Famed Iranian-American director Reza Badiyi honored by City of Berverly Hills, friends and family
This last Sunday, well known Iranian-American TV personality Parviz Gharib Afshar, and his daughter actress Shiva Rose (star of David & Layla) welcomed proud members and dignitaries of the Iranian-American community to an event honoring director Reza Badiyi for his 80th birthday and his 60th year in the entertainment industry. Badiyi has directed more than 430 hours of television, believed by many to be the most in the history of the medium. According to The Hollywood Reporter the night opened with a medley of theme songs from some of the series Badiyi has directed. These included the well-known strains of "Mission: Impossible," "Hawaii Five-0," "The Rockford Files," "Get Smart" and "Fame," as well as opening music from "The Doris Day Show," "Cagney and Lacey," "Baretta," "Knots Landing," "Baywatch" and "The Incredible Hulk." Other director credits compiled by Badiyi include "The Six Million Dollar Man," "La Femme Nikita," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Star Trek."
Iranian celebrities such as Behrooz Vosooghi, Shiva Rose, Jimmy Delshad (Iranian Mayor of Beverly Hills), Sheila Vosough, Jay Jonroy, Parviz Gharib Afshar, Max Amini, Nazanin Boniadi, Niloufar Talebi, Sadreddin Elahi, as well as friends and fans hailed Reza Badiyi, the veteran director, for his kindness, skill and energy. At the same time, they turned the 3 1/2-hour event into a celebration of Iranian culture, performing songs and love poems in Farsi and English.
The tributes included a proclamation from Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad, a fellow Iranian-American, declaring 25th of April as the "Reza Badiyi Day" in the city of Beverly Hills. Referring to Iranian youth protesting the election and policies of the current hard-line Islamic leaders, Delshad added: "Your day is coming. We hear you and we see you and we wish you the best."
Photos courtesy of J Jonroy Avani (Director of DAVID & LAYLA)
UCLA University of Californian- Veteran TV Director REZA BADIYI Lifetime Achievements Celebration. April 25, 2010
