List of Arab Americans

"This is a list of famous Arab Americans."

List

Academics

*Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad teaches religion, science and freedom at the University of Maryland, College Park and directs the Minaret of Freedom Institute. [ [http://www.csidonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=316&Itemid=95 Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy Biographical Data on Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad] ] [ [http://www.minaret.org/Staff.htm Minaret.org staff description.] ]
*Dr. Saddeka Arebi, professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley
*Dr. Elias Corey, organic chemistry professor at Harvard University and 1990 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry [ [http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/1990/corey-autobio.html Elias James Corey - Autobiography ] ]
*Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, pioneering American-Lebanese cardiovascular surgeon and researcher [ [http://www.debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org/home/content.cfm?menu_id=44&pageview=news&article=96] "The Lebanese American University honored Dr. Michael E. DeBakey..." [http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=michael_debakey] "His parents were Lebanese immigrants Raheehja DeBakey and Shaker Morris"]
*Dr. Charles Elachi, Professor of electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech and director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
*Dr. Taher ElGamal, Inventor of the ElGamal discrete log cryptosystem and the ElGamal signature scheme.
*Dr. Ramzi S. Cotran, famous Lebanese-American Professor of Pathology.
*Dr. Samih Farsoun Sociology professor at the American University [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/13/AR2005061301661.html AU Sociology Professor Samih K. Farsoun Dies ] ]
*Dr. Fawaz Gerges, ABC analyst, professor, regular guest on Oprah's Anti-war series
*Michel T. Halbouty, famous Lebanese-American geologist and geophysicist, pioneer in oil field research [ [http://www.mssu.edu/seg-vm/bio_michel_t__halbouty.html Geophysicists - Michel T. Halbouty ] ] [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041123/news_1m23halbouty.html Michel T. Halbouty; oilman of legend; 95 | The San Diego Union-Tribune ] ] [ [http://cremesti.com/amalid/prominent_lebs/Michel_Halbouty/Michel_T_%20Halbouty.htm Michel T. Halbouty ] ]
*Dr. Philip S. Khoury, Ford International Professor of History and Associate Provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
*Dr. Edward Said, Palestinian-American literary theorist and former professor at Columbia University
*Dr. Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami
*Dr. Fawwaz Ulaby, Former Vice President for Research of the University of Michigan and first Arab-American winner of the IEEE Edison Medal
*Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, appointed by George W. Bush in May 2002

Business

*Najeeb Halaby [ [http://usinfo.state.gov/dhr/Archive/2004/Feb/18-822308.html US Dept of State - Arab Americans and the 2004 U.S. Elections ] ]
*Steve Jobs, head of Apple, biological father was Syrian [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/360722p-307363c.html Celebrity Scandals and Gossip - NY Daily News ] ]
*Mario Kassar, formerly headed Carolco Pictures [ [http://entertainment.lycos.com/movies/celebrity.php?id=12990 Lycos Movies - Celebrity - Mario Kassar ] ]
*John J. Mack, CEO of investment bank Morgan Stanley (Lebanese parents) [http://www.horatioalger.org/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=MAC03]
*Sam Maloof
*Maloof family, majority owners of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
*Sam Moore, the founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest world-wide distributor of the Bible
*Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko's photocopy stores [ [http://www.ncld.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=983 NCLD - Copy This! by Paul Orfalea ] ]

