TEHRAN – Iranian voice actor Jalal Maqami, who was best known for his TV program “Didaniha”, died on Thursday at the age of 81.

Maqami’s death was announced by his niece, Sharareh Hazrati, in a post published on social media.

“My second father, my dear uncle, master Jalal Maqami, Mr. ‘Didaniha’, your voice and image will remain in Iran’s heart,” she wrote.

Maqami began his career with acting in theatrical performances when he was a teenage boy. At 17, he made his debut in dubbing by voicing a minor actor with contributions from Heidar Saremi, director of the popular Iranian radio drama, “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”.  

He called Hushang Latifpur his dubbing teacher, however, he worked with several great names in dubbing, including Ali Kasmai, Mohammad-Ali Zarandi, Ataollah Kameli, Iraj Doostdar, Ahmad Rasulzadeh, Saeid Sherafat and Abolhassan Tahami.

Maqami also pursued a career in acting. He did a cameo in “I’m a Mother” directed by Farajollah Nasimian in 1965. He appeared in several other movies before the Islamic Revolution and in post-revolution cinema.

He then focused on dubbing, lending his voice to many characters played by stars such as Robin Williams, Robert Redford, Marcello Mastroianni, Tom Hanks, Michael Caine, Steve McQueen, Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman.

He also voiced actors, including Saeid Rad, Faramarz Qaribian, Parviz Paratui and Majid Mozaffari, in many Iranian movies produced during the 1980s, and 1990s.

However, he shot to fame in 1983 when he appeared as a TV host for the program “Didaniha” launched by Channel 2 of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The popular program mesmerized Iranians for 12 years on Sunday nights by showing wonderful and strange events worldwide.

Maqami was the husband of Rafat Hashempur, a prominent voice actor who passed away in February.

In an Instagram post published at that time, Maqami wrote, “To Him we shall surely return. Today, my wife, Lady Rafat Hashempur passed away.”

“She was born in Ardebil, and people mostly remember her with her voice for Vivien Leigh who starred as Scarlett in ‘Gone with the Wind’,” he said.

Photo: Voice actor Jalal Maqami in an undated photo. 

MMS/YAW