TEHRAN – Renowned Iranian theater director Hadi Marzban died on Sunday in a hospital in Tehran.
Marzban died at the age of 81 after being admitted to the ICU for several weeks due to pancreatic disease, IRNA reported.
Marzban’s wife, Farzaneh Kaboli, who is also a theater artist, said Marzban’s funeral will be held from Vahadat Hall on Tuesday morning, and his body will be taken to Behesht-e-Zahra Cemetery and buried in the artists’ section.
In a message, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi expressed his condolences over the death of the veteran artist, saying, “The passing away of Master Hadi Marzban, a well-known and highly respected figure in Iranian theater, has brought deep sadness to lovers of performing arts.”
“His years of thoughtful direction and the role he played in educating and nurturing a new generation of artists have formed an important part of the professional memory of theater in this country,” he added.
“With his precise vision, deep understanding of the text and commitment to the dignity of performance, Master Marzban is an example of true professional artistry, and that approach has always been evident in his teaching, mentoring young groups and championing professional ethics,” Salehi said.
Marzban was preparing to stage the play Parizad at Tehran’s Sangeraj Theater in December, but the work remained unfinished. He was awarded a first degree in arts (equivalent to a doctorate) by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Hadi Marzban was born in 1944 in Sabzevar, Khorasan Razavi province. He graduated from Tehran University’s Faculty of Drama with a major in acting and directing. He continued his education in the UK, earning a Master’s degree in Theater Design and Directing from Brunel University.
He began his career as a stage actor in 1966, and made his film debut in 1987 in the movie Forester. Marzban has performed 10 plays by the famous Iranian playwright Akbar Radi over a period of 40 years. He also performed plays by other famous Iranian playwrights, such as Mohammed Rahmanian, Amir Dejakham, and Bahram Baizai.
Marzban’s artistic career includes directing such plays as The Prince and the Pauper, The Splendid Smile of Mr. Gil, The Staircase, Memories of a Supporting Actor, The Night Garden, Night on the Wet Pavement, Red Roses and Slowly, The Crazy Whirlpool, Hamlet and the Seasonal Salad, The Simurgh, and The Tambour Player. more.
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