SYNOPSIS
In this Masterclass, actor David Dastmalchian will be working with selected actors in a live and observed work session. This will be preceded by a brief conversation on his craft and career and will be followed by an audience Q&A.
These reservations are for Q&A participation and observation only.
INTERESTED IN PERFORMING AT A MASTERCLASS?
Performance seats at Masterclasses are not guaranteed. Please do not email or call us. We will not respond to queries regarding performing at our Masterclass series. Our team will reach out if a performance space becomes available.
BIO:
From bringing complex characters to life on screen, to penning raw, harrowing tales of flawed individuals from all walks of life, award winning actor, writer, producer, and filmmaker David Dastmalchian has become one of the most in-demand talents in the entertainment industry today. Celebrated for his unique ability to bring depth to both villainous and sympathetic characters, Dastmalchian’s versatility and distinctive presence in film, television, and the comic book universe as a writer and creator continues to leave a memorable impact on his audiences.
In film, Dastmalchian will next step into the iconic role of M. Bison, the ruthless leader of Shadaloo, in “Street Fighter”—the live-action adaptation of Capcom’s globally acclaimed video game franchise. He stars alongside Andrew Koji, Jason Momoa, and Noah Centineo, with Kitao Sakurai directing. Release date TBA.
On the television front he can currently be seen starring in two series: Apple TV+’s sci-fi comedic thriller “Murderbot” alongside Alexander Skarsgård, and Paramount+’s “Dexter: Resurrection” opposite Michael C. Hall, Peter Dinklage, and Uma Thurman. Based on Martha Wells' The Murderbot Diaries, “Murderbot” follows a self-hacking security construct that is both horrified by human emotion and drawn to its vulnerable clients. The series, created by Chris and Paul Weitz, debuted globally on Apple TV+ May 16, 2025 and was recently renewed for a second season. “Dexter: Resurrection” premiered on Showtime July 11, 2025. Dastmalchian will also play the dastardly villain with powers, Mr. 3, in season two of Netflix’s smash hit live action series “One Piece,” which is slated to release in 2026.
Also in film, Dastmalchian appeared in Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck” (Neon), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the acclaimed People’s Choice Award. The life-affirming feature, which was adapted from Stephen King’s novella of the same name, debuted in theaters nationwide June 6, 2025. Currently in production, Dastmalchian will star opposite Kelly Marie Tran in “Kodak SuperXX” a psychological thriller which he will produce under his genre-focused production company Good Fiend Films, which aims to produce character-driven projects across horror, sci-fi and fantasy for film, television, audio, and publishing. He also will star alongside Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver in “Dust Bunny,” directed and written by Bryan Fuller (release date TBC).
2023-24 were banner years for Dastmalchian, as he appeared in a handful of high-profile features and further solidified his place in Hollywood. He reunited with acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, the director who gave him his big break nearly two decades ago in “The Dark Knight” in “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) which grossed over $900 million globally and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture of the year. Dastmalchian also made a star turn as late night talk show host Jack Delroy in “Late Night with the Devil” which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in 2023 to rave reviews. Critics called it “inventive,” “wonderful creepy,” and “devilishly funny,” with Stephen King tweeting “it’s absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.” The movie became distributor IFC Films’ highest grossing opening weekend ever with $2.8 million at the domestic box office, and marked the first project under Dastmalchian’s Good Fiend Films.
Playing talk show host Jack Delroy opened up a world of possibility for Dastmalchian, as he decided to embark on his first foray as a host in real life with “Grave Conversations,” which launched in August 2024. Developed by Elan Gale and produced by TheYearOfElan and Good Fiend Films, the innovative talk show features Dastmalchian interviewing stars while laying in caskets. From Kumail Nanjiani to Mike Flanagan and James Gunn, “Grave Conversations” has garnered millions of views on Instagram and Youtube, to date. It is currently airing season 3.
Originally from Kansas, Dastmalchian was discovered by Christopher Nolan and made his silver screen debut in the award-winning feature “The Dark Knight,” which launched his career from the stage to film and television. Since then, Dastmalchian has been hand-picked for standout roles by prolific directors such as David Lynch, Denis Villeneuve, James Gunn, two time Cannes winner Michel Franco, Sam Taylor Johnson, and Susanne Bier (to name a few).
