List of Arab Americans

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^[1]
Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, pioneering American-Lebanese cardiovascular surgeon and researcher^[2]
Dr. Charles Elachi, Professor of electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech and director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Samih Farsoun Sociology professor at the American University ^[3]
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^[4] ^[5] ^[6]
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

[edit] Business

Najeeb Halaby ^[7]
Steve Jobs, head of Apple, biological father was Syrian^[8]
Mario Kassar, formerly headed Carolco Pictures ^[9]
John J. Mack, CEO of investment bank Morgan Stanley (Lebanese parents)^[10]
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 ^[11]

[edit] Writers

Edward Abboud, political writer, author of Invisible Enemy: Israel, Politics, Media, and American Culture ^[12]
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
Joseph Awad, poet
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
Sharif Elmusa, poet and editor
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 ^[13]
Evelyn Shakir, literary scholar
Mona Simpson, author of Anywhere but Here, The Lost Father, A Regular Guy

[edit] Performers

Moustapha Akkad, a Syrian-American film producer
Paul Anka, singer and songwriter (Lebanese)^[14]
Jim Avila (half Lebanese), correspondent for ABC News "20/20"
Dick Dale, surf rock guitarist (Lebanese father) ^[15]
Jenna Dewan (1980 - ), film/TV actress (Step Up)^[16]
Shannon Elizabeth (1973 - ), film actress ("American Pie", "Scary Movie")^[17]
Jamie Farr, character actor, Lebanese^[18]
Hala Gorani, CNN anchor (French Syrian) ^[19]
Khrystyne Haje
Sammy Hagar, Rock musician
Salma Hayek, actress (Lebanese father), born in Mexico-works in US
Anissa Jones, actress (Lebanese grandparents)
Casey Kasem, radio personality and voice actor ^[20]
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) ^[21]
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" ^[22]
Mika, half-Lebanese
Wentworth Miller, starring role as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network television series "Prison Break"(Syrian-Lebanese from Mothers side)^[23]
Kathy Najimy, actress of Lebanese descent ^[24]
George Noory (1950 - ), radio broadcaster, as of 2006, the weekday host of the late-night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM.^[25]
Jehane Noujaim^[26]
Michael Nouri
Naomi Shihab Nye^[27]
Dean Obeidallah ^[28]
Heather Raffo, actress/playwright (Iraqi father)
Tom Shadyac
Jerry Seinfeld Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning comedian (Syrian Mother)^[29]
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)^[30]
James Stacy
Vic Tayback, actor, Syrian
Danny Thomas, actor, Lebanese ^[31]
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)^[32]
Alia Shawkat, actress (father is Iraqi)
Ferras Alqaisi, Jordanian American singer-song writer
Paula Abdul, Syrian American singer-song writer
Hoda Kotb, Egyptian decent, NBC's Today show host.
Lama Hasan, ABC News anchor

[edit] Military

John Abizaid, Lebanese^[33]
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

[edit] Politics

James Abdnor
James Abourezk ^[34], 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 ^[35]
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

[edit] Sports

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 ^[36]
Vince Dooley
Doug Flutie, NFL player (Lebanese)
John Coury, Division I baseball player, scholar-athlete, and stud
Jeff George, NFL quarterback
Sam Khalifa
Khalid Khannouchi, athlete marathon runner
Bobby Rahal
Rony Seikaly ^[37]
Kelly Slater

[edit] Others

Joseph Abboud (1950 - ), menswear fashion designer and author^[38]
Reem Acra
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)^[39]
Edward L. Masry, lawyer
Walid Rabah
Karim Rashid
Anthony Shadid ^[13]
Helen Thomas, journalist (Lebanese)^[13]
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 ^[40]