Writers

*Edward Abboud, political writer, author of "" [ [http://www.voxpublishing.com/IE/] ]
*Elmaz Abinader, author, playwright and activist; PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award recipient
*Diana Abu-Jaber, novelist, author of "Arabian Jazz", "Crescent", "The Language of Baklava"
*Elia Abu Madi, poet, publisher and member of the New York Pen League
*Etel Adnan, poet, essayist, and visual artist
*Munir Akash, author and translator; founding editor of Jusoor and Targa Europa (Decoration of Europe) recipient
*Lorraine Ali, (Iraqi) reporter, editor, culture writer and music critic for "Newsweek."
*Naseeb Arida, publisher associated with the New York Pen League
*Wadi Bahout, poet and member of the New York Pen League
*William Peter Blatty, author of "The Exorcist"
*William Catzeflis, poet and member of the New York Pen League
*Catherine Filloux, French-Algerian-American playwright
*Joseph Geha, author of Through and Through
*Khalil Gibran, author and member of the New York Pen League, well-known for his best-selling book "The Prophet"
*Abdal-Masih Haddad, publisher associated with the New York Pen League
*Nudra Haddad, poet and member of the New York Pen League
*Suheir Hammad, poet, playwright, artist, Tony Award winner, 2003 (Russel Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway)
*Ray Hanania
*Natalie Handal, poet, editor and PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award recipient
*Samuel John Hazo, State Poet of Pennsylvania
*Lawrence Joseph, poet
*Daoud Kuttab, award winning Palestinian journalist. Ferris professor of journalism at Princeton University
*Lisa Suhair Majaj, poet and literary scholar
*Jack Marshall (author), poet and author (Iraqi father/Syrian mother)
*Khaled Mattawa, poet and recipient of an Academy of American Poets award
*D.H. Melhem, literary scholar and activist, American Book Award recipient
*Claire Messud, author, Algerian
*Mikhail Naimy, Nobel Prize-nominated author and member of the New York Pen League; well-known works include "The Book of Mirdad" and a biography of Khalil Gibran
*Naomi Shihab Nye, poet
*Gregory Orfalea, poet, essayist and historian
*Ameen Rihani, "father of Arab American literature," member of the New York Pen League and author of "The Book of Khalid," the first Arab American novel in English; also an ambassador
*Abraham Rihbany, writer on politics and religion
*Salom Rizk, author of early Arab American immigrant autobiography, "Syrian Yankee"
*Ramzi M. Salti, author of "The Native Informant: Six Tales of Defiance from the Arab World"
*Anthony Shadid [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200602/calling.helen.thomas.htm Saudi Aramco World : Calling Helen Thomas ] ]
*Evelyn Shakir, literary scholar
*Mona Simpson, author of Anywhere but Here, The Lost Father, A Regular Guy

