Iranian Who Inspired ‘The Terminal’ Dies at Paris Airport

Iranian Who Inspired ‘The Terminal’ Dies at Paris Airport
Merhan Karimi Nasseri sits among his belongings at Terminal 1 of Roissy Charles De Gaulle Airport, north of Paris, on Aug. 11, 2004. Michel Euler/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

PARIS—An Iranian man who lived for 18 years in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport and whose saga loosely inspired the Steven Spielberg film “The Terminal” died Saturday in the airport that he long called home, officials said.

Nasseri lived in the airport’s Terminal 1 from 1988 until 2006, first in legal limbo because he lacked residency papers and later by apparent choice.