His popular theater company which produced successful shows such as ''The Belind Date'', ''The 99 Cent Family'' and ''Death Comedy'' has toured across the United States and Canada. Since then, Diaan has written and produced multiple theatrical plays, hosted his own popular radio show o
KIRN 670 AM and produced and hosted a television show for channel one TV named “It's a mad mad mad mad world". His television show reached millions of Iranians worldwide through satellite and internet.
Despite the risks attached to this journey, Diaan returned to his homeland after 24 years in the summer of 2000, to direct and produce the touching and informative documentary ''Iran is My Home''. This film was an official selection at th
IFP Los Angeles Film Festival In 2004 he took his first stab at screenplay writing for a feature film entitled ''The Apology.'' The screenplay won first prize at the
Slamdance Film Festival
The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. The annual week-long festival takes place in Park City, Utah, in late January and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization, which als ...
's screenplay competition. Diaan's production company
Sublime Entertainment has produced independent feature films such as ''Otis E.'' starring
Kevin Durand
Kevin Serge Durand (born January 14, 1974) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for portraying Vasiliy Fet in ''The Strain'', Joshua in '' Dark Angel'', Martin Keamy in ''Lost'', Fred J. Dukes / The Blob in '' X-Men Origins: Wolverine'', Barry ...
and
Peter Storemare, ''America So Beautiful'' and ''The Dogwalker''. Diaan's dramatic performance alongside Academy Award nominee,
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Shohreh Aghdashloo ( fa, شهره آغداشلو, ; née Vaziri-Tabar (); 11 May 1952) is an Iranian and American actress. Following numerous starring roles on the stage, she made her film debut in '' Chess of the Wind'' (1976). Her next two fi ...
in ''
The Stoning of Soraya M.'',
earned him high praise and excellent reviews. In 2012, his performance as prime minister Mossadegh, in a film by the same title, earned him the best actor prize at the
San Antonio Film Festival
The SAFILM – San Antonio Film Festival was founded in 1994 by Adam Rocha as a video festival, which sported a logo of a naughty-looking angel. It was later renamed the San Antonio Underground Film Festival and then finally the SAFILM – San An ...
.
Personal life
Diaan resides in Los Angeles, California with his family.
He travels with his theater group to different cities and communities across the United States and Canada.
He also contributes much of his time and talent to various charitable organizations.
Filmography
Television
References
External links
*
/Https://www.mrsublime.com Sublimeentertainment.com*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diaan, David
Year of birth missing (living people)
American male actors
American male writers
Film producers from Missouri
Iranian emigrants to the United States
University of Missouri alumni
Writers from Columbia, Missouri
Living people
American writers of Iranian descent
Actors from Columbia, Missouri
Businesspeople from Columbia, Missouri