List of Arab Americans

This is a list of Arab Americans. It includes prominent Arab American individuals from various fields, such as business, science, entertainment, sports and fine arts.

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. Please do not add yourself, non-notable people or fictional characters. Please add citations where appropriate.

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]
• Ismail al-Faruqi, philosopher, professor
• Fouad Ajami, Professor of International Relations
• Saddeka Arebi, professor of anthropology at UC Berkeley
• Farouk El-Baz, Egyptian-American scientist who worked with NASA
• Mostafa El-Sayed, Egyptian-American chemical physicist, a leading nanoscience researcher. Also known for the spectroscopy rule named after him, the El-Sayed rule.
• Elias Corey, organic chemistry professor at Harvard University and 1990 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry^[3] (Lebanese parents)
• Ahmed Ismail Samatar, prominent writer, professor and former dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College, Somali ancestry
• Nawal M. Nour, an obstetrician and gynecologist and 2003 Genius Award winner (Sudanese).^[4]
• Michael E. DeBakey, pioneering American-Lebanese cardiovascular surgeon and researcher^[5]
• Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Professor of Mathematics at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University
• Charles Elachi, Professor of electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech and director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Lebanese)
• Taher ElGamal, Inventor of the ElGamal discrete log cryptosystem and the ElGamal signature scheme
• Charbel Farhat, Vivian Church Hoff Professor of Aircraft Structures, Director of the Army High Performance Computing Research Center and Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University (Lebanese)
• Samih Farsoun Sociology professor at the American University ^[6]
• Fawaz Gerges, ABC analyst, professor, regular guest on Oprah's Anti-war series (Lebanese parents)
• Michel T. Halbouty, Lebanese-American geologist and geophysicist, pioneer in oil field research^[7][8][9]
• Philip S. Khoury, Ford International Professor of History and Associate Provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Lebanese)
• Laura Nader, Cultural anthropologist
• Edward Said, Palestinian-American literary theorist and former professor at Columbia University
• Mohammed Adam El-Sheikh, executive director of the Fiqh Council of North America.^[10] (Sudanese)
• Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami (Lebanese)
• Fawwaz Ulaby, Former Vice President for Research of the University of Michigan and first Arab-American winner of the IEEE Edison Medal (Syrian origin)
• Ahmed Zewail, Egyptian-American professor at Caltech and winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
• Elias Zerhouni, Algerian-American director of the National Institutes of Health, appointed by George W. Bush in May 2002,
• Nada Shabout, Professor of Art History at University of North Texas.

Business

• Carlos Slim, business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and world's richest person. (Mexican born of Lebanese descent)
• Moose Scheib, founder and CEO of Loanmod.com and inventor of the modern day loan modification
• Najeeb Halaby, former head of Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of Pan-American Airlines, and father of Queen Noor of Jordan (Syrian father) ^[11]
• Steve Jobs, head of Apple, biological father was Syrian^[12]
• Mario Kassar, formerly headed Carolco Pictures ^[13] (Lebanese)
• John J. Mack, CEO of investment bank Morgan Stanley (Lebanese parents)^[14]
• Joe Sitt Real Estate developer and founder of Thor Equities (Syrian grandparents)
• Sam Maloof (Lebanese parents)
• Musse Olol, Chairman of the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO), Somali ancestry
• Maloof family, (The Maloof family is a Lebanese family which owns numerous business properties in the Western United States, majority owners of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Hotel in Paradise, Nevada, Nevada
• Sam Moore, the founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest worldwide distributor of the Bible
• Paul Orfalea, Nicknamed "Kinko", entrepreneur, founder the copy-chain Kinko's. (parents of Lebanese descent)
• Farouk Shami, founder of Farouk systems, a Houston-based company that manufactures hair care and spa products like CHI hair Irons (Palestinian)
• Joseph Jacobs, founder of Jacobs Engineering, one of the leading engineering firms in the US (Lebanese)
• Alec Gores, founder of Gores Group. On the Forbes list of billionaires. (Palestinian)
• Tom Gores, founder and CEO of Platinum Equity. On the Forbes list of billionaires. (Palestinian)
• Sam Gores, founder of talent agency Paridigm Agency. On the Forbes list of billionaires.^[15] (Palestinian)

