• David Dastmalchian is an American actor born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1975
• He is best known for his role in the 2008 film "The Dark Knight"
• He graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 1999
• He is married to artist, actress and writer Evelyn Leigh and they have two children
• He has won 14 of his 15 award nominations and has an estimated net worth of over $2 million
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Who is David Dastmalchian?
American actor David Dastmalchian was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania USA, on 21 July 1975, meaning that his zodiac sign’s Cancer. He’s appeared in close to 80 movies and TV series, and is probably still best known for his debut film role playing Joker’s Thug in the critically acclaimed 2008 crime action movie “The Dark Knight”, which Christopher Nolan directed, and which starred Aaron Eckhart, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale. It follows Batman as he’s struggling to stop the villain Joker from destroying his city of Gotham, and the movie won 162 of its 325 award nominations, including Oscar wins for Best Achievement in Sound Editing, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (posthumously for Heath Ledger). The movie ranks 3rd best of all time on the website IMDb.
Education and early life
David was raised in Allentown alongside his brother and two sisters, by their Iranian-American father Hossein Dastmalchian who was an engineer at Black & Veatch, and who passed away in 2021 aged 84, and mother Priscilla (nee Doran) who was a housewife, and who died in 2020 aged 79. Hossein and Priscilla divorced when David was a teenager, and both remarried.
David lived with his mother in Overland Park, Kansas during his teenage years, and studied at Shawnee Mission South High School; he developed Vitiligo (skin losing its color) while growing up, and because of it was bullied by his peers, which then led to depression. He found comfort in appearing in high school plays and playing football, and David bought comics with the money he earned by mowing lawns.
He matriculated in 1994, and then enrolled at The Theatre School at DePaul University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1999.
Prior to launching his career in the film industry, David was a serious heroin user for five years.
Roles in TV series
David’s debut TV series role was playing Patron #1 in the 2000 episode “Everybody Goes to Rick’s” of the adventure comedy “Early Edition”, but his following role only came eight years later, when cast to play Young Man in the 2008 episode “Heal Thyself” of the romantic drama “ER”.
In 2012, he portrayed Morgue Worker in the episode “Judge MacArthur” of the popular sports comedy “The League”, which Jeff Schaffer and Jackie Marcus Schaffer created, and which starred Nick Kroll, Jonathan Lajoie and Mark Duplass. It follows a group of elderly friends as they’re competing in a fantasy football league, and the film was nominated for a Young Entertainer Award for Best Guest Starring Young Actor 11 & Under – Television Series for Tomas Barbusca.
Murdoc kidnaps Mac on tonight's new #MacGyver at 8/7c! 😨 Stream it live with CBS All Access: https://t.co/OqFu6N4jZj pic.twitter.com/VwivqHqW6P
— MacGyver (@MacGyverCBS) October 20, 2017
David could then have been seen appearing in an episode of the crime drama “Ray Donovan”, the crime action “Almost Human”, and the comedy “Sketchy”.
From 2016 through 2021, he played Murdoc in the action adventure “MacGyver”, created by Peter M. Lenkov and Lee David Zlotoff, and which starred Lucas Till, Justin Hires and Tristin Mays. It follows Angus ‘Mac’ MacGyver who’s working for a secret US organization, and the series won five of its nine award nominations.
David’s three most recent roles in TV series have been in the episode “Central City Strong” of the action adventure “The Flash”, the episode “What If… Zombies?!” of the animated action adventure “What If…?” (voice role) and the episode “Part 10: Closure” of the thriller comedy “Immoral Compass”, all in 2021.
Roles in movies
In 2008, David played Joshua in the short drama “Arc of a Bird”, and could then have been seen portraying supporting characters in the crime mystery thriller “Horsemen”, the short drama “Credits” and the short adventure fantasy “Head Case”, all released in 2009.
He played Nelson in the 2012 crime mystery thriller “Sushi Girl”, written and directed by Kern Saxton, and which starred Neal Fischer, Cortney Palm and Tony Todd. It follows Fish who’s just been released from prison, while his old associate Duke needs him to do one final job. David was then cast to play Joshua Whitmore in the 2013 drama “Cass”, and as Sergeant L. J. Ng in the 2014 science fiction adventure comedy “Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie”.
In 2015, he played Kurt in the critically acclaimed action adventure comedy “Ant-Man”, which Peyton Reed directed, and starred Corey Stoll, Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd. It follows burglar Scott Lang who now has to save the world, with the help of a special suit which allows him to shrink and enlarge himself; the movie won four of its 39 award nominations.
David’s also known for playing Coco in the hit 2017 action mystery “Blade Runner 2049”, which Denis Villeneuve directed, and which starred Ana de Armas, Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. It follows young Blade Runner K who’s trying to find former Blade Runner Dick Deckard, whom no one’s seen for 30 years; the movie won 102 of its 267 award nominations, including two Oscar nominations for Best Achievement in Visual Effects and Best Achievement in Cinematography.
David’s three most recent film roles have been in the biographical musical comedy “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”, the science fiction “Upgrade Soul” and the short science fiction comedy “Eureka!”, all released in 2022.
Other credits
David wrote and produced the 2011 short mystery movie “Keen”, and the 2014 drama film “Animals”, while he also wrote the 2013 short family movie “Elias the Ant”, and the 2018 romantic crime film “All Creatures Here Below”.
He received special thanks for the 2012 action science fiction movie “Serena and the Ratts”, the 2016 short comedy film “It’s Not What You Know”, and the 2021 family fantasy horror movie “Nightbooks”.
David’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “Wide World of Dougs”, “The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time”. and “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans”
Awards and nominations
David’s won 14 of his 15 award nominations. He won two New York International Independent Film & Video Festival Awards in 2011, both for “Keen”, four Midwest Independent Film Festival Awards in 2014, all for “Animals”, and a Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award at the 2015 Arpa International Film Festival.
Love life and wife
David prefers to keep his wife and children away from the media’s attention, but some things about them have still been revealed.
He and American artist, actress and writer Evelyn Leigh, exchanged vows on 23 August 2013, in front of some of their closest family members and friends; Evelyn wrote and starred in the 2012 short horror movie “Shortcake”, and worked as the art director on the 2014 movie “Animals”.
Evelyn’s given birth to their son Arlo and daughter Pennie, but their dates of birth haven’t been disclosed; the children can be seen featured in some of David’s Instagram pictures.
He hasn’t spoken of other women whom he’s perhaps dated, as of January 2023 David’s married to Evelyn Leigh, and they have two children together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
David loves to watch classic monster and horror movies.
He’s today living in Los Angeles, California with his wife and children.
David’s followed by close to 250,000 people on Instagram, and has posted more than 2,100 pictures and videos onto the social media network.
He’s a passionate collector of comics.
David’s volunteered with a number of charity organizations, but mostly enjoys aiding underprivileged children and the elderly.
His favorite actors are Anthony Hopkins and Robert Downey Jr, and some of his favorite movies include “The Silence of the Lambs”, “The Wolf Man” and “Night of the Living Dead”.
Height, eyes and wealth
David’s age is 47. He has brown eyes and black hair, is 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall, and weighs about 180lbs (81kgs).
David’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of January 2023.
