Izad Etemadi is an Iranian-Canadian actor and writer based out of Toronto. He was a resident of the 2021/2022 CBC Actor’s Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre and the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Queer Artist award from Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Recent on-screen acting credits include Ghosts (CBS), Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+), Overlord and the Underwoods (CBC/Nickelodeon) and Revenge of the Black Best Friend (CBC). He originated the role of Samuel in the new Canadian musical Grow (from the producers of Come From Away) at the Grand Theatre and returned this winter to play the titular role in Elf the Musical. As a screenwriter, he is working on shows in development and production with Shaftesbury Kids, Family Channel, and OUTtv. His solo comedy shows have toured across North America and his newest project Izad Etemadi: Call Me By My Stage Name is being developed in residency with Green Light Arts. Izad’s work uses comedy to explore issues of queer identity, immigration, body image, and the terrors of being a millennial.