Media

• Jim Avila, correspondent for ABC News "20/20", half Lebanese
• Jamal Dajani, television producer and Middle East analyst, Palestinian
• Hala Gorani, CNN International anchor, Syrian^[16]
• Ray Hanania, former Chicago City Hall political reporter, columnist. Palestinian-American.
• Hoda Kotb, TV host and journalist, Egyptian descent
• Diane Rehm, American public radio talk show host.
• Anthony Shadid, journalist, Lebanese descent
• Helen Thomas, journalist, Lebanese
• Joseph R. Haiek, journalist, historian, publisher since 1972, Palestinian-American, NECO Ellis Island Award Recipient for publishing Arab American coverage for over 45 years, including Arab American Almanac reference books www.ArabAmericanHistory.org

Military

• John Abizaid, Lebanese^[17]
• James Jabara, Lebanese
• Peter Mansoor, Palestinian Arab
• Michael A. Monsoor, First Arab American Medal of Honor Awardee
• 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

Performers

• Jay Abdo, actor, Originally from Syria, based in Los Angeles.
• Shakira, singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model (paternal grandparents emigrated from Lebanon to New York City)
• F. Murray Abraham, actor, Academy Award winner for role in Amadeus, father was an Assyrian from Syria
• Ayad Al Adhamy, synthesizer player and multi-instrumentalist musician, born in Bahrain.
• Moustapha Akkad, film producer, Syrian-American
• Malek Jandali, composer & pianist, Syrian-American
• Ferras Alqaisi, singer-songwriter, Jordanian-American
• Tige Andrews, actor, Syrian-American
• Jawahir Ahmed, model, Somali-American
• Jeff Becerra, Death metal musician, Arab Mexican origin
• Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist, father was of Lebanese descent ^[18]
• Jenna Dewan, film/TV actress (Step Up), paternal grandfather was of Lebanese descent^[19]
• Mohammed El-Bakkar, singer and band-leader, Lebanese immigrant to Brooklyn
• Shannon Elizabeth, film actress ("American Pie", "Scary Movie"),^[20] father is of Lebanese and Syrian ancestry
• Emilio Estefan, Cuban-born, manager and producer of wife Gloria Estefan, Lebanese ancestry
• Amy Fadhli, fitness model, actress and winner of the Fitness America National Champion 1996, Iraqi father
• Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010, Lebanese immigrant
• Jamie Farr, character actor, Lebanese^[21]
• Khrystyne Haje, actress on Head of the Class, Lebanese descent
• Ray Hanania, standup comedian Humor Website. View Hanania's comedy online video. Palestinian American. Best known for his public high profile battle at Zanies with comedian Jackie Mason in August 2002 New York Times Story on Mason-Hanania.
• Teri Hatcher, actress, maternal grandfather was of Syrian ancestry
• Salma Hayek, Mexican actress (paternal grandfather was Lebanese)
• Iman (model), Fashion model and actress, Somali ancestry
• Paul Jabara, actor, singer, songwriter, Lebanese ancestry
• Anissa Jones, actress, Lebanese grandparents
• Aron Kader, comedian, Palestinian ancestry
• Remi Kanazi, performance poet, Palestinian descent^[22]
• Casey Kasem, radio personality and voice actor,^[23] Lebanese Druze descent
• Kerri Kasem, TV hostess, Lebanese descent
• Catherine Keener, actress, Lebanese ancestry on mother's side
• Khaled Khaled, a.k.a. DJ Khaled popular Hip-Hop DJ for Fat Joe's Terror Squad group, Palestinian ancestry
• Ronnie Khalil, comedian and writer, Egyptian ancestry
• Herbert Khaury, aka Tiny Tim, musician, Lebanese father ^[24]
• Kurtis Mantronik, born Kurtis el Khaleel, remixer and producer, founding member of 1980s old school hip hop group Mantronix, Syrian father
• Kristy McNichol, co-star on "Family" and "Empty Nest",^[25] maternal grandfather was of Lebanese descent
• Wentworth Miller, actor on Prison Break, Lebanese-Syrian from maternal great-grandmother^[26]
• Najee Mondalek, actor/playwright, Lebanese descent
• Alissa Musto, singer/pianist, of partial Arab descent. She has sold records in Germany and New Zealand and has received radio time in Australia.
• Kathy Najimy, actress, Lebanese descent^[27]
• George Noory radio broadcaster of late-night paranormal-themed radio talk show Coast to Coast AM, Lebanese^[28]
• Jehane Noujaim, film director, Egyptian-American^[29]
• Dean Obeidallah, comedian, Palestinian father ^[30]
• Naomi Shihab Nye, poet/songwriter, Palestinian father^[31]
• Heather Raffo, actress/playwright, Iraqi father
• Stephan Said, singer/musician, writer and activist, Iraqi descent
• Tom Shadyac, comedian, of 3/4 Lebanese descent
• Tony Shalhoub, three-time Emmy Award-winning television actor on Monk, Lebanese^[32]
• Alia Shawkat, actress on Arrested Development, Iraqi father
• Soraya, singer/songwriter, mother is part-Lebanese
• James Stacy, actor, father is of Lebanese descent
• Vic Tayback, actor, Syrian parents
• Paola Turbay, actress, father is of Lebanese descent
• Danny Thomas, actor, Lebanese parents^[33]
• Marlo Thomas, actress, father of Lebanese descent
• Tony Thomas, producer, Lebanese descent
• Tiffany (American singer), born Tiffany Renee Darwish, singer, father is of Lebanese descent
• Vince Vaughn, actor (paternal grandmother was of Lebanese descent)
• Amy Yasbeck, actress, father was of Lebanese ancestry
• David Yazbek, songwriter and musician, half Lebanese
• Frank Zappa, musician, part Lebanese father^[34]
• Wendie Malick, actress, Egyptian paternal grandfather

