List of Egyptian Americans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable Egyptian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
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To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Egyptian American or must have references showing they are Egyptian American and are notable.
- Abbas El Gamal (1950–present), Hitachi America Professor in the School of Engineering and former Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. A pioneer in information theory and VLSI systems, he holds over 30 patents and has co-founded several Silicon Valley companies. El-Gamal was awarded the Claude E. Shannon Award in 2012, for his seminal contributions to Network Information Theory.
- Abdel-Moniem El-Ganayni, nuclear physicist and former senior scientist at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory.
- Adam Hamawy, reconstructive surgeon and former United States Army combat surgeon. He is known for treating casualties during the Iraq War, including Tammy Duckworth, and for later humanitarian medical work in Gaza.
- Adel Mahmoud (1941–2018), former President of the Vaccine division at Merck & Co. and a professor at Princeton University. He was a global leader in public health and infectious diseases, responsible for the development of several breakthrough vaccines, including those for HPV, rotavirus, and shingles.
- Ahmed Ghoniem, professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, where he directs the Center for Energy and Propulsion Research and the Reacting Gas Dynamics Laboratory.
- Ahmed Hassanein, Paul L. Wattelet Distinguished Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Director of the Center for Materials under Extreme Environments (CMUXE) at Purdue University. He is a world-renowned expert in modeling material responses to radiation, crucial for fusion energy and nanolithography.
- Ahmed I. Zayed, mathematician and Professor at DePaul University. His work focuses on mathematical analysis, generalized functions, and signal processing, particularly in the advancement of Shannon’s sampling theory.
- Ahmed Rashad Abdel-khalik, scholar of accounting and V. K. Zimmerman Professor of International Accounting at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign.
- Ahmed Sameh, Samuel D. Conte Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at Purdue University. He is a pioneer in parallel numerical algorithms and high-performance computing, particularly in the field of linear algebra.
- Ahmed Subhy Mansour, Islamic scholar and former assistant professor at Al-Azhar University. Known as the founder of the "Quranist" movement, he has been a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School, focusing on the intersection of Islamic law, democracy, and human rights.
- Ahmed Tewfik (1960–present), Cockrell Family Chair in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and President of the IEEE Signal Processing Society. He is recognized for his leadership in signal processing and for significantly increasing diversity in engineering education.
- Ahmed Zewail (1946–2016), Nobel laureate in Chemistry (1999). Known as the "father of femtochemistry," he was the Linus Pauling Chair Professor at Caltech and was the first Egyptian scientist to win a Nobel Prize in a scientific field for his work on ultrafast laser spectroscopy.
- Alexander Badawy, Egyptologist who taught in the United States as a professor of art history at UCLA and later endowed the Alexander Badawy Chair in Egyptian Art and Archaeology at Johns Hopkins University.
- Ali S. Hadi, Egyptian-American statistician and emeritus professor at Cornell University, and founder of the actuarial science program at The American University in Cairo.
- Afaf Meleis (born 1942), Dean Emerita of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. An internationally renowned nurse-scientist and medical sociologist, she developed the influential "Transitions Theory" to improve global women's health and immigrant healthcare.
- Alex Hanna, sociologist and director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute whose work focuses on computational social science, algorithmic bias, and fairness in machine learning. She is also the co-author of The AI Con.
- Allen Adham, Egyptian-American businessman and computer scientist. He is a co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment (originally Silicon & Synapse) and served as the company's first president, overseeing the creation of foundational gaming franchises like Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.
- Amr El Abbadi, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A fellow of the IEEE and ACM, he is a leading expert in fault-tolerant distributed systems and large-scale database management.
- Ayaad Assaad (1948–present), microbiologist and toxicologist. Formerly a scientist at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), he has specialized in the study of environmental toxins and chemical defense.
- Ayman El-Baz, bioengineer and chair of the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Louisville, known for his work in medical imaging, artificial intelligence, and computer-aided diagnosis.
- Azer Bestavros, Egyptian-born American computer scientist and the William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and inaugural Associate Provost for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University. He is known for his work in distributed computing, networking, and trustworthy computing.
