David Dastmalchian

David Dastmalchian is bringing complex characters to life on screen in film and television, penning raw, harrowing tales of flawed individuals from all walks of life, and is an award-winning actor, writer, producer, and filmmaker who has become one of the most in-demand talents in the entertainment industry today.

Originally from Kansas, Dastmalchian was discovered by Christopher Nolan nearly a decade ago, making his silver screen debut in the iconic, award-winning feature “The Dark Knight,” which launched his career from the stage to film and television. Since then, Dastmalchian has been handpicked for dynamic roles by critically acclaimed directors, including David Lynch, Denis Villeneuve, James Gunn, two-time Cannes winner Michel Franco, Sam Taylor Johnson, and Susanne Bier, to name a few.

Dastmalchian made his film screenwriting debut with “Animals” in 2014, which took the SXSW Film Festival by storm, winning the Special Jury Prize for Courage in Storytelling and bowing to rave reviews. Dastmalchian, who starred in, wrote, and produced the film, received critical acclaim from top national outlets, including Time Magazine, Slant Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He won Best Actor at the New York Independent Film Festival for his work in the film. Additional accolades for Dastmalchian include: Best Actor at Best of the Midwest Independent Film Awards and Best Film at Best of the Midwest Independent Film Awards, Audience Choice from the Chicago Film Critics Association, and Programmers Choice, Virginia Film Festival, all for “Animals.”

While working in film and television has kept Dastmalchian very busy, he collaborated with Dark Horse Comics to turn his childhood passion of creating a comic book series into a reality, with the launch of “Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter”. Written by Dastmalchian and illustrated by Lukas Ketner, the comic follows Jerri Bartman, a once rising TV journalist who has returned to her small Midwest hometown TV station. Demoted to hosting the nightly Creature Feature, Jerri’s professional humiliation is eclipsed by the discovery that her new job comes with a secret, supernatural duty. Her missing predecessor, Count Crowley, was one of the last “Appointed” hunters of monsters. Monsters are real, and they’re hell-bent on controlling the news and information consumed by humans. All issues of Count Crowley are available online and at comic stores nationwide.

On the charity front, Dastmalchian volunteers regularly with the Born to Act players, a 20-year-old theatre troupe comprised of developmentally disabled adults who have a passion and talent in acting. He is very involved with The Big Slick, a charity event hosted by Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner and Rob Riggle for the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He is also a supporter of The Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles.

Warner Bros. US