Nozar Azadi (Persian: نوذر آزادی; 26 February 2021)^[1] was an Iranian comedian and actor who was famous in Iran in the 1970s, mostly because of his role in TV series such as Italia, Italia, Kaf show, and Okhtapus.^[2][3][4]

He was born in Kermanshah, Iran, in 1938. Azadi appeared in many shows, television series and films in the Iranian era prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.^[4]

Azadi starred in many films of Samad and Leila, the Kaf Show directed by Parviz Sayad, and his own television series Italia Italia, playing the character Ghatebeh.^[4] Ghatebeh played in many shows where he impersonated a Kermanshahi man who was a con man by nature, very slick and a great communicator/womanizer. Ghatebeh had a distinguished Kermanshahi accent that to this day, 40 years later, people of Iran still remember with amusement.^[5]

In 1971, Azadi performed in Peter Brook's production of Orghast in Persepolis, which was part of the 2,500 year celebration of the Persian Empire.^[6][7]

Azadi fled from Iran to Germany, where he lived in Bremen for 20 years, and then moved to the United States. He made no more films, but took up painting.^[5][8]

In 2010, Azadi exhibited his paintings at the Seyhoun Gallery in Hollywood, California.^[5][9]

Nozar Azadi died on February 26, 2021 at the age of 82 in Bremen.

• Jew's Harp, 1975
• Mozaffar, 1974
• Samad goes to School, 1973 (as Director)
• Suitor, 1972
• Samad and Solomon, 1971