- Bahgat G. Sammakia, Vice President for Research and Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Binghamton University. He served as the interim President of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and is a specialist in the thermal management of microelectronics.
- Charles Issawi, economist and historian of the Middle East who taught at Columbia University and Princeton University and helped shape the study of modern Middle Eastern economic history.
- Dina H. Sherif, academic, development expert, and entrepreneur who serves as executive director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship at MIT. She is also a founding partner of Ahead of the Curve, a Cairo-based advisory and investment firm focused on social entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
- Emad Shahin, Dean of the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and former professor at Georgetown University and Columbia University. He is a prominent political scientist specializing in political Islam and democratization in the Middle East.
- Eman Ghoneim, geomorphologist and Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is a pioneer in using satellite remote sensing data to detect subsurface groundwater and ancient river structures, notably discovering a massive "mega-lake" in the Darfur region of Sudan.
- Essam Heggy, planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a member of the Mars Express and Rosetta missions. He has served as a science adviser to the President of Egypt, focusing on water security and climate change.
- Fadi Chehadé, information technology executive and entrepreneur who founded RosettaNet and later served as chief executive officer of ICANN. He is known for his leadership in internet governance and technology-industry standards.
- Farouk El-Baz (1938–present), research professor and Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University. He was a leading scientist in the Apollo program, where he assisted in site selection and trained astronauts in lunar observations.
- Gamal Refai-Ahmed, engineer and technical executive known for contributions to thermal management, silicon architecture, and advanced packaging technologies. His career has included senior technical roles at AMD, GE, Cisco, and Nortel.
- Gawdat Bahgat, political scientist and professor at the National Defense University whose scholarship focuses on energy security, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and Middle East politics.
- Georges Abi-Saab, lawyer, professor of international law, and international judge known for his defense of Third World interests within international law.
- Hany Farid, Professor at the University of California, Berkeley and a pioneer in digital forensics. His research focuses on the detection of altered digital media and the development of tools to combat "deepfakes" and online misinformation.
- Hassan Aref (1950–2011), theoretical and computational physicist. He was the Dean of Engineering at Virginia Tech and is celebrated for discovering the concept of "chaotic advection," which revolutionized the study of fluid mixing.
- Hassan Hathout (1924–2009), doctor, professor of medicine, writer, and theologian known for his work in medical ethics and interfaith dialogue.
- Hassan K. Khalil, electrical engineer and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University, known for his work in nonlinear control.
- Heba Kadry, Egyptian-born, US-based mastering engineer. A prominent figure in music technology and acoustics, she has worked with artists like Björk and Ryuichi Sakamoto and is one of the few women globally recognized in the highly technical field of audio mastering.
- Helmy Eltoukhy, electrical engineer and biotech entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and CEO of Guardant Health, a leader in precision oncology and liquid biopsy technology for cancer detection.
- Henri Dorra (1924–2002), Egyptian-born American art historian and educator. A specialist in French Symbolist art, he was Professor Emeritus of History of Art and Architecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Kareem Mohamed Abu-Elmagd (born 1952), Egyptian-American organ transplant surgeon and professor of surgery at Case Western Reserve University, best known for pioneering clinical intestinal transplantation and multivisceral transplantation.
- Ibrahim Oweiss (1931–present), economist and Professor Emeritus at Georgetown University. He is credited with coining the term "Petrodollar" and has served as an economic advisor to multiple governments and international organizations.
- Ihab Hassan, influential literary theorist whose work was foundational to the study of postmodernism. He served as a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and authored numerous books on American literature and culture.
- Irene Ghobrial, physician and professor at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School whose research focuses on early detection of multiple myeloma.
- Karam Soliman (born 1944), pharmacologist and Distinguished Professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Florida A&M University, where he has also served as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.
- Kawthar Zaki, electrical engineer and professor emerita at the University of Maryland, College Park, known for her work in microwave engineering.
- Khaled Abou El Fadl, Omar and Azmeralda Alfi Distinguished Professor in Islamic Law at the UCLA School of Law. He is one of the world's leading authorities on Shari'ah and Islamic jurisprudence, advocating for human rights and moderate reform.
