Omid Djalili is a British-Iranian actor, comedian, and writer who has appeared in numerous films, TV shows, and stage productions. He is known for his witty and satirical humor that often touches on topics such as religion, race, culture, and stereotypes. He is also a practicing member of the Baháʼí Faith, a religion that teaches the unity and diversity of humanity.
In this article, we will explore the life and career of Omid Djalili, as well as some of the controversies and achievements that have marked his journey.
BIO/WIKI
| Name | Omid Djalili |
| Birth date | 30 September 1965 |
| Birth place | Chelsea, London, United Kingdom |
| Age | 57 years |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) |
| Spouse | Annabel Knight (m. 1992) |
| Children | Louis Djalili, Isabella Djalili, Daniel Djalili |
| Parents | Ahmad Djalili, Parvaneh Djalili |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, writer |
| Net worth | Estimated at $9 million |
Early Life & Education
Omid Djalili was born on 30 September 1965 in Chelsea, London, to Iranian Baháʼí parents who had fled their country after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He grew up in a multicultural environment and was exposed to various languages and cultures.
He attended Holland Park School where he failed A-level exams a record six times and faked his results to gain entry to Ulster University in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. There he studied English and theatre studies but dropped out after two years. He later said that he was more interested in performing than studying.
Journey as a Comedian
Omid Djalili started his comedy career in the early 1990s by performing at various clubs and festivals. He made his breakthrough at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1995 with his show “Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son”, which was based on his own experiences as an immigrant in Britain. He followed it up with another successful show in 1996 called “The Arab and the Jew” with Jewish comedian Ivor Dembina.
Djalili has performed in numerous countries, including Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, and the United States, where he had his own HBO Special in 2005. He has also participated in several charity events such as Comic Relief and Live Earth. He has won several awards for his comedy work, such as the Time Out Award for Best Stand-Up in 1997 and the Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize in 2016.
Djalili has also created and starred in his own TV shows, such as The Omid Djalili Show (2007-2009) on BBC One and Omid Djalili’s Little Cracker (2011) on Sky One. He has also guest-presented or appeared on various shows such as Have I Got News for You, QI, The Graham Norton Show, The One Show, and Top Gear.
Acting Career
Omid has appeared in a number of films, most notably Gladiator (2000), The Mummy (1999), Mean Machine (2001), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Alien Autopsy (2006), Spy Game (2001), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), Grow Your Own (2007), Notting Hill (1999), Mr Nice (2010), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), Sex and the City 2 (2010), The Infidel (2010), Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), and The Letter for the King (2020). He has often played characters of Middle Eastern or Asian origin and has joked about being typecast as a “Second Azerbaijani oil pipe attendant” or a “generic terrorist”.
He has also acted in several TV shows, such as Whoopi (2003-2004) with Whoopi Goldberg, Black Books (2004) with Dylan Moran, Lead Balloon (2007-2011) with Jack Dee, Dickensian (2015-2016) with Stephen Rea, His Dark Materials (2019-2020) with James McAvoy, Going Forward (2016) with Jo Brand, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (2016-2018) with James Nesbitt, and The Lenny Henry Show (2004) with Lenny Henry.
He has also ventured into theatre, playing the role of Fagin in Oliver! (2009-2010) at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (2019) at the Playhouse Theatre, and Sancho Panza in Don Quixote (2016-2017) at the Swan Theatre and the Garrick Theatre. He has received positive reviews and accolades for his stage performances, such as the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Oliver! and the Ian Charleson Award Commendation for Don Quixote.
Social Media Table
| Platform | Link/URL |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | omiddjalili |
| @omid9 | |
| @omiddjalili | |
| omiddjalilicomedy | |
| IMDb | nm022084 |
| YouTube | @OmidDjaliliOfficial |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Marriage, Wife & Kids
Omid Djalili is a British-Iranian actor, comedian, and writer who has been married to Annabel Knight, an actress and producer, since 1992. As per dreshare.com, they have three children together: Louis, Isabella, and Daniel. Here is some more information about Omid Djalili’s marriage, wife, and kids:
- Omid and Annabel met at a comedy club in London where they both performed as stand-up comedians. They fell in love and decided to get married in a Baháʼí ceremony in 1992.
- Omid and Annabel share a common interest in acting and theatre. They have worked together on several projects, such as the film The Infidel (2010), where Annabel played Omid’s wife, and the TV show Going Forward (2016), where Annabel was the producer and Omid was the star.
- Omid and Annabel have three children: Louis, born in 1995, Isabella, born in 1998, and Daniel, born in 2001. They live in a farmhouse in East Sussex, England.
- Omid and Annabel are both members of the Baháʼí Faith, a religion that teaches the unity and diversity of humanity. They have raised their children with the same values and beliefs. Omid has said that his faith helps him to cope with the challenges and pressures of his career and life.
- Omid and Annabel have a strong and supportive relationship. They have faced some difficulties and hardships together, such as Omid’s struggle with depression and anxiety, Annabel’s battle with breast cancer, and the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also celebrated many joys and achievements together, such as Omid’s success in comedy and acting, Annabel’s recovery from cancer, and their children’s growth and happiness.
Djalili and his wife Annabel Knight are an example of a loving and lasting marriage in the entertainment industry. They have been together for almost three decades and have three beautiful children. They have also made significant contributions to the arts and culture through their work and faith.
Religion & Ethnicity
Djalili is a practicing member of the Baháʼí Faith, a religion that teaches the importance and worth of all religions, the equality of men and women, the harmony of science and religion, the elimination of prejudice and racism, and the establishment of world peace.
He has often spoken about his faith in interviews and shows and has also written a foreword for a book called The Baháʼí Faith in Words and Images. He has also faced some challenges and discrimination because of his religion, such as being banned from performing in Iran and being targeted by trolls who tell him to “go back to Iran”
Controversy & Criticism
Omid Djalili has also faced some controversy and criticism for some of his jokes and comments that have been deemed offensive or insensitive by some people. For example, he has been accused of making fun of Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions in his comedy routines. He has also been criticized for mocking Welsh people, Scottish people, Irish people, American people, African people, Asian people, and other nationalities and ethnicities. He has also been called out for making jokes about sensitive topics such as terrorism, war, genocide, rape, racism, sexism, homophobia, disability, obesity, and mental illness.
Djalili has defended himself by saying that he does not intend to hurt or offend anyone with his humor, but rather to challenge stereotypes and prejudices and to promote dialogue and understanding among different groups of people.
He has also said that he respects all religions and cultures and that he tries to be balanced and fair in his jokes. He has also apologized for some of his jokes that have caused controversy or backlash. He has said that he believes in freedom of speech and expression but also in responsibility and accountability for one’s words and actions.
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