Who was Mehran Karimi Nasseri? The man who inspired hit movie 'The Terminal' dies at airport

Steven Spielberg's 'The Terminal' was based on an actual story of a man, Mehran Karimi Nasseri who lived at an airport after being exiled from his country. Mehran Karimi Nasseri sought refuge at the Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris. He lived at the airport for 18 years and died on November 13, 2022.

The Paris airport authorities released a statement that a heart attack claimed Nasseri's life. He was 76.

Here’s a look at Nasseri’s story –

Who was Nasseri?

Born in 1945 in Soleiman, Iran, Nasseri had an Iranian father and a British mother. In 1974, Nasseri left home to attend a college in England. He was imprisoned and deported without his passport when he returned to Iran.


After his exile, Nasseri sought refuge in multiple European nations but failed. Finally, he got a refugee certificate from Belgium’s UN organization for refugees. However, he lost his briefcase containing the certificates at a Paris train station.

Lacking required identity papers, he couldn’t gain entry into the UK and was sent back to the de Gaulle airport. Nowhere to go, Nasseri started living at the airport’s Terminal 1.
Nasseri made the airport his home and lived there till he passed away.

FAQs

• Who starred as Nasseri in ‘The Terminal’?
Tom Hanks played Nasseri’s character in the movie.

• Who called Nasseri Sir Alfred?
The airport staff nicknamed him Sir Alfred.

• Was Nasseri ill?
No, Nasseri reportedly died of a heart attack.