TEHRAN – Amin Tarokh, actor of historical TV series including “Sarbedaran” and “Abu Ali Sina”, died last Saturday five days after falling into a coma following heart failure. He was 69.

He was buried in the Artists’ Section of Tehran’s Behesht Zahra Cemetery on Monday during a special funeral attended by a large number of his friends, colleagues and fans.

Born in Shiraz, Tarokh left his hometown to study dramatic arts at the University of Tehran in 1977. He also received an MA in cultural management in 1982.

Although he appeared in several theaters before the Islamic Revolution, he made his debut in cinema with “Death of Yazgerd” directed by Bahram Beizai in 1981 about Yazdegerd III, the last Sassanid king whose death in 651 brought an end to the last pre-Islamic Iranian empire after more than 400 years of rule.

Tarokh shot to fame in 1983 for his role in the TV series “Sarbedaran”, which depicts an Iranian movement formed by the Sarbedars (Head on Gallows) in the Khorasan region in the mid-14th century to fight against the Mongol conquest of Iran. He portrayed Sheikh Hassan Juri, leader of the Sarbedars.

Tarokh’s brilliant performance in the series convinced director Kayhan Rahgozaar to pick him for “Abu Ali Sina”, the TV series about the life story of the Iranian scientist and philosopher Avicenna, who was portrayed by Tarokh.

He also played the lead roles in several historical TV series such as “Sheikh Mofid” and “The Lost Innocence”.

He appeared in over 30 movies, including “The Lead” by Masud Kimiai, “Sara” by Dariush Mehrjui and “The Love-Stricken” (“Delshodegan”) and “Mother” by Ali Hatami.

In “The Love-Stricken”, he did one of his excellent acting performances by playing the role of Taher Khan Bahr-e Nur, a Qajar-era vocalist who along with his colleagues leave Iran for France to release their first record.

His brilliant acting in “The Moon and the Sun” by Mohammad-Hossein Haqiqi brought him the Crystal Simorgh for best supporting actor at the 1995 Fajr International Film Festival, Iran’s major film event.

He also received a nomination for the Crystal Simorgh for best actor at the 2005 edition of the festival for his role in “Havana File” by Alireza Raisian.

In 1994, Tarokh pursued a teaching career by founding the Azad Acting Workshop, an educational center which trained the present generation of actors such as Taraneh Alidoosti, Habib Rezai, Mahtab Keramati and Puria Pursorkh.

Photo: Mourners carry the coffin of actor Amin Tarokh during his funeral in Tehran’s Behesht Zahra Cemetery on September 26, 2022. (ISNA/Alireza Masumi)

MMS/YAW