This is a list of notable Arab Americans.
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Arab American or must have references showing they are Arab American and are notable.
Contents |
List
Academics
- Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad teaches religion, science and freedom at the University of Maryland, College Park and directs the Minaret of Freedom Institute.[1][2]
- Saddeka Arebi, professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley
- Farouk El-Baz, an Egyptian American scientist who worked with NASA to assist in the planning of scientific exploration of the Moon, including the selection of landing sites for the Apollo missions and the training of astronauts in lunar observations and photography.
- Elias Corey, organic chemistry professor at Harvard University and 1990 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry[3]
- Michael E. DeBakey, pioneering American-Lebanese cardiovascular surgeon and researcher[4]
- Charles Elachi, Professor of electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech and director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Taher ElGamal, Inventor of the ElGamal discrete log cryptosystem and the ElGamal signature scheme.
- Samih Farsoun Sociology professor at the American University [5]
- 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[6] [7] [8]
- Philip S. Khoury, Ford International Professor of History and Associate Provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Edward Said, Palestinian-American literary theorist and former professor at Columbia University
- Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami
- Fawwaz Ulaby, Former Vice President for Research of the University of Michigan and first Arab-American winner of the IEEE Edison Medal
- Ahmed Zewail, Egyptian-American professor at Caltech and winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, appointed by George W. Bush in May 2002,
Business
- Najeeb Halaby, former head of Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of Pan-American Airlines (Syrian father) [9]
- Steve Jobs, head of Apple, biological father was Syrian[10]
- Mario Kassar, formerly headed Carolco Pictures [11]
- John J. Mack, CEO of investment bank Morgan Stanley (Lebanese parents)[12]
- 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 worldwide distributor of the Bible
- Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko's photocopy stores [13]
- Dr. Howard Murad, founder of Murad Cosmetics
- Farouk Shami, founder of Farouk systems, a Houston based company that manufactures high quality professional hair care and spa products like CHI hair Irons (Palestinian)
Writers
- Edward Abboud, political writer, author of Invisible Enemy: Israel, Politics, Media, and American Culture [14]
- 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
- Lorraine Ali, (Iraqi) reporter, editor, culture writer and music critic for Newsweek.
- William Peter Blatty, author of The Exorcist
- Catherine Filloux, French-Algerian-American playwright
- Khalil Gibran, author and member of the New York Pen League, well-known for his best-selling book The Prophet
- Suheir Hammad, poet, playwright, artist, Tony Award winner, 2003 (Russel Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway)
- Ray Hanania
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Anthony Shadid [15]
- 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)
- Bashar Rahal, a Lebanese-Bulgarian actor born in Dubai-works in US
- Moustapha Akkad, a Syrian-American film producer
- Ferras Alqaisi, Jordanian American singer-song writer
- Paul Anka, singer and songwriter (Lebanese)[16]
- Jim Avila (half Lebanese), correspondent for ABC News "20/20"
- Jeff Becerra (Arab Mexican origin), Death metal musician
- Yasmine Bleeth (Algerian Jewish descent), actress/model
- Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist (Lebanese father) [17]
- Jenna Dewan (1980 - ), film/TV actress (Step Up)[18]
- Mohammed El-Bakkar, Lebanese immigrant to Brooklyn, singer, band-leader
- Shannon Elizabeth (1973 - ), film actress ("American Pie", "Scary Movie")[19]
- Jamie Farr, character actor, Lebanese[20]
- Farrah Fawcett actress (Lebanese ancestry)
- Hala Gorani, CNN anchor (French Syrian) [21]
- Khrystyne Haje
- Sammy Hagar, Rock musician
- Lama Hasan, ABC News anchor
- Atif Hashwi, teen actor (Lebanese) [22]
