Saman Arastoo

Saman Arastoo is an Iranian actor and director. He starred in the 2003 drama Abadan prior to gender transition, and directs plays regarding the acceptance of transgender people in Iranian society.

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Career

Following wide publicity around his gender transition, Arastoo has been a public figure for the Iranian transgender community, including holding drama therapy workshops such as "Self Cognition". His play Khodkar-é-Bikar features transgender characters played by transgender actors.
Arastoo founded the Avaye Divanegan Theatre Group in 1983. The name translates to "Music of the Crazed."
Actor Jack Haven said they first started using their chosen name while participating in a workshop organized by Arastoo.

Personal life

Arastoo describes his first marriage in 1991 as a "forced marriage" for which the divorce lasted one and a half years. He underwent sex reassignment surgeries at age 42 in 2008. He married again in 2015.