Not every actor can say they made their big-screen debut in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, portraying one of the Joker’s chilling henchmen. However, David Dastmalchian is not your average thespian. He has appeared in films and television for years, but his prominent leading role came recently in 2023’s Late Night With the Devil.
This film marked Dastmalchian’s transformation from “that guy” to a household name. Along the way, he has taken on intriguing side projects, including writing comics and hosting a unique YouTube series, Grave Conversations, where he and celebrity guests chat while lounging in coffins. His earlier work includes notable appearances in Twin Peaks: The Return, the revival of MacGyver, Netflix’s horror sensation Bird Box, and Hulu’s true crime thriller The Boston Strangler, where he plays one of the title characters.
Never one to take a break, Dastmalchian has exciting projects on the horizon, including roles in Mike Flanagan’s Life of Chuck, Bryan Fuller’s directorial debut Dust Bunny, season two of One Piece, and Dexter: Resurrection.
Currently, he’s captivating audiences on one of TV’s hottest new shows: Murderbot. This has inspired us to compile a list of Dastmalchian’s most exceptionally bizarre sci-fi and horror roles to date.
1. Murderbot
In the Apple TV+ series, Dastmalchian embodies Gurathin, the augmented human in the survey team that Murderbot is tasked with protecting. Despite his similarities to the AI, Gurathin’s suspicion leads him to be antagonistic until he learns that Murderbot has taken control of its programming. Dastmalchian’s portrayal of Gurathin’s skepticism and vulnerability adds depth to this complex character.
2-3. Early DC TV: The Flash and Gotham
Dastmalchian’s ties to DC Comics began before James Gunn’s tenure as the top dog at DC Studios. In 2017, he appeared in Gotham as Dwight Pollard, a morgue worker hiding his cultist ambitions. He also brought life to the supervillain Abra Kadabra in The Flash, appearing in two episodes.
4. The Suicide Squad
In James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Dastmalchian takes on the role of the quirky Polka-Dot Man, adding a layer of absurdity to the misfit team alongside characters like King Shark. His performance balances comedy with poignancy, bringing depth to a gloriously ridiculous character. Dastmalchian also had a minor role in *The Belko Experiment*, another project penned by Gunn.
5. Ant-Man and Its Sequels
Dastmalchian is not confined to DC Studios; he has appeared in all three installments of Marvel’s Ant-Man series, showcasing his comedic talent as Scott Lang’s Russian hacker buddy, Kurt. His over-the-top accent and distinctive fashion sense make him a standout amidst the ensemble cast. He even reprised his role in the animated series What If…?, though his character met an unfortunate end in the “What If… Zombies?!” episode.
In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Dastmalchian returns as Veb, a bizarre Quantum Realm resident. After all, you can’t spell “Ant-Man” without “Dastmalchian”—figuratively speaking, of course.
6. Denis Villeneuve Times Three
Dastmalchian has a knack for captivating performances in films directed by Denis Villeneuve. In Prisoners, he portrays a deeply unsettling, maze-obsessed suspect linked to heinous crimes. His role as a crime lab tech in Blade Runner 2049 reveals perplexing truths about replicants, ultimately costing him his life. In Dune, his talents for nuance and portrayal of darker characters shine as part of the Harkonnen family.
7. The Boogeyman
In the 2023 horror film directed by Rob Savage, Dastmalchian plays a troubled man who warns a family grieving their matriarch about malevolent spirits. His character serves as a harbinger of doom, illustrating the often ignored warning of those society labels as crazy.
8. Rosario
Dastmalchian’s role in the indie horror film Rosario features him as a greasy neighbor adding to the anxiety as an elderly woman’s granddaughter finds herself trapped with a corpse. His character brings an additional layer of discomfort, creating a memorable viewing experience.
9. Last Voyage of the Demeter
As the ill-fated quartermaster on the ship transporting Dracula to London, Dastmalchian plays a critical role in Last Voyage of the Demeter. He shared his enthusiasm for the film, stating, “I’m grateful to be a part of making the first, in my opinion, absolutely scary Dracula film to come along in a very, very, very long time.”
10. Late Night With the Devil
This 2023 found-footage film embodies a retro 1977 talk-show vibe, illustrating a live Halloween special that spirals into chaos as the host’s dark past resurfaces. Dastmalchian delivers a compelling performance concealing some rather terrifying secrets beneath his charismatic exterior.
What are your favorite Dastmalchian performances so far? Feel free to share them, both genre and non-genre, in the comments!
Want to dive deeper into Dastmalchian’s work? Explore more content on Moyens I/O.