Politics

• James Abdnor, U.S. Senator (R-S.D.) (1981–1987)
• James Abourezk, U.S. Senator (D-S.D.) (1973–1979) (Lebanese ancestry)^[35]
• Spencer Abraham, U.S. Secretary of Energy (2001–2005) and U.S. Senator (R-Mich.) (1995–2001) (Lebanese ancestry)
• Justin Amash, U.S. Representative, (R-Mich.) (2011–) Palestinian and Syrian descent
• Victor G. Atiyeh, Governor of Oregon (R) (1979–1987)
• John Baldacci, Governor of Maine (D) (2003–2011) (Lebanese mother)
• 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 (father is of Syrian descent)
• 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 (2009–2013) (Lebanese and Jordanian ancestry)
• George J. Mitchell, U.S. Senator (D-Maine) (1980–1995) (Lebanese mother)
• Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, former Prime Minister of Somalia (Somali descent)
• Ralph Nader, politician and consumer advocate
• Jimmy Naifeh, the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives (D) (Lebanese ancestry)
• Mary Rose Oakar, U.S. Congresswoman (D-Ohio) (1977–1993)
• Abdisalam Omer, Foreign Minister of Somalia (Somali descent)
• Jeanine Pirro, former Westchester County District Attorney and New York Republican attorney general candidate (Lebanese parents)
• Nick Rahall, U.S. Congressman (D-W.Va.) (1977–2015) (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) (father is of 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

