David Dastmalchian is an American actor, writer, and producer, widely recognized for his distinctive supporting roles in science fiction, horror, and superhero films.
He earned widespread recognition for his performance as Thomas Schiff, one of the Joker’s deranged henchmen, in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). Other iconic roles include Ant-Man, The Suicide Squad, Dune, and Blade Runner 2049.
Essential Data
- Full Name: David Dastmalchian
- Stage Name: David Dastmalchian
- Born: July 21, 1975
- Age: 50 years old
- Birthplace: Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Mixed
- Occupation: Actor, Writer, Producer
- Height: 1.84 m
- Religion: Christianity
- Parents: Hossein Dastmalchian and Priscilla Dastmalchian
- Siblings: Two sisters and one brother
- Spouse: Evelyn Leigh (m. 2014)
- Children: Arlo (son) and Pennie (daughter)
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $5 million USD
Early Life and Education
David Dastmalchian was born on July 21, 1975, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. He was raised by his parents, Hossein Dastmalchian, an Iranian-American engineer, and Priscilla Dastmalchian in Overland Park, Kansas, after his family moved there, in a household affected by his parents’ tumultuous divorce and subsequent remarriages.
He grew up with two sisters and one brother. His ethnicity is mixed with Iranian heritage from his father. His religion is Christianity.
He attended Shawnee Mission South High School, graduating in 1994, where he participated in the drama club. He pursued higher education at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, earning a BFA in acting and graduating in 1999, after which he overcame personal struggles, including heroin addiction, to build his career.
Career
David Dastmalchian debuted in theater after college, performing in Chicago with companies like Shattered Globe and Caffeine Theatre.
His breakthrough came with a small but memorable role as Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan. He built a reputation for compelling character work in films like Prisoners (2013), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), and Dune (2021), all under Denis Villeneuve.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he portrayed Kurt in Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), and Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad (2021). He starred in and wrote Animals (2014), earning the Special Jury Prize for Courage in Storytelling at SXSW.
Other notable roles include Oppenheimer (2023), Late Night with the Devil (2023), and upcoming projects like The Cure (2026). He has also produced and written graphic novels and advocated for mental health, drawing on his recovery journey.
Social Media
- Instagram: @dastmalchian
Personal Life
David Dastmalchian, 50, is married to artist Evelyn Leigh (some sources note a 2013 wedding, with a formal marriage in 2014). They have two children: son Arlo (born around 2014) and daughter Pennie (born around 2016).
No past relationships are widely detailed publicly. He maintains a private family life in Los Angeles, often crediting his wife and children as central to his stability and recovery from past addiction and mental health challenges, sharing occasional family glimpses on social media while prioritizing privacy.
Net Worth
David Dastmalchian’s net worth is estimated at $5 million USD. His income primarily comes from acting salaries and residuals in blockbuster films like The Dark Knight, Dune, Blade Runner 2049, and Marvel projects.
Filmography
- The Dark Knight
- Prisoners
- Animals
- Ant-Man
- Blade Runner 2049
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Dune
- The Suicide Squad
- Oppenheimer
- Late Night with the Devil
- The Shepherd
- One Piece
Television
- ER
- MacGyver
- Gotham
- The Flash
- Dexter: Ressurection
- One piece