Daniel Zolghadri Biography
Daniel Zolghadri is an American actor recognized for his authentic, nuanced performances in independent film and television. Born on February 9, 2000, Zolghadri has built a reputation as one of indie cinema’s most compelling young performers, with standout roles in Eighth Grade, Low Tide, Funny Pages, and the Amazon series Tales from the Loop. His performance as the lead in Funny Pages earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. For more on Hollywood’s rising stars, see our celebrity biography collection.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Zolghadri |
| Date of Birth | February 9, 2000 |
| Age | 26 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Iranian descent |
| Parents | Mohsen Zolghadri, Rosie Sedghi |
| Profession | Actor |
| Known For | Eighth Grade, Funny Pages, Low Tide, Tales from the Loop |
| Years Active | 2013–present |
| Education | Orange County School of the Arts |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $1 million (unverified estimate) |
Note: Some secondary sources list his birth date as February 20, 1999. Wikipedia, the most authoritative public source, records February 9, 2000, which is used here.
Early Life and Education
Daniel Zolghadri was born on February 9, 2000, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Mohsen Zolghadri, an engineer originally from Tabriz, Iran, and Rosie Sedghi. The family later relocated to Southern California, where Zolghadri grew up in Orange County.
He began taking acting classes at the age of nine, showing an early commitment to the craft. He attended the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), a public charter school in Santa Ana, California, known for its strong performing arts programs. There he honed his acting skills through stage productions and formal training while beginning to audition professionally. He has also expressed an interest in attending the Juilliard School, the prestigious performing arts conservatory in New York City.
Career Journey
Television Debut (2013–2015)
At age 13, Zolghadri made his professional debut with a guest role as Mirza in the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013). He followed this with the role of Max Killas in the 2015 television film Evil Men, directed by Gary Fleder.
He gained wider television exposure playing the younger version of Walter O’Brien in the CBS crime drama Scorpion (2014–2015), appearing in multiple first-season episodes including the pilot.
Breakthrough Years (2018)
2018 proved to be Zolghadri’s breakout year. He appeared in Bo Burnham’s critically acclaimed coming-of-age film Eighth Grade as Riley, a performance that drew notice for its naturalism. The same year, he played Dell in the Netflix romantic comedy Alex Strangelove, which premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and appeared as Clifford in HBO’s adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 alongside Michael B. Jordan.
Rising Indie Star (2019–2020)
Zolghadri co-starred with Keean Johnson, Alex Neustaedter, Kristine Froseth, and Jaeden Martell in the 2019 drama Low Tide, directed by Kevin McMullin, playing the role of Smitty. In 2020, he took on the role of Jakob in the Amazon Prime Video sci-fi drama series Tales from the Loop, opposite Rebecca Hall, Paul Schneider, and Jonathan Pryce.
Leading Man and Critical Acclaim (2022–present)
Zolghadri’s career reached a new level when he was cast as Robert, a teenage aspiring cartoonist, in the coming-of-age black comedy Funny Pages (2022), directed by Owen Kline and produced with involvement from the Safdie brothers. The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and was released in August 2022 to positive reviews from critics. For his performance, Zolghadri was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance — a significant industry recognition.
He went on to star as CJ in the teen comedy Y2K (2024), which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. In 2026, he co-starred with Lubna Azabal and Dale Dickey in the comedy-drama road film Hot Water, written and directed by Ramzi Bashour, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Major Achievements
- Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance (Funny Pages, 2022)
- Cannes Film Festival premiere as the lead of Funny Pages (2022)
- Sundance Film Festival premiere for Hot Water (2026)
- Standout roles in the critically acclaimed Eighth Grade (2018) and Low Tide (2019)
- Series regular role in Amazon’s Tales from the Loop (2020)
- Appearances alongside major stars including Michael B. Jordan (Fahrenheit 451)
Personal Life
Zolghadri comes from a supportive family. His parents, Mohsen Zolghadri and Rosie Sedghi, encouraged his acting ambitions from childhood. He has a younger sister named Denise. Despite his growing profile, he maintains a relatively low public profile and has not publicly disclosed details about his relationships. His ethnicity is Iranian, and he was raised in Southern California after being born in Canada.
Interesting Facts
- Early starter: He began acting classes at age nine and booked his first professional role at 13.
- Arts school pedigree: He trained at the Orange County School of the Arts, one of California’s top arts high schools.
- Safdie connection: Funny Pages was produced with the involvement of the Safdie brothers (Uncut Gems), placing him at the center of American indie cinema’s most exciting circle.
- Festival favorite: His films have premiered at Cannes, Sundance, and SXSW — the three most prestigious festival circuits.
- Multilingual roots: Born in French-speaking Montreal to an Iranian family and raised in California, his background spans three cultures.
FAQs
Who is Daniel Zolghadri?
Daniel Zolghadri is an American actor known for his roles in Eighth Grade, Funny Pages, Low Tide, and the Amazon series Tales from the Loop.
How old is Daniel Zolghadri?
Born February 9, 2000, he is 26 years old as of 2026. (Some secondary sources list February 20, 1999; Wikipedia records February 9, 2000.)
What is Daniel Zolghadri’s net worth?
No verified figure exists. Celebrity blogs estimate around $1 million, but this is unverified and should be treated as speculation.
What movies has Daniel Zolghadri been in?
His film credits include Eighth Grade (2018), Alex Strangelove (2018), Low Tide (2019), Funny Pages (2022), Y2K (2024), and Hot Water (2026).
Was Daniel Zolghadri nominated for an award?
Yes — he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Breakthrough Performance for his lead role in Funny Pages.
Who are Daniel Zolghadri’s parents?
His parents are Mohsen Zolghadri, an engineer from Iran, and Rosie Sedghi.
Where did Daniel Zolghadri go to school?
He attended the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, California.
What is Daniel Zolghadri’s ethnicity?
He is of Iranian descent.
What was Daniel Zolghadri’s first role?
His professional debut was as Mirza in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013) at age 13.
Is Daniel Zolghadri in Tales from the Loop?
Yes — he played Jakob in the Amazon Prime Video sci-fi series Tales from the Loop (2020).
Sources & Verification
- Wikipedia — Daniel Zolghadri (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Zolghadri)
- The City Celeb — Daniel Zolghadri biography (thecityceleb.com)
- Tales from the Loop Wiki — cast information (talesfromtheloop.fandom.com)
Net worth figures for Daniel Zolghadri have not been publicly verified. The ~$1 million estimate cited by celebrity blogs is unverified speculation.