List of Iranian Americans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable Iranian-Americans of all Iranian ethnic backgrounds, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
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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 Iranian American or must have references showing they are Iranian American and are notable.
Contents |
[edit] List
[edit] Academia/Science
- Shahriar Afshar, physicist, namesake of Afshar experiment
- Siavash Alamouti, CTO Broad Band and INTEL fellow, inventor of Alamouti Code, code-communication engineer
- Abass Alavi, Professor of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and neurology; University of Pennsylvania. [1]
- Nima Arkani-Hamed, physicist from Harvard
- Mina Bissell, scientist and biologist, LBL.
- Hamid Dabashi, Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies, Columbia University in New York.
- Raymond Vahan Damadian, inventor of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Richard Danielpour, Professor of Composition, Manhattan School of Music
- Nader Engheta, Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Haleh Esfandiari, Middle East Scholar
- Nariman Farvardin, Provost of University of Maryland
- Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York
- Ali Javan, physicist, inventor of gas laser, Professor Emeritus of Physics at MIT.
- Sepandar Kamvar, computer scientist, Stanford University.
- Mehran Kardar, physicist, MIT. [2]
- Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, Founding Director of Center for Persian Studies, University of Maryland. [3]
- Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian Studies Program, Stanford University.
- Maryam Mirzakhani, Stanford University Professor.
- Roxana Moslehi, DCEG post-doctoral fellow at National Cancer Institute [4], adjunct assistant professor at George Washington University.
- Mohsen Mostafavi, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design[5]
- Hossein Khan Motamed, Famous Iranian surgeon and founder of Motamed Hospital in Tehran, Iran 1936[6]
- Hamid Mowlana, Director of the Division of International Communication at American University [7]
- Firouz Naderi, NASA director of Mars project. [8]
- Majid M. Naini, computer scientist, former Professor at University of Pennsylvania, Rumi expert.
- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, philosopher, George Washington University.
- Vali Nasr, Middle East Scholar and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
- Camran Nezhat, Director, Stanford Endoscopy Center for Training & Technology.
- Kaveh Pahlavan, Professor of Computer and Electrical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
- Behzad Razavi, Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
- Nouriel Roubini, one of the leading economists of our age, professor of economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University and chairman of RGE Monitor
- Alia Sabur, Youngest professor in the world.[9]
- Homayoun Seraji, Senior Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory [10]
- Ghavam Shahidi, IBM Fellow, Director of Silicon Technology
- Manuchehr Shahrokhi, Craig Fellow/Professor & Editor of Global Finance Journal California State University, Fresno.[11] Executive Director, Global Finance Association.[12]
- Vahid Tarokh, leading communication theorist Harvard University. [13]
- Ray Takeyh, Middle East Scholar and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
- Hamid Jafarkhani, leading communication theorist University of California, Irvine. [14]
- Cumrun Vafa, String theorist in Harvard
- Ehsan Yarshater, Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies, Director of Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University[15], Founder and Editor in Chief of Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- Lotfi A. Zadeh, Mathematician and computer scientist, and a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley; father of Fuzzy Logic.
[edit] Arts/Entertainment
- Reza Abdoh, director
- Omid Abtahi, actor
- Shohreh Aghdashloo Academy Award-nominated film/television actress[16]
- David Ackert, actor and writer
- Dan Ahdoot, stand-up comedian[17]
- Jonathan Ahdout, actor[18][19]
- Reza Badiyi, TV director
- Fairuza Balk, actress, Iranian father
- Catherine Bell, model/actress in JAG and Army Wives (Iranian mother)
- Nadia Bjorlin, TV/soap opera actress[20]
- Nazanin Boniadi, television and film actress
- Danny Huston, actor and director
- Maz Jobrani, comedian
- Cyrus Kar, film director[21]
- Andre Khabbazi, actor, semi-professional tennis player[22]
- Rosie Malek-Yonan, actress, author, director, and documentary filmmaker
- Marshall Manesh, actor
- Mozhan Marno, actress
- Emud Mokhberi, Academy Award nominated director/animator
- Amir Naderi, film director
- Amin Nazemzadeh, actor
- Cyrus Nowrasteh, screenwriter and director
- Bijan Pakzad, noted fashion and fragrance designer
- Adrian Pasdar, actor
- Nasim Pedrad, actress, comidienne
- Artemis Pebdani, actress
- Shiva Rose, actress
- Behnaz Sarafpour, fashion designer
- Sarah Shahi, model and actress, Iranian father[23]
- Bahar Soomekh, actress[24]
- Massy Tadjedin, screenwriter
- Elie Tahari, fashion designer
- Shaun Toub, actor
- Bob Yari, Academy Award winning film producer
[edit] Business/Technology
- Habib Zargarpour, the famous Iranian-American computer operator that has been candidate for Oscar 2 times"
- Anousheh Ansari, first female space tourist, leading telecommunication entrepreneur, and namesake of the X Prize
- Hamid Akhavan, CEO of T-Mobile International.[25]
- Shahram Dabiri, video game producer, lead producer of World of Warcraft
- Ben Fathi, Corporate Vice President of Development, Windows Core Operating System Division Microsoft. [26]
- Vartan Gregorian, President of The Carnegie Corporation of New York.[27]
- Omid Kordestani, Senior Vice President of Google
- Isaac Larian, CEO of MGA Entertainment, manufacturer of Bratz dolls
- Manny Mashouf, founder and Chairman of bebe stores
- David Merage, co-founder of Chef America Inc., manufacturer of Hot Pockets
- Paul Merage, co-founder of Chef America Inc., manufacturer of Hot Pockets
- Sam Nazarian, CEO of the SBE Entertaintment Group
- Farzad Nazem, former CTO of Yahoo!
