Nowrasteh was born on 19 September 1956, in Boulder, Colorado, and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin.
 He is of Iranian descent.
He graduated from Madison West High School in 1974 and was a city boys high school tennis champion.
Nowrasteh attended New Mexico State University on an athletic scholarship and later transferred to the University of Southern California to attend the School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1977.

Nowrasteh is married to Elizabeth ("Betsy") G. Nowrasteh (born 1953).
They have two sons, Alex and Mark.
Nowrasteh was born on 19 September 1956, in Boulder, Colorado, and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin.  He is of Iranian descent. He graduated from Madison West High School in 1974 and was a city boys high school tennis champion. Nowrasteh attended New Mexico State University on an athletic scholarship and later transferred to the University of Southern California to attend the School of Cinematic Arts, graduating in 1977.
Nowrasteh is married to Elizabeth ("Betsy") G. Nowrasteh (born 1953). They have two sons, Alex and Mark.
Cyrus Nowrasteh