- Laila Shereen Sakr, digital media theorist, artist, and assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, known for founding the R-Shief digital lab.
- Leila Ahmed (1940–present), Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. She is a foundational scholar in Islamic feminism and the author of the landmark book Women and Gender in Islam.
- M. Cherif Bassiouni (1937–2017), Egyptian-American emeritus professor of law at DePaul University and a leading scholar of international criminal law.
- Mark A. Gabriel (born 1957), lecturer and writer on Islam, and author of several books critical of Salafi Islam.
- Mary Bishai, physicist and Distinguished Scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory. In 2023, she was elected co-spokesperson of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
- Maha Ashour-Abdalla (1943–2016), Professor of Physics and Astronomy at UCLA. She founded the UCLA Center for Digital Innovation and was a leading researcher in space plasma physics and magnetospheric dynamics.
- Mahmoud ElSohly, research professor at the University of Mississippi and director of the Marijuana Research Project. He is a leading pharmacologist known for his work on the chemical analysis of cannabis and the development of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids.
- Marty Makary, physician and Professor of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A prominent healthcare technologist and medical writer, he is known for his work in surgical quality and health services research, and he serves as an advisor to several healthtech organizations.
- Matthew Shenoda, poet and academic whose work explores the intersections of African and Arab identities. He has published several collections, including Somewhere Else and Tahrir Suite, and serves as a high-ranking university administrator.
- Mohamed Abdou, nuclear engineer and director of the Fusion Science and Technology Center and the Center for Energy Science & Technology Advanced Research.
- Mohammed Albakry, academic and translator of contemporary Arabic literature. He is a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, and his translations of Arabic fiction and Egyptian drama have appeared in publications and theater productions in several U.S. cities.
- Mona Diab, computer scientist and director of Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies Institute, specializing in natural language processing, computational linguistics, and Arabic language processing.
- Mona N. Fouad, Egyptian-American physician and the inaugural holder of the Edward E. Partridge, M.D., Endowed Chair for Cancer Disparity Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017.
- Mona Zaghloul, Egyptian-American electronics engineer and professor of electrical and computer engineering at George Washington University, known for her work in integrated circuits, neural networks, and MEMS.
- Mostafa Ammar, computer scientist and Regents' Professor in the School of Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is known for pioneering contributions to scalable network and multimedia services, and was elected both an ACM Fellow and an IEEE Fellow for his work in network systems and protocols.
- Moustafa Bayoumi, writer, journalist, and professor of English at Brooklyn College. He is known for books such as How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? and This Muslim American Life, which examine Arab and Muslim life in the United States.
- Moustafa Youssef, computer scientist and professor at Alexandria University with an adjunct position at the University of Maryland. He is an ACM and IEEE Fellow, recognized for his pioneering research in indoor location tracking and mobile sensor networks.
- Medhat Haroun (1951–2012), Professor and former Provost of the American University in Cairo. A renowned expert in earthquake engineering, his work influenced international building codes for dams and liquid storage tanks.
- Michael Mina, epidemiologist, immunologist, and physician formerly affiliated with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School. He is known for his research on infectious disease immunity, including work on measles-associated immune amnesia, and for promoting rapid antigen testing as a public-health tool during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Minouche Shafik, economist who has served as the President of Columbia University and Director of the London School of Economics. She was previously the youngest-ever Vice President of the World Bank and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.
- Moeness Amin, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Center for Advanced Communications at Villanova University. He is a recipient of the IEEE Dennis J. Picard Medal for his contributions to radar imaging and signal processing.
- Mohamed Atalla (1924–2009), engineer and physicist. He invented the MOSFET (the most widely manufactured device in history) and pioneered the process of surface passivation, which enabled the silicon revolution.
- Mohamed Gad-el-Hak (born 1945), Inez Caudill Eminent Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a specialist in fluid mechanics and the author of the standard reference The MEMS Handbook.
- Mohamed Hashish (1947–present), mechanical engineer and inventor. While at Flow International, he invented the abrasive waterjet cutter, a technology now used globally in aerospace and automotive manufacturing.
