Reza Abdoh (Persian: رضا عبده‎; also Romanized as “RezÄ
Abdoh†, Persian pronunciation: [ɾeˈzÉ'Ë Ã¦bˈdoh]) (February 23,
1963 in Tehran, Iran â€" May 11, 1995 in New York City) was an
Iranian-born director and playwright known for large-scale,
experimental theatrical productions, often staged in unusual spaces
like warehouses and abandoned buildings.Abdoh was born in Tehran in
1963, the first child of Ali Abdoh, a prominent athlete, businessman
and founder of the Persepolis Football Club, and Homa Mohajerin. His
paternal grandfather was Mohammad Abdoh Boroujerdi, a chief justice
and expert in Islamic law in the Reza Shah era. Abdoh had two
brothers, Sardar "Sid" Abdoh and Salar Abdoh, and one sister, Negar.
He had one half-sister from his father's previous marriage to an
American woman. On his mother's side, he was first cousins once
removed with Dara Khosrowshahi.In 1977 Reza was sent to England where
he attended day school in London while living with his grandmother. In
1978, he was sent to Wellington, an exclusive boarding school in
Somerset, England.In the wake of the Iranian Revolution, Ali Abdoh
traveled to California with his four children and settled in West
Covina, California. Reza's father, who had plans to open a hotel in
Iran on the eve of the revolution, faced financial ruin. In the Fall,
Reza began classes at University of Southern California where he
completed one semester. In January 1980, Ali Abdoh died of a heart
attack on a squash court at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. It is said
that he died not long after discovering that Reza was gay.
Abdoh†, Persian pronunciation: [ɾeˈzÉ'Ë Ã¦bˈdoh]) (February 23,
1963 in Tehran, Iran â€" May 11, 1995 in New York City) was an
Iranian-born director and playwright known for large-scale,
experimental theatrical productions, often staged in unusual spaces
like warehouses and abandoned buildings.Abdoh was born in Tehran in
1963, the first child of Ali Abdoh, a prominent athlete, businessman
and founder of the Persepolis Football Club, and Homa Mohajerin. His
paternal grandfather was Mohammad Abdoh Boroujerdi, a chief justice
and expert in Islamic law in the Reza Shah era. Abdoh had two
brothers, Sardar "Sid" Abdoh and Salar Abdoh, and one sister, Negar.
He had one half-sister from his father's previous marriage to an
American woman. On his mother's side, he was first cousins once
removed with Dara Khosrowshahi.In 1977 Reza was sent to England where
he attended day school in London while living with his grandmother. In
1978, he was sent to Wellington, an exclusive boarding school in
Somerset, England.In the wake of the Iranian Revolution, Ali Abdoh
traveled to California with his four children and settled in West
Covina, California. Reza's father, who had plans to open a hotel in
Iran on the eve of the revolution, faced financial ruin. In the Fall,
Reza began classes at University of Southern California where he
completed one semester. In January 1980, Ali Abdoh died of a heart
attack on a squash court at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. It is said
that he died not long after discovering that Reza was gay.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.