Mahmoud Pakniyyat began stage acting in 1969 and in 1988 he stepped into the world of movies and television. The series which brought him a nationwide fame was
Once Upon a Time (1991–1992). His popularity grew with his appearance in the series
The Patriarch (1993–1995) and
After the Rain (2000). Pakniyyat has appeared in the series such as
Sheikh Mofid (1995),
Seasoned Rider (1997),
Lighter than Darkness (1999–2002),
The Tenth Night (2001),
Prophet Joseph (2008),
Building No.85 (2010),
Behind the Tall Mountains (2012),
The Line (2014),
The Recluse (2014), and
Warm Breath (2015). He has also acted in a number of movies, including
Death Formation (1994),
Land of the Sun (1996),
The World Upside-Down (1997),
The Wrong Guy (1998),
The Victorious Warrior (1998),
The Deserted Station (2000–2001),
City of Chaos (2005),
Heartbroken (2008), and
Extreme Cold (2009). Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has awarded Iran's High Distinction in Art to Pakniyyat. ==Personal life==