- Mootaz Elnozahy, computer scientist and Dean of the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST. He was previously a senior researcher at IBM and is an expert in systems reliability and low-power computing.
- Mostafa El-Sayed (1933–present), Julius Brown Chair and Regents Professor of Chemistry at Georgia Tech. A recipient of the National Medal of Science, he is a pioneer in nanotechnology and the "El-Sayed Rule" in photochemistry.
- Mourad Ismail, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Central Florida. He is a leading expert in orthogonal polynomials and special functions, having authored a primary text on the subject.
- Nabih Youssef (1944–2024), structural engineer and founder of Nabih Youssef & Associates. He was a national leader in seismic engineering, known for translating advanced structural engineering concepts into practical applications, most notably through the use of base isolation in the seismic retrofit of Los Angeles City Hall
- Nagwa El-Badri, Professor and Director of the Center of Excellence in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine. She was previously a faculty member at the University of South Florida and is a leading researcher in immunology and the application of stem cell technology to treat autoimmune diseases.
- Nazli Choucri, political scientist and professor at MIT whose work centers on international relations, cyberpolitics, and sustainability. She is known for her scholarship on international relations in the cyber age and for creating the Global System for Sustainable Development.
- Noha Radwan, scholar of comparative literature at the University of California, Davis whose work focuses on modern Arabic and Middle Eastern literature.
- Peter Attia (born 1973), physician, author, and former researcher known for his work on longevity medicine. He is the author of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity and a prominent public advocate for preventive health, metabolic health, and lifespan extension.
- Ramzi Fawaz, professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and author of The New Mutants: Superheroes and the Radical Imagination of American Comics and Queer Forms.
- Rana el Kaliouby (1978–present), computer scientist and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and former CEO of Affectiva (an MIT Media Lab spinoff) and is a pioneer in "Emotion AI," developing technology that allows computers to recognize and respond to human emotions.
- Rania Awaad, psychiatrist, Islamic scholar, and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University. She is known for her work on Muslim mental health, Islam and psychology, and Islamically integrated psychotherapy.
- Reda Mankbadi, Professor and former Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a specialist in computational aeroacoustics and fluid dynamics, contributing significantly to the development of quieter jet engines.
- Rushdi Said (1920–2013), geologist and scholar. He was the former director of the Egyptian Geological Survey and wrote the definitive work The Geology of Egypt, foundational to the country’s natural resource exploration.
- Saad Eddin Ibrahim (1938–present), Professor of Sociology at the American University in Cairo. He is a prominent human rights activist and founder of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies.
- Saad Z. Nagi, sociologist whose disability framework influenced modern U.S. disability policy, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Sadek Hilal (1936-2000), Columbia University radiologist and one of the most influential researchers in advancing imaging science and radiology in the twentieth century.[1]
- Said Ghabrial (1939–2018), Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Kentucky. He was a world authority on fungal viruses (mycoviruses) and their role in plant disease management.
- Safa Zaki, Egyptian-born American psychologist and academic administrator who serves as the sixteenth president of Bowdoin College. A cognitive scientist by training, her research focuses on categorization and the computational modeling of cognitive processes
- Samy El-Shall (1953–present), Mary Eugenia Kapp Endowed Professor of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research focuses on nanostructured materials, catalysis, and the study of molecular clusters.
- Sarafina Nance, astrophysicist and science communicator. A doctoral researcher at UC Berkeley, she specializes in supernovae and the expansion of the universe, and is known for her work in public science education.
- Sherief Reda, computer scientist and engineer whose research focuses on energy-efficient computing, electronic design automation, and approximate computing. He is a professor in the School of Engineering at Brown University and has also worked as a principal research scientist at Amazon.
- Tahani Amer, aerospace engineer and senior executive at NASA. She has made significant contributions to computational fluid dynamics and thermal protection systems for space vehicles, and was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
- Taher Elgamal (1955–present), cryptographer and entrepreneur. Known as the "father of SSL," he led the team at Netscape that developed the SSL protocol, and he is the namesake of the ElGamal discrete log cryptosystem.
- Tarek Abdelzaher, Egyptian-born computer scientist and professor at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign known for work on real-time computing, cyber-physical systems, and the Internet of things.
