List of Arab Americans
| Lists of Americans |
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| By US state |
| By ethnicity |
There are many influential Arab Americans. This Influence is evident in sectors such as Business, engineering, entertainment, sports, and fine arts.
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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.
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
- Mostafa El-Sayed, is a chemical physicist, a leading nanoscience researcher, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a US National Medal of Science laureate. He is also known for the spectroscopy rule named after him, the El-Sayed rule.
- 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] (Lebanese parents)
- 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]
- 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.
- 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, famous 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)
- 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, (Ulaby was born in Damascus, Syria and grew up in Lebanon. He attended the American University of Beirut, from which he received a B.S. degree in physics in 1964). 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, 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
- Najeeb Halaby, former head of Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of Pan-American Airlines (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)
- 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 Las Vegas, Nevada
- Sam Moore, the founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest worldwide distributor of the Bible
- Paul Orfalea, Nicknamed "Kinko" because of his curly red hair, born in Los Angeles, California, to parents of Lebanese descent, founded the copy-chain Kinko's.
- 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)
- 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.
- Tom Gores, founder and CEO of Platinum Equity. On the Forbes list of billionaires.
- Sam Gores, founder of talent agency Paridigm Agency. On the Forbes list of billionaires.[15]
- Mohamed Hadid, world famous real estate developer (also seen on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills)
Media
- Jim Avila, correspondent for ABC News "20/20", half Lebanese
- Jamal Dajani, television producer and Middle East analyst, Palestinian
- Hala Gorani, CNN anchor, Syrian [16]
- Hoda Kotb, TV host and journalist, Egyptian descent
- Anthony Shadid, journalist, Lebanese descent
- Helen Thomas, journalist, Lebanese
- RedOne,rapper,Moroccan
Military
- John Abizaid, Lebanese[17]
- 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
Performers
- F. Murray Abraham, Academy Award winner for role in Amadeus, father is from Syria
- Moustapha Akkad, film producer, Syrian-American
- Malek Jandali, composer & pianist, Syrian-American
- Ferras Alqaisi, singer-songwriter, Jordanian-American
- Paul Anka, singer and songwriter, Lebanese parents Andy and Camelia Anka
- Jeff Becerra, Death metal musician, Arab Mexican origin
- Jim Backus, actor/comedian, Lebanese
- Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist, father was of Lebanese descent [18]
- Jenna Dewan, film/TV actress (Step Up), half-Lebanese[19]
- Mohammed El-Bakkar, singer and band-leader, Lebanese immigrant to Brooklyn
- Shannon Elizabeth, film actress ("American Pie", "Scary Movie"),[20] Lebanese and Syrian ancestry
- Yasmine Bleeth, Actress ("Baywatch") Mother is of Algerian Descent.
- 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
- Sammy Hagar[citation needed], Rock musician
- Teri Hatcher, actress, mother of Syrian ancestry
- Salma Hayek, actress, (Mexican father of Lebanese ancestry), naturalized US citizen
- 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] Palestinian descent
- Kerri Kasem, TV hostess, Palestinian descent
- Catherine Keener, 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
- 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] Lebanese descent
- Wentworth Miller, actor on Prison Break, Lebanese-Syrian from mother's side[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]
- Michael Nouri, actor, Lebanese descent
- Dean Obeidallah, comedian, Palestinian father [30]
- Naomi Shihab Nye, poet/songwriter, Palestinian father[31]
- Heather Raffo, actress/playwright, Iraqi father
- Jerry Seinfeld, Actor, mother is of Syrian Jewish descent.[32]
- Tom Shadyac, comedian, Lebanese
- Tony Shalhoub, three-time Emmy Award-winning television actor on Monk, Lebanese[33]
- 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 [34]
- Marlo Thomas, actress, Lebanese descent
- Tony Thomas, producer, Lebanese descent
- Tiffany (singer), born Tiffany Renee Darwish, singer, father is of Lebanese descent
- Vince Vaughn, actor, Lebanese ancestry
- Amy Yasbeck, actress, half Lebanese
- David Yazbek, songwriter and musician, half Lebanese
- Frank Zappa, musician, part Lebanese father[35]
- Karl Wolf, Lebanese-born Canadian musician
Politics
- James Abdnor, U.S. Senator (D-S.D.) (1981–1987)
- James Abourezk, U.S. Senator (D-S.D.) (1973–1979) (Lebanese ancestry)[36]
- 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.)2009-) Palestinian and Syrian descent
- 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– ) (father is of Syrian descent)
- 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) [37]
- 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) (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 [38]
- Dina Al-Sabah, She is of Kuwaiti descent.