Additional recent standout credits for Dastmalchian include starring as Polka-Dot Man opposite Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, and John Cena in James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” (Warner Bros Pictures), appearing as Piter De Vries in Legendary Studios/Warner Bros’ Academy Award nominated, blockbuster feature film “Dune: Part One” opposite Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin. Previous film credits include Amblin’s horror thriller feature film “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” 20th
Century’s Stephen King adaptation of “The Boogeyman,” “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” Sam Taylor- Johnson’s film adaptation of “A Million Little Pieces,” Hulu’s true-crime drama “Boston Strangler,” Academy Award nominated “Prisoners” (Warner Bros), Disney/Marvel’s “Ant-Man,” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “Birdbox” opposite Sandra Bullock for Netflix, “The Domestics” for MGM, “Blade Runner 2049” opposite Ryan Gosling and Robin Wright, indie horror-thriller “The Belko Experiment” opposite Michael Rooker and John C. McGinley, and “Relaxer,” written and directed by Joel Potrykus (debuted at SXSW 2018).
In television Dastmalchian starred opposite Abigail Spencer, Mena Massoud, and Rodrigo Santoro in Hulu’s drama series “Reprisal” from Warren Littlefield and A+E Studios. He has also appeared in the reboot of “Twin Peaks,” (Showtime),“MacGyver” (CBS), “Gotham” (FOX), “The Flash” (The CW), and “Miracle Workers” for TBS.
As a filmmaker, Dastmalchian got his start writing and starring in the drama feature “All Creatures Here Below” opposite Karen Gillian. The story follows Gensan (Dastmalchian) and Ruby (Gillan), a young couple struggling to survive in Los Angeles. After a series of desperate acts, they flee to Kansas City, confronting their troubled past and the consequences of their choices. The Los Angeles Times raved “...a stark dramatic turn for these stars,
Dastmalchian proves to be a remarkable screenwriter to watch. Dastmalchian’s next project which he penned and starred in, “Animals” premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2024 where it garnered the Special Jury Prize for Courage in Storytelling, recognizing both Dastmalchian’s raw performance and his unflinching script. He also won Best Actor at the New York Independent Film Festival for his work in the film. He is currently writing his next feature, entitled “Hide Your Eyes.”
While Dastmalchian is renowned for his acting roles, he has made significant contributions to the comic book industry as a writer and creator over the last five years. His passion for storytelling converges with his love for horror and comics, which have led to the creation of several notable series: “Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter,” “Count Crowley Volume 2: Amateur Midnight Monster Hunter,” and “Count Crowley Volume 3: Mediocre Midnight Monster Hunter” for Dark Horse Comics. Written by Dastmalchian and illustrated by Lukas Ketner, the comic is a fun, retro-inspired monster hunting adventure with complex characters that also delves into addiction, trauma, self-discovery, and redemption. Dastmalchian also co-created and penned “Knights vs. Samurai” (2024) alongside legendary comic book artist Todd McFarlane, which is being published by Image Comics. Set in the 16th century, the narrative follows Sir Charles Ward, known as "The Dragon Butcher," a knight leading a group of royal warriors on a mission to the Far East. Motivated by vengeance against alleged "savage monsters" responsible for attacking English missionaries, Sir Charles and his diverse band—including a giant and two clerics—embark on a perilous journey. Upon arrival, they discover that these so-called monsters are, in fact, a regiment of highly skilled warriors, challenging their perceptions and beliefs. Furthering his relationship in the DC world, in 2024 Dastmalchian embarked on a childhood dream of revitalizing DC's Creature Commandos, a team of monstrous soldiers. Collaborating with artist Jesús Hervás, the series reimagined these iconic characters with new narratives and challenges.
A passionate advocate for various charitable causes that focus on community-focused initiatives, Dastmalchian volunteers regularly with the Born to Act players, a 20-year-old theatre troupe comprised of developmentally disabled adults who have a passion and talent in acting. He is also involved with The Big Slick, an annual charity event hosted by Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner, Rob Riggle and Heidi Gardner for the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He continues to also support the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles, which has been a staple of the city’s arts scene since 1963.
