lit a candle 2h agoOur church used to play Prophet Joseph on tape during Ramadan outreach nights, my dad running the VCR. Kourosh Zarei's Levi stuck with me more than any of the main cast, there was something honest in how he played him. 55 is no age at all.
Their story
Kourosh Zarei was an Iranian actor and theater director whose work spanned stage, film and television over several decades, making him one of the recognizable veteran performers of Iran's dramatic arts scene. He died on 8 November 2026 at his home, following a long illness, and his death was reported…
Kourosh Zarei was an Iranian actor and theater director whose work spanned stage, film and television over several decades, making him one of the recognizable veteran performers of Iran's dramatic arts scene. He died on 8 November 2026 at his home, following a long illness, and his death was reported by Iran's state news agencies as the loss of a prominent cultural figure.
According to Mehr News Agency, Zarei passed away due to complications from an illness he had been suffering from over the past two years. He was 55 years old at the time of his death. The exact circumstances of his final illness, including the specific medical diagnosis, have not been made public, and reputable outlets have not released further clinical detail beyond describing a prolonged health struggle.
Zarei was widely described in Iranian press coverage as a prominent figure in the country's theater, cinema and television, reflecting a career that crossed between the stage and the screen rather than being confined to a single medium. Detailed information about his specific stage productions, film roles, television credits, education, family life and the beginning of his career has not yet been consolidated in English language reporting, and a fuller account of his body of work is expected to emerge as Iranian cultural institutions and colleagues publish tributes and retrospectives in the days following his death.
News of Zarei's death drew an official reaction from Iran's highest authority. Iranian state media reported that the country's Leader offered condolences on the death of the actor and theater director, a gesture that in Iran's state media customarily signals recognition of significant contribution to national culture. A funeral ceremony for Zarei was held in Tehran on 10 November 2026, two days after his death, drawing colleagues from the theater and film community to pay their respects.
Because the news of Zarei's death is still fresh, many biographical details that admirers and readers are searching for, including his full name, exact date and place of birth, his marital and family status, his educational background and a complete list of his stage and screen credits, have not yet been widely reported in English language sources. This page will be updated as verified information becomes available.
Biography adapted from News reports and the sources cited on this page; death reported by Tehran Times.
In their own words
“The late artist's tireless efforts to promote performing arts in the cities and underserved regions of the country, as well as his steadfast adherence to the values of the Islamic Revolution, were admirable.”
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, condolence message, 11 November 2026 (IRNA English translation)
“Kourosh did not want art without commitment; he was a symbol of the bond between art, commitment and social responsibility.”
Deputy culture minister Mehdi Shafiei at the funeral in Qom, 11 November 2026 (translated from Persian, Agah news)
“A first-rate actor and director who also had a noble and faithful presence in cinema and television. His faith and belief were bound up with his whole artistic life.”
Howzeh Honari head Mohammad Mehdi Dadman, condolence message (translated from Persian)
Photos
1by People Forever
That show got passed around on tape in my family too, different country same tape it felt like.