Performers

*Paula Abdul, Grammy winning singer, Emmy winning choreographer, and host of American Idol (Syrian Jewish father)
*Moustapha Akkad, a Syrian-American film producer
*Ferras Alqaisi, Jordanian American singer-song writer
*Paul Anka, singer and songwriter (Lebanese) [ [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0000084 Anka, Paul ] ]
*Jim Avila (half Lebanese), correspondent for ABC News "20/20"
*Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist (Lebanese father) [ [http://launch.yahoo.com/ar-311934-bio--Dick-Dale Dick Dale Biography on Yahoo! Music ] ]
*Jenna Dewan (1980 - ), film/TV actress ("Step Up") [Dewan - [http://www2.bloody-disgusting.com/features.php?id=199] "I had a small role as Devi, the daughter of a Sikh-American – I’m half-Lebanese as it is."]
*Mohammed El-Bakkar, Lebanese immigrant to Brooklyn, singer, band-leader
*Shannon Elizabeth (1973 - ), film actress ("American Pie", "Scary Movie") [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,85337_1%7C8559%7C%7C0_0_,00.html] "The half-Syrian, half-Lebanese actress..."]
*Jamie Farr, character actor, Lebanese [ [http://www.bestcareanywhere.net/Farr.htm] "The Lebanese son of a Toledo grocer received a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985."]
*Hala Gorani, CNN anchor (French Syrian) [ [http://halafan.bravehost.com/Onetowatch.html] Dead link|date=March 2008]
*Khrystyne Haje
*Sammy Hagar, Rock musician
*Lama Hasan, ABC News anchor
*Salma Hayek, actress (Lebanese father), born in Mexico-works in US
*Anissa Jones, actress (Lebanese grandparents)
*Casey Kasem, radio personality and voice actor [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800061419/bio Casey Kasem Biography - Yahoo! Movies ] ]
*Kerri Kasem, TV hostess
*Amy Fadhli, fitness model, actress (Iraqi father) and winner of the Fitness America National Champion 1996
*Catherine Keener, Lebanese ancestry
*Khaled Khaled, a.k.a. DJ Khaled, Palestinian ancestry, popular Hip-Hop DJ for Fat Joe's Terror Squad group
*Herbert Khaury, aka Tiny Tim (Lebanese father) [ [http://www.tinytim.org/biography.html Tiny Tim Biography ] ]
*Hoda Kotb, Egyptian decent, NBC's Today show host
*Kurtis Mantronik (Syrian father), born Kurtis el Khaleel, remixer and producer, founding member of 1980's old school hip hop group Mantronix
*Kristy McNichol, co-star on "Family" and "Empty Nest" [ [http://archives.gophercentral.com/issue_8896:77.html GopherCentral Archives ] ]
*Mika, half-Lebanese
*Wentworth Miller, starring role as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network television series "Prison Break"(Syrian-Lebanese from Mothers side) [ [http://www.mixedmediawatch.com/2006/04/09/wentworth-miller-on-being-a-racial-spy Wentworth Miller on being a racial spy at We’ve moved to www.racialicious.com - update your bookmarks! ] ]
*Kathy Najimy, actress of Lebanese descent [ [http://kathynajimy.com/katbio.htm Kathy Najimy - Biography - Official Site - kathynajimy.com ] ]
*George Noory (1950 - ), radio broadcaster, as of 2006, the weekday host of the late-night paranormal-themed radio talk show "Coast to Coast AM." [Noory - [http://www.jewishindy.com/article.php?sid=5929] "One more point of commonality -- both Farah and Noory are Lebanese"]
*Jehane Noujaim [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/storyville/jehane-noujaim.shtml BBC - BBC Storyville - Control Room: Jehane Noujaim Interview ] ]
*Michael Nouri
*Naomi Shihab Nye [ [http://www.barclayagency.com/nye.html Naomi Shihab Nye ★ Steven Barclay Agency ] ]
*Dean Obeidallah [ [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0502/08/wbr.01.html CNN.com - Transcripts ] ]
*Heather Raffo, actress/playwright (Iraqi father)
*Tom Shadyac
*Jerry Seinfeld Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning comedian (Syrian Sephardic Jewish Mother) [http://books.google.com/books?id=uWGr2sb_uvgC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=betty+seinfeld+syrian&source=web&ots=RxEjrQBSoA&sig=bVbxSJx268Y9XHXpCNxnHlSritM#PPP1,M1] , Seinfeld, The Making of an American Icon by Jerry Oppenheimer Page 11. Accessed February 20, 2008.]
*Shakira, her father is a Lebanese immigrant and her mother a native of Colombia
*Tony Shalhoub (1953 - ), three-time Emmy Award-winning television and film actor ("Monk") [Shalhoub - [http://www.swnewsherald.com/online_content/2006/08/082806rh_emmys.php] "Tony Shalhoub, who is Lebanese..."]
*Alia Shawkat, actress (father is Iraqi)
*James Stacy
*Vic Tayback, actor, Syrian
*Danny Thomas, actor, Lebanese [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800084018/bio Danny Thomas Biography - Yahoo! Movies ] ]
*Marlo Thomas, half Lebanese
*Tony Thomas, half Lebanese
*Vince Vaughn, Lebanese ancestry
*Elliott Yamin, singer (Iraqi Jewish father)
*Amy Yasbeck, half Lebanese
*David Yazbek, half Arabian
*Frank Zappa (part Lebanese father) [Zappa - [http://www.obst-music.com/composers/zappa_bio.htm] "My ancestry is Sicilian, Greek, Arab and French. My mother's mother was French and Sicilian, and her Dad was Italian (from Naples). She was first generation. The Greek-Arab side is from my Dad..."]
*Zaida Ben-Yusuf(1869-1933) was an American portrait photographer. Ben-Yusuf was born in London to an Algerian Muslim father and a German mother of Algerian descent. She immigrated to New York in 1897. [http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/zaida/introduction/index.html]

Military

*John Abizaid, Lebanese [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908727.html]
*James Jabara, Lebanese
*George Joulwan, Lebanese
*Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, a Specialist in the United States Army who was kidnapped by insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 23, 2006

