Homayoun Ershadi, sometimes spelled Homayon Ershadi (May 26th, 1947 - November 11th, 2025), was an Iranian actor. Ershadi was born in Isfahan, Iran, in 1947. He studied architecture in Italy and worked in that field. Acclaimed Iranian New Wave director Abbas Kiarostami chose him to play the leading role in Taste of Cherry. A non-professional actor, who started acting in his middle age, he has had immediate success in both cinema and television, with his expressionless, relaxed face and monotonous voice often giving his characters an intellectual personality. Most recently, he can be seen in the movie The Kite Runner, playing the role of Baba. He is one of the few Iran-based Iranian actors who are permitted to act in Western movies. He currently resides in Karaj, Iran.