• Hocine Khalfi, Algerian-American Pro Boxer
• Justin Abdelkader, an American ice hockey forward playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).
• Omar Hassan, pro Skateboarder ^[36]
• Dina Al-Sabah, She is of Kuwaiti descent.
• Doug Flutie, NFL player (Lebanese)
• Jeff George, NFL quarterback (Lebanese descent)
• Sam Khalifa, MLB baseball player
• Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner (Moroccan)
• Bobby Rahal (Lebanese ancestry)
• Damien Sandow, WWE wrestler
• Rony Seikaly ^[37] (Lebanese descent)
• Kelly Slater, professional surfer (Syrian descent)
• Brandon Saad, NHL player
• Joe Lahoud, MLB player for Boston & California (Lebanese desecnt)
• Faryd Mondragón, MLS player for Philadelphia Union (Lebanese Parents)
• Alaa Abdelnaby, Played for Duke and 5 years in the NBA (Egypt)
• Gibran Hamdan, NFL QB (Palestinian and Pakistani descent)
• Tarek Saleh, Former NFL LB/FB for the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.
• Justin Meram, MLS player for Columbus Crew (Iraqi Descent)
• Soony Saad, MLS player for Sporting Kansas City (Lebanese Descent)
• Sami Zayn, WWE wrestler (Syrian ancestry)

Writers

• Gibran Khalil Gibran, author and member of the New York Pen League, well known for his best-selling book The Prophet Lebanese immigrant.
• Diana Abu-Jaber, novelist, author of Arabian Jazz and Crescent
• 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
• Elmaz Abinader, poet, playwright, memoirist, writer
• Suheir Hammad, poet, playwright, artist, Tony Award winner, 2003 (Russel Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway)
• Ray Hanania, award winning journalist Hanania's Bio; Managing Editor of The Arab Daily News; and, President and CEO of Urban Strategies Group media and political consultants.
• 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 ^[38]
• Mona Simpson, author of Anywhere but Here
• Suzy Kassem, (Egyptian) film director, writer and poet

Others

• Joseph Abboud (1950– ), menswear fashion designer and author^[39] (Lebanese descent)
• Naser Jason Abdo, former soldier convicted of planning an attack near Fort Hood
• Reem Acra, Lebanese fashion designer.
• Sami Al-Arian, professor guilty of conspiracy to contribute services to or for the benefit of a Specially Designated Terrorist organization (Palestinian)
• Anwar al-Awlaki, believed by US officials to be a recruiter involved in planning terrorist operations for the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda. (Yemeni)
• Wahbi al-Hariri, artist and architect (Syrian) Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (fr.) (Syrian)
• Hend Al-Mansour, visual artist (Saudi-Arabian)
• Nihad Awad, founding Executive Director of largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S., Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) (Palestinian)
• Rosemary Barkett, federal judge and first woman Justice and Chief Justice on the Florida Supreme Court (Syrian)
• Zaida Ben-Yusuf (1869–1933) 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.^[40]
• Charles Bishop, suicide by plane crash in Tampa Florida, grandson of Syrian immigrant^[41][42]
• Nidal Malik Hasan, former soldier convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting (Palestinian descent)
• Hussein Ibish, writer, journalist, advocate for Arab causes in the United States (Lebanese)
• Ali Hassan Abu Kama, gunman in 1997 Empire State Building shooting (Palestinian)
• Nabil Kanso, artist (Lebanese descent)
• Candice Lightner, founder of (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) MADD (Lebanese mother)^[43]
• Edward L. Masry, lawyer (Lebanese descent)
• Rasmea Odeh, convicted of immigration fraud, for concealing her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for fatal terrorist bombing (Palestinian)^[44][45]
• Walid Rabah, publisher
• Saint Raphael of Brooklyn, first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated in North America, born as Raphael Hawaweeny in Beirut of Damascene Syrian parents.
• Karim Rashid, (Lebanese descent)
• Zainab Salbi, co-founder and president for Women for Women International (Iraqi)
• Sirhan Sirhan, convicted murderer of Robert F. Kennedy (Palestinian with Jordanian citizenship)
• Nadya Suleman, "Octomom", father is Iraqi
• James Zogby, Arab-American civil rights activist (Arab-American Institute); brother of John (Lebanese descent)
• John Zogby, pollster for Zogby International (Lebanese descent)