- Tarek El-Bawab, Egyptian-American engineer, academic, and researcher known for his work in telecommunications and network engineering education. He served as editor-in-chief of IEEE Communications Magazine.
- Tarek Masoud, political scientist and Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Governance at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is a leading scholar of democratization, elections, and political development in the Middle East, and is the author or co-author of works including Counting Islam and The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform.
- Tarek Omar Souryal, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist who served as team doctor for the Dallas Mavericks and president of the NBA Physicians Association.
- Wafaa El-Sadr (1950–present), University Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine at Columbia University. She is the founder of ICAP, which provides global support for HIV/AIDS and TB treatment, and is a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship.
- Wafik El-Deiry, Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University. He is a world-renowned physician-scientist whose discovery of the p21 gene has been fundamental to understanding how the p53 tumor suppressor gene works.
- Waguih Ishak, Egyptian-Canadian-American engineer, technologist, and academic who was division vice president and chief technologist at Corning Inc. and an adjunct professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University.
- Waleed El-Ansary, scholar of comparative religion, Islam, and Islamic economics, and holder of the El-Swedey Chair in Islamic Studies at Xavier University.
- Yaser Abu-Mostafa, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Caltech. He is a co-founder of the NeurIPS conference and the author of Learning From Data, one of the most widely used textbooks in machine learning.
Arts and entertainment
- Ahmed Ahmed (1970–present), actor and comedian who co-founded the "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour." He has appeared in films such as Iron Man and Swingers, and directed the documentary Just Like Us, which explores stand-up comedy in the Middle East.
- Alexander D'Arcy, actor with an international film career who often portrayed suave gentlemen and polished rogues.
- Amr El-Bayoumi actor whose screen credits include work in film and television.
- Asaad Kelada, prolific television director who has helmed hundreds of episodes of classic American sitcoms, including Who's the Boss?, The Facts of Life, and Family Ties. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and a major figure in the history of the multi-camera format.
- Basil Gogos (1929–2017), illustrator best known for his portraits of movie monsters that appeared on the covers of Famous Monsters of Filmland.
- Christopher Maher (1955–present), actor known for roles in Men in Black and The 13th Warrior. He transitioned into a highly successful culinary career, becoming a James Beard Foundation Award-recognized chef and owner of a prominent cooking school in New Mexico.
- Diane Tuckman (1939–present), pioneering silk artist and author. She is the co-founder of Silk Painters International (SPIN) and has been instrumental in popularizing silk painting as a fine art medium through her teaching and publications.
- Dina Amer, film director, writer, producer, and journalist. She is best known for her feature debut You Resemble Me, a drama about identity and radicalization that premiered at the Venice International Film Festival
- Dina Hashem, stand-up comedian, writer, and actress known for her hour-long special Dark Little Whispers and for her work as a writer on The Daily Show, for which she received two Emmy nominations.
- Dora Khayatt (1912–1986), Egyptian-born painter known for portraits, landscapes, and seascapes.
- Frank Agrama, director and producer who founded Harmony Gold USA. He is best known for being the creative force behind Robotech, a landmark series that helped popularize Japanese anime for North American audiences.
- Ghada Amer, artist whose work addresses gender and sexuality and is best known for layered embroidered paintings of women's bodies.
- Heba Amin, visual artist, researcher, and educator whose work explores politics, technology, and urbanism; she is also known for the subversive graffiti action on the set of Homeland.
- Hesham Issawi, writer and director best known for AmericanEast and Cairo Exit.
- Jehane Noujaim, Academy Award-nominated documentary director known for The Square, Control Room, and Startup.com. Her work often focuses on social justice and the intersection of media and political revolutions in the Middle East.
- Joe DeRosa (1977–present), stand-up comedian and actor who portrays the character Dr. Caldera on Better Call Saul. He is a frequent guest on comedy podcasts and has released several acclaimed comedy albums.
- Joy Garnett (born 1965), interdisciplinary visual artist and writer whose work explores the social and political implications of images. Her paintings often reference archival photographs and have been exhibited in major museums like the MoMA.
