Sam Golzari

Birth Date:

July 12, 1979

Birth Name:

Sam Golzari

Birth Place:

Hammersmith, London, England

Nick Name:

Unconfirmed

Film Debut:

American Dreamz 2006

Breakthrough Film:

American Dreamz 2006

Biography

Sam Golzari was born on July 12, 1979, in Hammersmith, London, England, to parents of Persian origin. As a British actor of Iranian descent, he grew up in a multicultural environment that later influenced his perspective on identity and performance. From a young age he showed a flair for entertainment, beginning at four years old as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He eventually moved to the United States and enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied in the Conservatory Acting Program and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2003. During his time at UCLA he also trained with the Latino Theater Company under José Luis Valenzuela and began working on student films, which shifted his focus from pure theater toward filmmaking.

After graduating, Golzari quickly found success in Hollywood. His short film The Break earned recognition for best ensemble cast at a film festival, and another student project, The Invisible Man, aired on Showtime. He then landed the first major studio film he auditioned for, the satirical comedy American Dreamz, in which he played Omer, an aspiring contestant with a surprising love of show tunes, opposite Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, and Dennis Quaid. The role marked his feature film debut and brought him notable attention. He followed it with a supporting part as Cam in the ensemble drama 21 alongside Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey, and later appeared in projects such as AmericanEast with Tony Shalhoub, Shirin in Love, Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, and A Simple Wedding.

Golzari has continued working across film and television, with guest roles on series including NCIS: Los Angeles, Extant, and Matador. He has also directed and produced short films and is a founding member of a band. Married since 2014, he remains based in California and balances acting with other creative pursuits. Through a combination of theatrical training, early short-film experience, and breakout feature roles, Golzari has established himself as a versatile performer capable of handling both comedic and dramatic material while bringing cultural nuance to his characters.

Movie Portfolio