- Salma Hayek, actress (Mexican father of Lebanese blood), born in Mexico-works in US
- Anissa Jones, actress (Lebanese grandparents)
- Aron Kader, comedian (Palestinian ancestry)
- Casey Kasem, radio personality and voice actor [23]
- 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 popular Hip-Hop DJ for Fat Joe's Terror Squad group (Palestinian ancestry)
- Herbert Khaury, aka Tiny Tim (Lebanese father) [24]
- Hoda Kotb, Egyptian decent, NBC's Today show host
- Kurtis Mantronik, born Kurtis el Khaleel, remixer and producer, founding member of 1980's old school hip hop group Mantronix (Syrian father)
- Kristy McNichol, co-star on "Family" and "Empty Nest" [25]
- Mika, half-Lebanese
- Wentworth Miller, starring role as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network television series "Prison Break"(Syrian-Lebanese from Mothers side)[26]
- Kathy Najimy, actress of Lebanese descent [27]
- George Noory (1950 - ), radio broadcaster, as of 2006, the weekday host of the late-night paranormal-themed radio talk show Coast to Coast AM.[28]
- Jehane Noujaim[29]
- Michael Nouri
- Naomi Shihab Nye[30]
- Dean Obeidallah [31]
- Heather Raffo, actress/playwright (Iraqi father)
- Tom Shadyac
- Jerry Seinfeld Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning comedian (Syrian Sephardic Jewish Mother)[32]
- 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)[33]
- Alia Shawkat, actress (Iraqi father)
- Soraya, diva (mother is part-Lebanese)
- James Stacy
- Vic Tayback, actor, Syrian
- Paola Turbay, actress (father is of Lebanese descent)
- Danny Thomas, actor, Lebanese [34]
- 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 Lebanese
- Frank Zappa (part Lebanese father)[35]
- 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.[15]
- DJ Khaled- an american rapper/producer/songwriter whose parents are both Palestinian.His birth name is Khaled Khalid
- F. Murray Abraham, Oscar award winner for role in Amadeus
- Omar Sharif
Military
- John Abizaid, Lebanese[36]
- 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, U.S. Senator (D-S.D.) (1981-1987)
- James Abourezk, U.S. Senator (D-S.D.) (1973-1979) (Lebanese ancestry)[37]
- Spencer Abraham, U.S. Secretary of Energy (2001-2005) and U.S. Senator (R-Mich.) (1995-2001) (Lebanese ancestry)
- Victor G. Atiyeh, Governor of Oregon (R) (1979-1987)
- John Baldacci, Governor of Maine (D) (2003- ) (Lebanese mother)
- Mitchell Daniels, Governor of Indiana (R) (2005- )
- Pat Danner, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Mo.) (1993-2001)
- Brigitte Gabriel, pro-Israel activist and founder of the American Congress For Truth (immigrated from Lebanon)
- Philip Charles Habib, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Special Envoy to Ronald Reagan (Lebanese)
- Lisa Halaby (a.k.a. Queen Noor), Queen-consort of Jordan and wife of King Hussein of Jordan (Syrian grandfather)
- Darrell Issa, U.S. Congressman (R-Cal.) (2001- ) (Lebanese father)
- Chris John, U.S. Congressman (D-La.) (1997-2005) (Lebanese ancestry)
- Abraham Kazen, U.S. Congressman (D-Texas) (1967-1985) (Lebanese ancestry)
- Ray LaHood, U.S. Congressman (R-Ill.) (1995-2009), U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2009- ) (Lebanese and Jordanian ancestry)
- George J. Mitchell, U.S. Senator (D-Maine) (1980-1995) (Lebanese mother)
- Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and frequent presidential candidate (Lebanese parents) [38]
- Jimmy Naifeh, the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (D) (Lebanese ancestry)
- Mary Rose Oakar, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Ohio) (1977-1993)
- Jeanine Pirro, former Westchester County District Attorney and New York Republican attorney general candidate (Lebanese parents)
- Nick Rahall, U.S. Congressman (D-W.Va.) (1977- ) (Lebanese ancestry)
- Donna Shalala, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993-2001) (Lebanese parents)
- John E. Sununu, U.S. Senator (R-N.H.) (2003-2009) (Lebanese and Palestinian ancestry)
- John H. Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire (R) (1983-1989) and Chief of Staff to George H.W. Bush (Lebanese and Palestinian ancestry)
Sports
- Justin Abdelkader, an American ice hockey forward playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Omar Hassan, pro Skateboarder [39]
- Vince Dooley
- Dina Al-Sabah,She is of Kuwaiti, Syrian, and Turkish descent.