- Kal Naga (born 1976), actor, director, and producer known for his work in Egyptian and international film and television.
- Kareem Rahma, comedian, host, and co-founder of the production company Museum of Modern Art. He is best known as the creator and host of the viral interview series Subway Takes, which has amassed a global following on social media.
- Magda Saleh, ballet dancer educated at the Higher Institute of Ballet, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, the University of Southern California, and New York University.
- May Calamawy, actress who gained international recognition for her roles in the Hulu series Ramy and as Layla El-Faouly (Scarlet Scarab) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Moon Knight.
- Mena Massoud (1991–present), actor who played the title role in Disney's live-action Aladdin (2019). He is also an entrepreneur and author of the book Evolving Vegan, which documents his journey as a plant-based food advocate.
- Mona A. El-Bayoumi (born 1962), painter and mixed-media artist.
- Nessa Diab, radio and TV personality known for her long-standing show on Hot 97. She is a prominent activist and host of various MTV programs, including the Girl Code reunion shows and The Challenge reunions.
- Omar Elba, actor best known for co-starring with Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King and for later television roles including Limetown and Mo
- Omar Metwally (1974–present), actor known for his work in Steven Spielberg’s Munich and his role as Dr. Vik Ullah in The Affair. He is a veteran stage performer and received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Sixteen Wounded.
- Peter Shoukry, model and artist.
- Rami Malek (1981–present), Academy Award-winning actor best known for portraying Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody and Elliot Alderson in Mr. Robot. He is the first actor of Egyptian heritage to win an Oscar for Best Actor.
- Ramy Youssef (1991–present), Golden Globe-winning actor and comedian known for his semi-autobiographical series Ramy. He has also directed episodes for The Bear and appeared in the acclaimed film Poor Things.
- Ronnie Khalil, stand-up comedian and filmmaker who wrote and directed A Very Merry Muslim Christmas. His work focuses on navigating the cultural nuances of being Egyptian-American through satire and observational humor.
- Sam Abbas (born 1993), film director, screenwriter, and producer known for The Wedding and Alia's Birth.
- Sam Esmail (1977–present), screenwriter and director best known as the creator of the Emmy-winning series Mr. Robot. He also directed the series Homecoming and the psychological thriller film Leave the World Behind.
- Sammy Sheik (1981–present), actor recognized for his roles as Mustafa in American Sniper and various characters in Sand Castle and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. He is often sought after for his versatility in action and drama.
- Sarah Farahat, transdisciplinary artist and educator known for creating the We Choose Love mural at a TriMet transit center memorializing the 2017 Portland train attack.
- Sayed Badreya (1957–present), veteran actor whose career spans over three decades with roles in Iron Man, Three Kings, and The Insider. He has been a vocal advocate for more authentic representation of Arabs in Hollywood.
- Shereen Ahmed, actress and singer best known for her Broadway debut in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of My Fair Lady and for portraying Eliza Doolittle on the production’s U.S. national tour.
- Sonja Kinski, actress and model. She is the daughter of Ibrahim Moussa and has worked in film and fashion.
- Wael Abdelgawad, American novelist, web developer, and martial artist of Egyptian descent whose works include Pieces of a Dream and whose writing has been associated with Muslim fiction.
- Wendie Malick (1950–present), actress and former model who received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her role in Just Shoot Me!. She is of Egyptian paternal descent and has had a prolific career in sitcoms like Hot in Cleveland.
- Yasmine Al Massri, actress and dancer known for her dual roles in the ABC thriller series Quantico. Born to an Egyptian mother, she debuted in the critically acclaimed film Caramel.
- Yasmine K. Kasem (born 1993), interdisciplinary visual artist whose work uses sculpture and performance to explore themes of identity, gender, and heritage within the Arab-American experience.
- Zeeko Zaki (1990–present), actor known for his lead role as Special Agent Omar Adom "OA" Zidan in the CBS series FBI. He is one of the few Arab-American actors to lead a network procedural drama.
Business
- Adel Mahmoud (1941–2018), former President of the Merck & Co. vaccine division. He was a global health leader responsible for the development of several life-saving vaccines, including those for Rotavirus and HPV.