Politics

*James Abdnor
*James Abourezk [ [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=8215 American Chronicle | An Interview with James Abourezk, the First Arab American to Serve in the U.S. Senate ] ] , Lebanese
*Spencer Abraham, Lebanese ancestry
*Victor G. Atiyeh
*John Baldacci, Lebanese ancestry
*Mitchell Daniels, Governor of Indiana
*Pat Danner, former member of Congress
*Brigitte Gabriel, founder of the American Congress For Truth, Lebanese
*Camille Bud George, Pennsylvania House Representative
*Philip Habib, Diplomat of Lebanese descent
*Lisa Halaby, married King Hussein of Jordan and became the only Arab American to be the Queen of a foreign country, Queen Noor
*Darrell Issa, conservative Californian Congressman, Lebanese father
*Chris John, Lebanese ancestry
*Aron Kader, comedian
*Abraham Kazen, south Texas Congressman
*Ray LaHood, Illinois Congressman of Lebanese descent
*George J. Mitchell, Lebanese mother
*Ralph Nader, Lebanese [ [http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9372950/Ralph-Nader Ralph Nader - Britannica Concise ] ]
*Jimmy Naifeh, the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Lebanese ancestry
*Mary Rose Oakar, former member of the United States House of Representatives
*Jeanine Pirro
*Nick Rahall, U.S. Congressman, Lebanese
*Donna Shalala, Lebanese
*John E. Sununu, Senator from New Hampshire, son of John H. Sununu, Palestinian father
*John H. Sununu, former Governor of New Hampshire, Palestinian
*George P. Shadid, Lebanese immigrant, Illinois State Police Sherrif, Illinois State Senator.
*James Shadid, Son of George Shadid, Peoria County Judge, Peoria Illinois

ports

*Mark Copani, half Italian half Jordanian-Arab professional wrestler, known for his controversial yet highly memorable Muhammed Hassan character whilst in WWE
*Omar Hassan, pro Skateboarder [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSE/is_278/ai_112984519|title=Omar Hassan - The Thrasher Interview|accessDate=February 2008]
*Vince Dooley
*Doug Flutie, NFL player (Lebanese)
*Jeff George, NFL quarterback
*Sam Khalifa
*Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner
*Bobby Rahal
*Rony Seikaly [ [http://www.mediamonitors.net/sherri24.html How the Arab Civilization Has Changed Your Life (by Sherri Muzher) - Media Monitors Network ] ]
*Kelly Slater
*Joe Lahoud, MLB player for Boston & California

Others

*Joseph Abboud (1950 - ), menswear fashion designer and author [Abboud - [http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/josephabboud/] "Lebanese Abboud was the first designer to win the CFDA award as Best Menswear Designer two years in a row..."]
*Reem Acra
*Wahbi Al-Hariri, artist and architect (Syrian) Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (fr.)
*Rosemary Barkett, federal judge and first woman Justice and Chief Justice on the Florida Supreme Court (Syrian)
*Jamal Dajani, television producer and Middle East analyst.
*Emilio Estefan, Cuban-born, manager and producer of wife Gloria Estefan
*Ismail al-Faruqi
*Gibran Khalil Gibran, Lebanese poet and artist
*Hussein Ibish
*Nabil Kanso, artist
*Hoda Kotb
*Candice Lightner (Lebanese mother), founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) [Lightner - [http://www.alhewar.com/CaseyKasem.htm] "The press would never print that I was an Arab-American. So, when I started doing live media, I'd bring it up."]
*Edward L. Masry, lawyer
*Walid Rabah
*Karim Rashid
*Anthony Shadid
*Helen Thomas, journalist (Lebanese)
*John Zogby, pollster for Zogby International (Lebanese)
*James Zogby, Arab-American civil rights activist (Arab-American Institute); brother of John
*Zainab Salbi co-founder and president for Women for Women International (Iraqi)
*Kuttab, Jonathan human rights Palestinian activist, New York bar member.
* Helen Zughaib famous artist whose work is on display in the White House, the World Bank, and many other prestigious locations [cite web|url=http://www.beirutlosangeles.org/gallery/zughaib.html|title=Helen Zughaib|publisher=Beirut Los Angeles]

ee also

*List of Iraqi Americans

References

Web sites

* " [http://www.alhewar.com/CaseyKasem.htm I Want My Son to be Proud] " by Casey Kasem
* " [http://www.aaiusa.org/arab-americans/23/famous-arab-americans Famous Arab Americans] "
* " [http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/abinader.htm Children of Al-Mahjar: Arab American Literature Spans a Century] " -- by Elmaz Abinader
* " [http://www.scoopspy.com/news/7_days/arabic_music.php Arab Celebrity news] "