- Doug Flutie, NFL player (Lebanese)
- Jeff George, NFL quarterback
- Sam Khalifa
- Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner
- Bobby Rahal
- Rony Seikaly [40]
- Kelly Slater
- Joe Lahoud, MLB player for Boston & California
- Alaa Abdelnaby, Played for Duke and 5 years in the NBA
- Gibran Hamdan, NFL QB
Others
- Joseph Abboud (1950 - ), menswear fashion designer and author[41]
- Reem Acra
- Nihad Awad, Palestinian & founding Executive Director of largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
- 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)[42]
- Edward L. Masry, lawyer
- Walid Rabah
- Karim Rashid
- Anthony Shadid [15]
- Helen Thomas, journalist (Lebanese)[15]
- 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)
- Helen Zughaib famous artist whose work is on display in the White House, the World Bank, and many other prestigious locations [43]
- Valerie Domínguez Tarud, Previous Miss Columbia
See also
References
- ^ Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy Biographical Data on Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad
- ^ Minaret.org staff description.
- ^ Elias James Corey - Autobiography
- ^ [1] "The Lebanese American University honored Michael E. DeBakey..." [2] "His parents were Lebanese immigrants Raheehja DeBakey and Shaker Morris"
- ^ AU Sociology Professor Samih K. Farsoun Dies
- ^ Geophysicists - Michel T. Halbouty
- ^ Michel T. Halbouty; oilman of legend; 95 | The San Diego Union-Tribune
- ^ Michel T. Halbouty
- ^ US Dept of State - Arab Americans and the 2004 U.S. Elections
- ^ Celebrity Scandals and Gossip - NY Daily News
- ^ Lycos Movies - Celebrity - Mario Kassar
- ^ http://www.horatioalger.org/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=MAC03
- ^ NCLD - Copy This! by Paul Orfalea
- ^ [3]
- ^ a b c Saudi Aramco World : Calling Helen Thomas
- ^ Anka, Paul
- ^ Dick Dale Biography on Yahoo! Music
- ^ Dewan - [4] "I had a small role as Devi, the daughter of a Sikh-American – I’m half-Lebanese as it is."
- ^ [5] "The half-Syrian, half-Lebanese actress..."
- ^ [6] "The Lebanese son of a Toledo grocer received a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985."
- ^ [7][dead link]
- ^ [8]
- ^ Casey Kasem Biography - Yahoo! Movies
- ^ Tiny Tim Biography
- ^ GopherCentral Archives
- ^ Wentworth Miller on being a racial spy at We’ve moved to www.racialicious.com - update your bookmarks!
- ^ Kathy Najimy - Biography - Official Site - kathynajimy.com
- ^ Noory - [9] "One more point of commonality -- both Farah and Noory are Lebanese"
- ^ BBC - BBC Storyville - Control Room: Jehane Noujaim Interview
- ^ Naomi Shihab Nye ★ Steven Barclay Agency
- ^ CNN.com - Transcripts
- ^ [10], Seinfeld, The Making of an American Icon by Jerry Oppenheimer Page 11. Accessed February 20, 2008.
- ^ Shalhoub - [11] "Tony Shalhoub, who is Lebanese..."
- ^ Danny Thomas Biography - Yahoo! Movies
- ^ Zappa - [12] "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..."
- ^ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908727.html
- ^ American Chronicle | An Interview with James Abourezk, the First Arab American to Serve in the U.S. Senate
- ^ Ralph Nader - Britannica Concise
- ^ "Omar Hassan - The Thrasher Interview". http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JSE/is_278/ai_112984519. Retrieved February 2008.
- ^ How the Arab Civilization Has Changed Your Life (by Sherri Muzher) - Media Monitors Network
- ^ Abboud - [13] "Lebanese Abboud was the first designer to win the CFDA award as Best Menswear Designer two years in a row..."
- ^ Lightner - [14] "The press would never print that I was an Arab-American. So, when I started doing live media, I'd bring it up."
- ^ "Helen Zughaib". Beirut Los Angeles. http://www.beirutlosangeles.org/gallery/zughaib.html.
External links
- I Want My Son to be Proud by Casey Kasem
- Famous Arab Americans
- Children of Al-Mahjar: Arab American Literature Spans a Century -- by Elmaz Abinader
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