- Ahmed Bahgat Fattouh (1951–2021), businessman who founded the Bahgat Group of Companies and developed Dreamland and Dream Park.
- Ahmed Zayat (born 1962), entrepreneur, industrialist, and racehorse owner best known for owning American Pharoah.
- Allen Adham, computer scientist and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. He served as the company’s first president and was a key architect behind legendary gaming titles such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.
- Charif Souki (born 1953), energy executive who founded Cheniere Energy, pioneering the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry in the United States. He later founded Tellurian Inc.
- Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer at Uber, where he played a pivotal role in the company's global expansion. He has also served as a technology advisor to the United States Department of Defense.
- Fadi Chehadé, information technology executive who served as the CEO of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). He is a leader in digital governance and founded several technology ventures including RosettaNet.
- Fayez Sarofim, legendary fund manager and billionaire founder of Fayez Sarofim & Co. He was a major philanthropist in the Houston area and a part-owner of the Houston Texans of the NFL.
- Gamal Aziz (also known as Gamal Abdelaziz), businessman and hospitality executive who was president of Wynn Macau, chief operating officer of Wynn Resorts, and former president and COO of MGM Resorts International.
- Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X and author of Solve for Happy. He is a prominent speaker and entrepreneur focusing on the intersection of technology and human well-being.
- Mohamed El-Erian (1958–present), economist and former CEO of PIMCO. He currently serves as the President of Queens' College, Cambridge, and Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz, and is a frequent contributor to global economic policy discussions.
- Rana el Kaliouby (1978–present), computer scientist and entrepreneur who co-founded Affectiva, a pioneer in the field of Emotion AI. She is currently a general partner at Bluepoint Ventures.
- Sadek Wahba (born 1965), economist and businessman who founded I Squared Capital. He is a recognized expert in global infrastructure investment and has served as an advisor to several international financial institutions.
- Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, a wearable technology company specializing in performance and health monitoring. Under his leadership, the company has become a unicorn valued at over $3 billion.
Literature
- Ahmed Zaki Abu Shadi, Romantic poet, publisher, physician, bacteriologist, and bee scientist associated with neo-romanticism and the Apollo Society.
- Alicia Erian (born 1967), novelist of Egyptian descent whose works include The Brutal Language of Love and Towelhead.
- André Aciman (born 1951), Alexandria-born writer and scholar. He is best known for his novel Call Me by Your Name, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning film, and his memoir Out of Egypt, detailing his family's history.
- Carole Naggar, poet and photography historian. She has published numerous biographies of legendary photographers and served as a curator for major exhibitions worldwide, focusing on the history of photojournalism.
- Hala Halim, academic and translator who has written on literature and culture and teaches in the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies department at New York University.
- Lucette Lagnado (1956–2019), journalist for The Wall Street Journal and author of The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, a memoir about her family’s departure from Egypt and their new life in America.
- Marty Makary, surgical oncologist at Johns Hopkins and a New York Times bestselling author. His books, including The Price We Pay, focus on health care reform and the economics of the American medical system.
- Randa Jarrar, writer, translator, and novelist whose work includes fiction, essays, and memoir. Her writing often engages questions of identity, migration, and Arab-American life.
- Roger Tamraz (born 1940), businessman, international banker, and venture capital investor who chairs the petroleum firm NetOil.
- Saladin Ahmed, Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and fantasy author. He is known for the novel Throne of the Crescent Moon and has written major titles for Marvel Comics, including Black Bolt and Spider-Man (Miles Morales).
- Sharifa Yazmeen, playwright and theatre director. Two of her plays have been featured in The Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays, and she was the inaugural winner of the Barbara Whitman Award.
- Stephen Adly Guirgis, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for his gritty, urban dramas. His works include Between Riverside and Crazy, The Motherfucker with the Hat, and Our Lady of 121st Street.
- Victor Hassine (1956–2008), attorney and author who wrote extensively about prison reform while incarcerated. His memoir, Life Without Parole, is widely used in criminology and sociology courses.
- Yussef El Guindi (1960–present), playwright whose works, such as Back of the Throat and Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World, examine the Arab-American experience and civil liberties in a post-9/11 world.
