David Dastmalchian Refused to Change His Name for Hollywood Stardom

Early in his screen career, David Dastmalchian was pigeonholed by a Chicago casting director who saw him as either a cab driver or a terrorist. Despite having portrayed a diverse range of characters on stage, the film auditions he received offered limited scope for similar versatility. "I remember in the beginning of my career being told, 'You're gonna have to change your last name,'" Dastmalchian shared with The National. However, despite his need for work, he consistently resisted racial typecasting. "I don’t want to do that. I want to be able to go after every role that I could possibly swing for," he stated.

Nearly two decades after his film debut, Dastmalchian has established himself as one of Hollywood's most adaptable performers. His latest leading role is as M Bison in director Kitao Sakurai’s new Street Fighter adaptation. This villainous character joins a career that spans superhero films, science fiction, and horror, all achieved under the surname he was once advised to alter.

The film, set in 1993, centers on estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo), who are enlisted by Chun-Li (Callina Liang) for the World Warrior Tournament. A conspiracy lurking behind the competition draws them back into conflict.

Dastmalchian's path into his acting career began with director Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, released in 2008, where he played one of the Joker’s accomplices. Casting director John Papsidera was instrumental in bringing him in for what would become his film debut. "And thank God for John Papsidera, who came into Chicago and he was casting a movie, and he was willing to see everybody," Dastmalchian remarked. "And he saw me as something that other people hadn’t given me a chance to do on camera. On the stage I always felt like I had an opportunity to swing for the fences with all different types of roles."

Even appearing in a major film of the decade did not guarantee consistent work. In an interview with Backstage, Dastmalchian recalled arriving in Los Angeles without an agent or manager. Despite having The Dark Knight on his resume, he faced rejection from the small agencies and management companies he approached. "It was devastatingly humbling to continue to be told, 'No, we don’t want to work with you,'" he said. He persisted with auditions for short films and music videos, and attended casting workshops. While few of these auditions led to jobs, they facilitated connections and helped him build the professional relationships crucial to his career.

Nolan later cast him again in Oppenheimer, while director Denis Villeneuve championed his work in the interim, casting him in Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune. Dastmalchian also took a leading role in the Abu Dhabi-produced hit Late Night with the Devil, portraying Jack Delroy, a television host whose Halloween broadcast descends into chaos.

"I swim in such a giant pool of gratitude, honestly, because it was the people who were willing to see me and see the potential for what’s the human underneath, right?" he expressed. "That’s the story that you’re always trying to tell."

The actor acknowledges that nationality and ancestry can significantly influence character writing and performance. However, his objection lies in these factors limiting an actor's role options. Having found individuals willing to grant him this freedom, he desires similar opportunities for others. "I want everybody out there who’s an actor that feels like they want a chance to embrace the art, no matter what they look like, where they’re from, where their parents are from, what language they were raised speaking, to know that all the things we’re dealing with in acting are universal."

Street Fighter is currently in cinemas across the Middle East.