Behrouz Vossoughi was born in Tehran, Iran. He is now a naturalized US citizen. Behrouz first gained attention as an actor in the 1980s. At that time he appeared in over 90 films and performed in numerous TV programs, as well as stage shows. Currently, he has also spent time in the film business, guest starring in some of the movies directed by Mike De Luca.
Behrouz Vossoughi studied acting in Iran, which is not surprising considering that Iran is one of the few countries that sponsor regular artistic production. He became known in the United States through his award-winning performance in the movie Dead Man Walking (also produced in Iran) catapulted him to stardom. The movie won three Academy Awards and led to an appearance on Broadway. During the following decade, he made five additional films that earned him an additional Oscar nomination.
A talented actor with a wide range of skills, Behrouz Vossoughi also exhibits strong acting chops. He’s adept at playing the role of a villain and as an anti-hero. In the late 1990s, he even received an award for his performance in a film directed by Michael Bay. Although not credited as such, this work is perhaps his best known and, judging from his resume’s, he has since garnered awards for this work. Most of his efforts have been geared towards commercial release, however, he has also produced a number of independent Iranian films. Some have enjoyed better critical acclaim than others.
No list of Iranian actors can begin to touch on Behrouz Vossoughi’s films without mentioning his contribution to the arty, yet poignant “Cell.” This picture won the best foreign film at the 1997 Academy Awards. The film’s unique story and charismatic star won Vossoughi an Oscar for his effort. The film was one of only two documentaries to win the award. Since then, he has been nominated for an additional four Oscars. Most of his work in Hollywood has centered around the Showtime series, “Dexter,” in which he played a disfigured former serial killer who reformed.
As previously mentioned, Behrouz Vossoughi has been a key player in the Iranian film industry since the early 1990s. He is a member of the arty, avant-garde group called the “Ghaherian Brothers.” Represented by their leader, Ghaherian actor Behrouz Nassoudi, the brother’s work frequently featured in films that criticized the ruling mullahs. Most of his work was directed by Nassoudi. Many of his movies were also produced by Saleh Karamani, a popular director with a long history in Iran.
Behrouz Vossoughi was born in Tehran, Iran. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles, California. The late Saleh Kermanian, who is Behrouz Vossoughi’s acting coach, passed away in 2021.
Before he became an actor, Vossoughi was an acclaimed writer. His first published work was in the Arabic language, but he moved on to penning scripts for both the written and spoken word. These works explored topics of war, poverty and political corruption in the Middle East. As an author, Vossoughi achieved much success, winning several awards for his writing efforts, including an Academy Award for Best Writing, an honor commonly referred to as the Nobel Prize. In terms of his acting career, Vossoughi only enjoyed two brief stints on stage, but he did manage to win three Golden Globes for his work as an actor.
Today, Iran is home to numerous revolutionary leaders. Some of these individuals have come to represent the values that are inherent in the Iranian culture. Behrouz Vossoughi embodies many of these same values, having acted in the lead role in many films shot in Iran, as well as receiving numerous honors for his services to the country. As he leaves Iran, it is likely that his work will be recognized not just by Iranians, but throughout the world for the profound insights it contains.