Media and journalism
- Ayman Mohyeldin, prominent journalist and anchor for NBC News and MSNBC. He is widely recognized for his on-the-ground reporting during major Middle Eastern conflicts and his role as host of Ayman.
- Bassem Youssef, cardiologist-turned-satirist known as "The Jon Stewart of the Arab World" for his hit show Al-Bernameg. He has since relocated to the U.S., where he works as a comedian and political commentator.
- Hannah Allam (born 1977), journalist and reporter who has covered the Middle East and national security for The Washington Post, NPR, BuzzFeed News, and McClatchy.
- Hoda Kotb (1964–present), television host and news anchor who serves as the co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today. She is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the most recognizable faces in American broadcast journalism.
- Maryana Iskander, social entrepreneur and lawyer who serves as the CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation. She previously led the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and is a recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
- Mona Eltahawy (1967–present), independent journalist and activist known for her outspoken advocacy for women's rights in the Arab world. She is the author of Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution.
- Nancy Youssef, award-winning national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. She is known for her extensive experience reporting from conflict zones and her deep expertise in U.S. military and intelligence operations.
- Shadi Hamid (born 1983), author and political scientist who has written extensively on political Islam and democracy in the Middle East.
Music
- Aly Tadros, singer-songwriter known for a self-taught finger-picking style and for blending folk, pop, Mexican, and Middle Eastern influences in her music
- Halim El-Dabh, composer and performer who was an early pioneer of electronic music. He created one of the first known works of tape music in 1944 and served as a professor of ethnomusicology for several decades.
- Kareem Salama, country music singer-songwriter whose music blends American country roots with Middle Eastern influences. He has toured globally and is known for songs that promote cross-cultural understanding.
- Mohammed Fairouz, composer known for operas, symphonies, chamber music, and vocal works. He has been described as one of the most frequently performed composers of his generation, and his music often engages Arab and American literary and political themes
- Omar Fadel, composer for film, television, and video games, and a multi-instrumentalist whose credits include Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, The Dictator, and Day One.
- Raef Haggag (1982–present), acoustic singer-songwriter known for his modern interpretations of traditional Islamic songs and his focus on faith and social identity.
- Raymond Ibrahim (born 1973), writer, author, translator, and columnist focused on Arabic history, language, and Middle Eastern current affairs. He previously worked as an Arabic-language specialist at the Library of Congress and has published books including Sword and Scimitar and The Al Qaeda Reader.
- Sylvain Sylvain, legendary rock guitarist and founding member of the New York Dolls. He was a key figure in the development of the punk and glam rock movements in New York City during the 1970s.
Politics
- Abdul El-Sayed, physician, public-health official, and politician. He served in senior health roles in Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, ran for governor of Michigan in 2018, and launched a U.S. Senate campaign in 2026.
- Allan Mansoor, Republican politician who served as a member of the California State Assembly and as the Mayor of Costa Mesa. He is a former Orange County sheriff's deputy.
- Aya Hijazi (born 1987), social activist and co-founder of the Belady Foundation.
- Dalia Mogahed (1974–present), researcher and scholar who served as an advisor to President Barack Obama on the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She is the Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.
- Dina Habib Powell (1973–present), president of Meta Platforms and former government official who served as the U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy. She has held high-ranking positions at Goldman Sachs and the U.S. State Department.
- Gamal Helal (1954–present), senior diplomatic interpreter who served four U.S. presidents. He was a key figure in numerous high-stakes Middle East peace negotiations and summits.
- George Helmy, politician who served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey, filling the seat vacated by Bob Menendez. He previously served as Chief of Staff to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
- Ismael Ahmed (1947–2026), government official, labor leader, and community organizer who co-founded ACCESS and later served as director of the Michigan Department of Human Services. He was also appointed to the National Council on the Arts in the Biden administration.
- Mary-Katherine Stone, Democratic politician and member of the Vermont House of Representatives. She has focused her legislative work on healthcare access and environmental sustainability.
- Shereef Elnahal, physician and health official who served as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark, and later U.S. Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health.