Arian Moayed is a familiar face from hit shows like “Succession” and blockbuster films such as “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” He also earned a Tony nomination for his captivating performance in the 2023 Broadway revival of “A Doll’s House.”
Despite his extensive acting resume, Moayed had never actually seen the Netflix series “Nobody Wants This.” That changed when his former “Succession” co-star, Justine Lupe, personally reached out, urging him to join the show’s cast for its second season.
“I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll just check out one episode,’” Moayed recounted. “Next thing we knew, my wife and I had binged the entire first season in less than 24 hours!”
Now, he’s starring as Lupe’s on-screen boyfriend in the highly anticipated second season, which just dropped this week.
Describing his character, the 45-year-old actor shared in a recent phone interview, “He’s incredibly charming, but definitely has a high opinion of himself.”
Fans can also look forward to Moayed reprising his “Spider-Man” role as Agent Cleary – that brilliantly condescending operative dedicated to tracking down rogue super-powered individuals – in Marvel’s upcoming TV series, “Wonder Man,” slated for a January release.
In a candid conversation, Moayed revealed some of his personal cultural touchstones, from the cinematic genius of Spike Lee to the unique humor of “The Rehearsal,” and even his unwavering (and sometimes irritating) dedication to a good comedic bit. Here are some highlights from our chat.
My Heart-Shaped Swimming Pool
At his home in upstate New York, Moayed boasts an outdoor, heart-shaped swimming pool that he absolutely adores. He explained, “As an Iranian immigrant, my vision of the American dream always included having a pool. And then, it turns out to be heart-shaped? You just can’t top that!”
Waterwell
Moayed co-founded Waterwell, a theater company, with Tom Ridgely in 2002. Since then, their mission has been to create impactful work that challenges societal norms. They recently collaborated with the New York Immigration Coalition for a performance at PAC, honoring the significant contributions of immigrants to the city. Moayed emphasizes that this blend of community engagement and artistic expression is deeply important to them.
Michael Jordan ‘Wings’ Poster
Having grown up in Chicago during the 90s, Moayed vividly recalls seeing Michael Jordan play numerous times, often from the back rows, whenever his family managed to scrape together enough money for tickets. After Jordan secured one of his initial championships during the first three-peat, Moayed bought the iconic Michael Jordan wingspan poster. Today, it hangs proudly framed in his Midtown office.
Being Backstage
Moayed believes the true magic of theater lies not on stage, but behind it. “When you participate in a school play, you rarely remember the performance itself; what truly sticks with you is the camaraderie backstage,” he explains. “It’s an addictive feeling—checking in with wardrobe, grabbing drinks with friends who just saw your show, or even just taking a quick nap. I genuinely think the real reason all of us passionate theater people keep coming back is for that unique backstage experience.”
‘The Rehearsal’
Moayed recently binged “The Rehearsal” Season 2, finding it profoundly impactful. “It’s incredibly moving to delve so deeply into a person or concept,” he shared, “I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.”
The Cyrus Cylinder
Moayed champions the historical significance of The Cyrus Cylinder. He recalls, “Growing up, textbooks constantly highlighted the Magna Carta. Yet, millennia before that, Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and established what many consider the first bill of human rights, declaring ‘Religious tolerance for everyone.'” He hopes this pivotal document will be more widely taught, believing it could help dismantle the persistent misconception of Iranians as adversaries.
Cooking Persian Dinners
Arian Moayed has a profound appreciation for preparing elaborate Persian dinners, a skill and passion he inherited from his mother. He reminisces about his childhood in Chicago: “As immigrants, my mom didn’t have a community of women to help prepare our Saturday meals, so the youngest often took on those tasks. I found myself chopping onions and setting tables.” He emphasizes that hospitality is a cornerstone of Iranian culture, and that Persian cuisine itself is infused with a deep sense of love.
Spike Lee
For Moayed, Spike Lee remains a monumental figure in cinema. “Everything he creates is iconic, daring, and consistently fresh,” he states. “I still approach both filmmaking and film-watching through the lens of Spike Lee’s perspective. His latest, ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ was absolutely fantastic.”
A Comedic Bit That Borders on Annoying
In a household with his wife and two daughters, Moayed confesses his family knows all his comedic routines. This constantly pushes him to invent new ways to make them laugh. He shared a recent example: “This morning, my wife was journaling, and I kept doing false exits — ‘Oh, I forgot this,’ ‘I forgot that.’ By the fourth time, I could tell she was getting annoyed. But instead of stopping, I stretched it out for another eight fake exits until her annoyance melted into genuine laughter.”
KultureCity
Moayed highlighted KultureCity, an organization that has established thousands of sensory rooms in airports and stadiums worldwide. They are dedicated to educating people on how to interact with individuals who have sensory needs, even training police officers to better recognize and support those on the spectrum. He describes their work as both moving and incredibly powerful.