Panahi, Hossein (born August 28, 1956, Dezhkouh - died August 4, 2004, Tehran)

Hossein Panahi was born in a village in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran.

After high school, he went to the seminary and returned to his hometown upon graduation.

He then went to Tehran and studied acting and playwriting at the Anahita Academy for four years.

In 1982, Panahi achieved nationwide fame after his appearance in 'Boro Bia Neighborhood'.

He also acted in a number of series, such as 'Hygiene Neighborhood' (1984), 'The Wolves' (1986-1987), 'Mirza Koochak Khan' (1984-1987), 'Grandmother's Galoshes' (1988), 'Rana' (1988-1990), 'Imam Ali (PBUH)' (1991), 'Once Upon a Time' (1991-1992), 'The Final Shot' (1994), 'The Friendship Agency' (1996-1999), 'Neighbors' (2000), and 'Gharib's World' (2002-2004).

His childlike mimic, his unique enunciation, the simplicity of his manner and his dark humor secured him exclusive roles.

In 1986, Panahi made his cinematic debut with Abolfazl Jalili's 'Gal'.

He also appeared in movies, including 'The Migrants' (1990), 'Shadow of Illusion' (1990), 'Avinar' (1991), 'The Fateful Day' (1994), 'Puberty' (1998), and 'Saint Mary' (2000).

Based on his own plays, he made a number of theater-type shows for TV.

Panahi won the Fajr International Film Festival Certificate of Merit for Best Actor for 'In the Storm's Path' (1988), 'Shadow of Illusion' (1990) and 'The Migrants' (1990).

More than being an actor, he was a poet. His first book of poems, 'I and Nazi', was published in 1997. It has been reprinted 16 times and translated into six languages.

He died of a heart attack at the age of 49.