- Mehrdad Nikoonahad, founder & CEO, Nikoo Technology, Inc.
- Pierre Omidyar, founder of e-Bay (born to Iranian parents).[28]
- Sina Tamaddon, Senior Vice President of Applications for Apple Computer.[29]
[edit] Law/Legal
- Banafsheh Akhlaghi, Western Regional Director of Amnesty International[30]
- Susan Irene Etezadi, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge[31]
- Babak Hoghooghi, Executive Director for the Public Affairs Alliance for Iranian Americans[32]
- Tamila Ebrahimi Ipema, San Diego County Superior Court Judge[33]
- Lily Mazahery, Founder of the Legal Rights Institute, Iran and Middle East policy analyst [34]
- Cyrus Mehri, One of Washington's Ten Most Feared Lawyers[35]
- Nema Milaninia, 2008-2010 President of the Iranian American Bar Association[36]
- Trita Parsi, President and founder of the National Iranian American Council
- John Tehranian, Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law[37]
[edit] Literature
- Reza Aslan, writer
- Mahnaz Badihian, poet
- Najmieh Batmanglij, chef, writer
- Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America
- Roya Hakakian, writer
- Rosie Malek-Yonan, author of The Crimson Field
- Azar Nafisi, writer
- Majid M. Naini, writer, speaker
- Shahrnoosh Parsipour, writer
- Dalia Sofer, writer
[edit] Media/Journalism
- Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international correspondent
- Davar Ardalan, NPR producer of Morning Edition
- Rudi Bakhtiar, FOX news anchor, former CNN lead anchor
- Shmuley Boteach, rabbi, radio and television host, author
- Alireza Jafarzadeh, FOX News Channel Foreign Affairs Analyst
- Parisa Khosravi, Senior Vice President of CNN Worldwide [38]
- Arash Markazi, journalist, Sports Illustrated
- Azadeh Moaveni, journalist, Time Magazine
- Asieh Namdar, former CNN anchor
- Atoosa Rubenstein, former Seventeen (magazine) and CosmoGIRL! editor-in-chief
- Roxana Saberi, photojournalist whose 2009 arrest in Iran became a cause celebre (Iranian Father)
- Jahan Salehi, President, Agence Global, Inc. syndicate
- Reza Sayah, CNN International Correspondent [39]
- Ramin Setoodeh, Newsweek Associate Editor [40]
- Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon and MTV Networks Kids & Family Group
[edit] Music
- Lily Afshar, female classical guitarist
- Pouyan Afkary, synthesizer musician, member of Scary Kids Scaring Kids
- Axiom of Choice, world music group
- Leila Bela, Avant-garde musician, actress, writer and former member of Pigface
- Cyrus Bolooki, drummer of New Found Glory
- Cher, singer and actress[41]
- Richard Danielpour, composer, Professor of Composition, Manhattan School of Music
- Deep Dish, electronic music group
- Ramin Djawadi, composer
- Rostam Batmanglij, keyboard player of Vampire Weekend, music producer.
- Anousheh Khalili, vocalist
- Lotfi Mansouri, opera director
- Daron Malakian, guitarist/vocalist of four-piece Alternative metal band System Of A Down (Armenian-Iranian mother)
- Tony Petrossian, music video director[42][43]
- Ali Tabatabaee, one of the lead singers of Orange County-based pop-punk band Zebrahead
[edit] Politics
- Goli Ameri, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, former U.S. public delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and former Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives from the 1st district of Oregon
- Hushang Ansary, former Iranian Minister of Finance and Chairman of National Finance Committee of Bush-Cheney 2004 Campaign
- Michael Benjamin, 1996 Republican candidate for the U.S. House from the 8th district of New York, and 2004 United States Senate Republican Primary candidate from New York
- Jimmy Delshad, Mayor of Beverly Hills, California
- George Deukmejian, former Governor of California (1983-1991) [44]
- Ross Mirkarimi, Member of San Francisco City Council from the Green Party.
