Leader sends condolences over actor Kourosh Zarei’s death
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has sent a condolence message over the death of actor and theater director Kourosh Zarei, praising his efforts to expand performing arts in underserved regions of the country.
In the message, Ayatollah Khamenei described Zarei as a “committed and revolutionary artist” whose tireless efforts to promote theater in smaller cities and less-developed areas, as well as his steadfastness in upholding the values of the Islamic Revolution, were “admirable”.
The Leader offered condolences to Zarei’s family and Iran’s artistic community, and prayed for divine forgiveness and reward for the late artist.
Zarei, a prominent figure in Iranian theater and cinema, died on Monday. A farewell ceremony was held at the venue of Islamic Revolution Art Bureau, in Tehran on Tuesday, before his body was taken to Qom, a religious city in south of Tehran, for burial on Wednesday.
Zarei headed the Art Bureau’s Center for Dramatic Arts for years, supporting religious, revolutionary and popular theater. His work included promoting the ‘Mosque Youth Theater’ initiative, organizing theatrical events and supporting productions focused on religious rituals and resistance.
He also appeared in several film and television productions. One of his best-known roles was Levi in the television series ‘Prophet Joseph (PBUH)’.