- Doug Flutie, NFL player (Lebanese)
- Jeff George, NFL quarterback (Lebanese descent)
- Sam Khalifa
- Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner
- Bobby Rahal (Lebanese ancestry)
- Rony Seikaly [39] (Lebanese descent)
- Kelly Slater
- 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 (Note: Abdelnaby is from Egypt's Coptic Christian community, whose members may not necessarily self-identify as Arab)
- Gibran Hamdan, NFL QB (Palestinian and Pakistani descent)
- Tarek Saleh, Former NFL LB/FB for the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.
- (( anes raeed)) former atlanta hawks player, however his hand broke and he went to play in the syrian team,
Writers
- Gibran Khalil Gibran, author and member of the New York Pen League, well known for his best-selling book The Prophet
- 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
- Suheir Hammad, poet, playwright, artist, Tony Award winner, 2003 (Russel Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway)
- 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 [40]
- Mona Simpson, author of Anywhere but Here
Others
- Saint Raphael of Brooklyn, The first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated in North America, born as Raphael Hawaweeny in Beirut of Damascene Syrian parents.
- Joseph Abboud (1950 – ), menswear fashion designer and author[41] (Lebanese descent)
- Reem Acra – Is an internationally known Lebanese fashion designer.
- 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)
- 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.[42]
- Hussein Ibish (Lebanese)
- Nabil Kanso, artist (Lebanese descent)
- Candice Lightner, founder of (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) MADD (Lebanese mother)[43]
- Edward L. Masry, lawyer (Lebanese descent)
- Walid Rabah
- Karim Rashid (Lebanese descent)
- Zainab Salbi co-founder and president for Women for Women International (Iraqi)
- Nadya Suleman, "Octomom", father is Iraqi
- John Zogby, pollster for Zogby International (Lebanese descent)
- James Zogby, Arab-American civil rights activist (Arab-American Institute); brother of John (Lebanese descent)
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
- ^ "A CONVERSATION WITH/NAWAL NOUR; A Life Devoted to Stopping The Suffering of Mutilation", The New York Times, CLAUDIA DREIFUS, July 11, 2000
- ^ [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". The Washington Post. June 14, 2005. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Geophysicists – Michel T. Halbouty
- ^ Michel T. Halbouty; oilman of legend; 95 | The San Diego Union-Tribune
- ^ Michel T. Halbouty
- ^ Sheridan, Mary Beth, "Leader Named at Mosque; Falls Church Site Selects Activist," Washington Post, June 11, 2005, accessed November 7, 2009
- ^ US Dept of State – Arab Americans and the 2004 U.S. Elections
- ^ "New York Celebrity Gossip, Pictures and Entertainment News – NY Daily News". Daily News. New York. October 17, 2010.
- ^ Lycos Movies – Celebrity – Mario Kassar
- ^ http://www.horatioalger.org/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=MAC03
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4][dead link]
- ^ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908727.html
- ^ Dick Dale Biography on Yahoo! Music
- ^ Dewan – [5] "I had a small role as Devi, the daughter of a Sikh-American – I’m half-Lebanese as it is."
- ^ [6] "The half-Syrian, half-Lebanese actress..."
- ^ [7] "The Lebanese son of a Toledo grocer received a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985."
- ^ The Institute for Middle East Understanding (18 October 2010). "Palestinian Americans – Remi Kanazi: Poet and teacher". imeu.net. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
- ^ 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 – [8] "One more point of commonality – both Farah and Noory are Lebanese"
- ^ BBC – BBC Storyville – Control Room: Jehane Noujaim Interview
- ^ "CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
- ^ Naomi Shihab Nye ★ Steven Barclay Agency
- ^ "The Paper Trail of Jerry Seinfeld Leads Back to Ellis Island and Beyond". The New York Times. April 24, 2009.
- ^ Shalhoub – [9] "Tony Shalhoub, who is Lebanese..."
- ^ Danny Thomas Biography – Yahoo! Movies
- ^ Zappa – [10] "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..."
- ^ American Chronicle | An Interview with James Abourezk, the First Arab American to Serve in the U.S. Senate
- ^ Ralph Nader – Britannica Concise
- ^ Hammeke, Joe (2004). "Omar Hassan – The Thrasher Interview". Thrasher Magazine. Retrieved February 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) [dead link] - ^ How the Arab Civilization Has Changed Your Life (by Sherri Muzher) – Media Monitors Network
- ^ Saudi Aramco World : Calling Helen Thomas
- ^ Abboud – [11] "Lebanese Abboud was the first designer to win the CFDA award as Best Menswear Designer two years in a row"
- ^ http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/zaida/introduction/index.html
- ^ Lightner – [12] "The press would never print that I was an Arab-American. So, when I started doing live media, I'd bring it up."
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