See also

• List of Iraqi Americans
• List of Lebanese Americans
• List of Palestinian Americans
• Yemeni-American

References

1. Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy Biographical Data on Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad
2. Minaret.org staff description.
3. Elias James Corey – Autobiography
4. "A CONVERSATION WITH/NAWAL NOUR; A Life Devoted to Stopping The Suffering of Mutilation", The New York Times, Claudia Dreifus, July 11, 2000
5. "The Lebanese American University honored Michael E. DeBakey..." "His parents were Lebanese immigrants Raheehja DeBakey and Shaker Morris"
6. "AU Sociology Professor Samih K. Farsoun Dies". The Washington Post. June 14, 2005. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
7. Geophysicists – Michel T. Halbouty
8. Michel T. Halbouty; oilman of legend; 95 | The San Diego Union-Tribune
9. Michel T. Halbouty
10. Sheridan, Mary Beth, "Leader Named at Mosque; Falls Church Site Selects Activist," Washington Post, June 11, 2005, accessed November 7, 2009
11. US Dept of State – Arab Americans and the 2004 U.S. Elections
12. "New York Celebrity Gossip, Pictures and Entertainment News – NY Daily News". Daily News (New York). October 17, 2010.
13. Lycos Movies – Celebrity – Mario Kassar
14. http://www.horatioalger.org/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=MAC03
16. "One to watch". Archived from the original on 2004-09-10.
17. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908727.html
18. Dick Dale Biography on Yahoo! Music
19. Dewan – "I had a small role as Devi, the daughter of a Sikh-American – I’m half-Lebanese as it is."
20. "The half-Syrian, half-Lebanese actress..."
21. "The Lebanese son of a Toledo grocer received a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985."
22. The Institute for Middle East Understanding (18 October 2010). "Palestinian Americans – Remi Kanazi: Poet and teacher". imeu.net. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
23. Casey Kasem Biography – Yahoo! Movies
24. Tiny Tim Biography
25. GopherCentral Archives
26. Wentworth Miller on being a racial spy at We’ve moved to www.racialicious.com – update your bookmarks!
27. Kathy Najimy – Biography – Official Site – kathynajimy.com
28. Noory – "One more point of commonality – both Farah and Noory are Lebanese"
29. BBC – BBC Storyville – Control Room: Jehane Noujaim Interview
30. "CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
31. Naomi Shihab Nye ★ Steven Barclay Agency
32. Shalhoub – "Tony Shalhoub, who is Lebanese..."
33. Danny Thomas Biography – Yahoo! Movies
34. Zappa – "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..."
35. American Chronicle | An Interview with James Abourezk, the First Arab American to Serve in the U.S. Senate
36. Hammeke, Joe (2004). "Omar Hassan – The Thrasher Interview". Thrasher Magazine. Retrieved February 2008.
37. How the Arab Civilization Has Changed Your Life (by Sherri Muzher) – Media Monitors Network
38. Saudi Aramco World : Calling Helen Thomas
39. Abboud – "Lebanese Abboud was the first designer to win the CFDA award as Best Menswear Designer two years in a row"
40. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/zaida/introduction/index.html
41. Police: Tampa pilot voiced support for bin Laden January 7, 2002
42. said Bishara, his last name is Syrian, and his father came to the United States in the first half of the 20th century from that country
43. Lightner – "The press would never print that I was an Arab-American. So, when I started doing live media, I'd bring it up."
44. "US activist found guilty of not disclosing conviction in fatal Jerusalem bombing". The Guardian.
45. "Palestinian activist convicted of immigration fraud in Detroit". Reuters.

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