Sam Dastor
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2026) |
Sam Dastor | |
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| Born | 2 October 1941 Bombay, Bombay Province, British India |
| Died | 5 June 2026 (aged 84) |
| Education | University of Cambridge Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–2026 |
| Website | samdastor |
Sam Dastor (2 October 1941 – 5 June 2026) was an Indian-born British actor best known for his appearances in British television series.
Life and career
[edit]Dastor was born in Bombay, Bombay Province, British India on 2 October 1941.[1] He was raised in a Parsi family of Zoroastrian faith, though he later converted to Christianity.[2] He graduated from the University of Cambridge[3][4] and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). He subsequently joined the National Theatre, where he was under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier.[4]
He acted in the West End, including playing Ariel in a production of The Tempest while Paul Scofield played Prospero. Dastor also appeared in three of Simon Gray's plays: Melon, Hidden Laughter, and Cell Mates.[4]
Dastor is best known for his many appearances on British television, often playing characters of exotic origin. His most notable roles include Cassius Chaerea in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius and Gandhi in both Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy and the film Jinnah.[5] Other credits include Coronation Street (as Jimmy, a Weatherfield Market trader in October 1981), Crown Court (TV series) (18 episodes 1975-79 in which he played barrister Michael Bloom), Softly, Softly, Space: 1999, Blake's 7, Shoestring, Yes Minister, Fortunes of War, A Touch of Frost and Spooks.[6]
He also narrated and voice-acted for a number of audiobooks and radio dramas.[4]
Dastor died on 5 June 2026, aged 84.[1]
Partial filmography
[edit]- Made (1972) – Mahdav
- Jinnah (1998) – Gandhi
- Such a Long Journey (1998) – Dinshawji
- The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) – Hal Ashby
References
[edit]- ^ a b Smurthwaite, Nick (11 June 2026). "Sam Dastor". The Stage. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- ^ "December: Burnside Magi drama | News and features | University of Bristol". bristol.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
By coincidence, Sam [Dastor] is Parsi and comes from the very part of India where the Zoroastrians, descendants of the ancient Magi, sought refuge. Sam was born and brought up as a Zoroastrian, before converting to Christianity. The Magi – one of whom he is playing – are his distant ancestors.
- ^ "Yes, Prime Minister » Cast Creative » Cast » Sam Dastor". yesprimeminister.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d "Sam Dastor". Naxos AudioBooks. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
- ^ "Sam Dastor". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019.
- ^ "Sam Dastor". aveleyman.com.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Sam Dastor at IMDb
- Sam Dastor discography at Discogs
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1941 births
- 2026 deaths
- 20th-century British male actors
- 21st-century British male actors
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- Alumni of the University of Cambridge
- Audiobook narrators
- British male film actors
- British male stage actors
- British male television actors
- British male voice actors
- Converts to Christianity from Zoroastrianism
- Indian emigrants to England
- British people of Indian descent
- British people of Parsi descent