- David Safavian, disgraced former Chief of Staff of the United States General Services Administration
- Faryar Shirzad, former Deputy National Security Advisor and White House Deputy Assistant for International Economic Affairs to President George W. Bush
[edit] Sports
- Andre Agassi, retired championship-winning American tennis player, father is Iranian.
- Esfandiar Baharmast, World Cup referee, FIFA Instructor, known as Esse Baharmast
- Farzad Bonyadi, world champion of poker
- Shawn Daivari, professional wrestler and manager, better known by his stage names of Sheik Abdul Bashir or simply Daivari[45]
- Hamid Dastmalchi, world champion of poker
- Antonio Esfandiari, champion poker player
- Alecko Eskandarian, American soccer player
- Andranik Eskandarian, former soccer player
- Matt Ghaffari, Olympic silver-medal winning wrestler
- Afshin Ghotbi, soccer coach, former assistant coach of Korea Republic national football team and LA Galaxy, currently coaching Iran's Persepolis F.C.
- Hamed Haddadi, NBA player
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh, NFL wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, father is Iranian.
- King Kamali, IFBB pro bodybuilder
- George Malek-Yonan, Iran's "Champion of Champions" in Track & Field and Pentathelon
- Amin Abraham Paul Nikfar, Shot Put for the Iranian National Team and 1st Iranian Asian Indoor Champion 2004[46]
- Amir Sadollah, Professional mixed martial artist and winner of the ultimate fighter 7
- Behdad Sami, First Pro Iranian Basketball player to play in USA history. ABA/Overseas basketball player known for 43" vertical leap and 4.469 second 40-yard dash. Future NBA player.
- Michael Shabaz, tennis player, 2005 Wimbledon boys' doubles championship
- Amir Vahedi, professional poker player
- Leila Vaziri, The current world record holder of the 50 m women's backstroke
- Khosrow Vaziri, retired professional wrestler, better known by his stage name of The Iron Sheik
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Yasmin Aga Khan philanthropist, daughter of Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan
- Farhad Rostampour The first Iranian-born pilot to complete a record setting flight around the world.[47]
[edit] References
- ^ "UPENN Faculty List"
- ^ "MIT Faculty Webapge"
- ^ "UMD Persian Studies Homepage"
- ^ "NCI Personnel Page"
- ^ "Mohsen Mostafavi on the Harvard GSD Website
- ^ "A Historical Review of the Development of Pathology In Iran"
- ^ "AU Faculty Website"
- ^ "NASA: Architects of Exploration"
- ^ "Records of the week: 3rd – 7th March 2008". Guinness World Records. 2008-03-07. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2008/03/080307.aspx. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ "JPL Personnel Page"
- ^ "CSU Fresno Faculty Website"
- ^ "Global Finance Journal Founder Homepage"
- ^ "Harvard Faculty Page"
- ^ [http://www.ece.uci.edu/~hamidj/
- ^ "Columbia Faculty Website"
- ^ Stanley, John (2006-11-26). "'Nativity' Revisited". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/26/PKG2SMDKVJ1.DTL&type=movies. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ [1] "As an Iranian Jew, Ahdoot admits he struggled making friends growing up..."
- ^ [2] "Jonathan Ahdout: Young Iranian Jewish Film & Television Actor"
- ^ [3] "His family is Iranian-American, having left Tehran in 1982..."
- ^ [4] "Nadia Bjorlin, the 24 year old Swedish-Persian, American-born actress..."
- ^ [5] "where Ted Koppel interviewed Iranian American Zoroastrian, Cyrus Kar..."
- ^ Andre Khabbazi
- ^ Iranian.com | Archive Pages
- ^ [6] "Persian Jewish actress Bahar Soomekh earned some serious attention last year when she played a young Iranian in "Crash," the Academy Award winner for best picture."
- ^ "Deutsche Telekom: Hamid Akhavan"
- ^ "MS Press Pass: Ben Fathi"
- ^ "Carnegie People Website"
- ^ "Q&A With eBay's Pierre Omidyar"
- ^ "Apple Executive Website"
- ^ San Francisco Human Rights Commission
- ^ Office of Governor Schwarzenegger
- ^ PAAIA Executive Profile
- ^ Office of Governor Schwarzenegger
- ^ http://www.harvardarabalumni.org/MENAweekend/event.php?evid=5
- ^ Mehri & Skalet, PLLC Profile
- ^ IABA Executive Profile
- ^ Chapman University School of Law Profile
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/khosravi.parisa.html
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/sayah.reza.html
- ^ http://www.newsweek.com/id/32567
- ^ http://www.activemusician.com/Cher-Biography--t8i567
- ^ "Garage radio"
- ^ "Guitar World Article"
- ^ http://www.reporter.am/pdfs/B1222-W.pdf
- ^ [7] "Shawn Daivari is Iranian and the foreign language he speaks during his promos is Persian not Arabic."
- ^ http://asianathletics.org/results/ai-results.htm
- ^ <http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/06/30/10135711.html Guff News: Around the world with a message of solidarity>
