List of ethnic Assyrians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of notable Assyrians.
Activists
- Ninos Aho – poet and founding father of modern Assyrian nationalism[1][2]
- Freydun Atturaya – physician, poet and founder of the first Assyrian political party, the Assyrian Socialist Party[3]
- Naum Faiq – writer, poet and founding father of modern Assyrian nationalism[4][5]
- Jumana Hanna – involved in anti Baath war propaganda, torture victim[6]
- Nuri Kino – award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, author, human rights expert, and founder of A Demand for Action[7]
- Rosie Malek-Yonan – actress, author, director, public figure and human rights activist[8][9][10][11]
- Hurmiz Malik Chikko – martyr and leader of the Assyrian armed struggle against the Ba'ath regime in Iraq in the late 1950s – early 1960s[12][13]
- Farid Nuzha – journalist and founding father of modern Assyrian nationalism[14]
- David Barsum Perley – philosopher and nationalist[15]
- Juliana Taimoorazy – founder and president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, senior fellow at the Philos Project[16]
Actors, directors and entertainers
- Brian Awadis – YouTuber
- Paul Elia – Chaldean-Assyrian comedian from Detroit
- Dustin Kahia – Assyrian film director
- Henri Charr – director[17]
- Michael Denkha – actor
- Naguib el-Rihani – actor
- F. Murray Abraham – Academy award-winning actor
- Josef Fares – film director and video game designer
- Ryan Bernier – Former Second City Artistic Director and Writer/Director of Gilgamesh! The Assyrian Epic...sorta[18][19]
- Fares Fares – Swedish-Lebanese actor[20]
- Iloosh Khoshabe – actor; bodybuilder[21]
- Nuri Kino – journalist; filmmaker[20]
- Terrence Malick – Academy Award-nominated director[22][23][24][25]
- Winter Jones – actor
Artists and designers
- Eser Afacan – painter, and sculptor[26]
- Hannibal Alkhas – sculptor, painter and author[27]
- Issa Benyamin – calligrapher[28]
- Raad Ghantous – interior designer[29][30]
- Thea Halo – painter and writer[31]
- Farouk Kaspaules – artist[32]
- Paulus Khofri – painter, lyricist and composer[33]
- Jim Marshall – photographer[34][35]
- Bishara Morad – artist[36][37]
- Fred Parhad – sculptor[27]
Athletes
In the Middle East
- Athletics (Track and field)
- George Malek-Yonan – Iranian Assyrian Track & Field Athlete. Iran's Champion of Champions, Gold medalist in Pentathlon and Track & Field[38][39]
- Boxing
- Mustafa Hamsho – Syrian Assyrian/Syriac boxer, middleweight[40]
- George Issabeg – Iranian Assyrian boxer; represented Iran in 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics[41]
- Anwar Oshana – Syrian Assyrian boxer, super middleweight in USA. Illinois State Champion[42]
- Shoura Osipov – Iranian Assyrian boxer 1948 Summer Olympics representing Iran
- Thomas Younan – Assyrian boxer from Chicago
Curling
- Terry Odishaw - Multiple Provincial Champion Canada including one National Championship 1986-2023
- Grant Odishaw - Multiple Provincial Champion Canada including one National Championship 1986-2026
- Football (soccer)
- Douglas Aziz – Iraqi Assyrian footballer[43]
- Ammo Baba – Iraqi Assyrian footballer and Manager of Iraq – Iraq International. Voted best Iraqi Athlete of All Time[44]
- Saad Benyamin – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – Iraq International
- Edison David – Iraqi Assyrian footballer[45]
- Youra Eshaya – Iraqi Assyrian footballer, first Iraqi to play professionally in the west, for Bristol Rovers, England – Iraq International
- Basil Gorgis Hanna – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – World Cup Player 1986
- Aram Karam – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – Iraq International[46]
- Ayoub Odisho – Iraqi Assyrian footballer and club manager (in Lebanon)
- Thamer Yousif – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – Iraq International
- Tennis
Andrew Simon – Iraqi Assyrian tennis champion
Diaspora
- Basketball
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- American football
- Alex Agase – Assyrian American – top level American Football (Gridiron) player[47][48]
- Lou Agase – Assyrian American – top level American Football (Gridiron) player[48]
- Boxing
- Mustafa Hamsho
- Anwar Oshana – Assyrian American super middleweight boxer, Illinois State Champion
- Football (soccer)
- Alexander Alkhazov – Assyrian Russian footballer – plays for FC Krylia Sovetov Samara
- Zaya Avdysh – Assyrian Ukrainian footballer – Ukrainian based
- Kennedy Bakircioglu – Assyrian Swedish international footballer – Sweden based – Swedish International player[49]
- Abgar Barsom – Assyrian Swedish footballer[50]
- Stefan Batan – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska[51]
- Steven Beitashour – currently plays for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, Iran international
- Louay Chanko – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Denmark based – Syrian International player
- Imad Chhadeh – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska[51]
- Daniyel Cimen – Assyrian German footballer
- Christian Demirtas – Assyrian German footballer – German based
- Sargon Duran – Assyrian Austrian footballer – plays for FC Sollenau
- Jimmy Durmaz – Assyrian Swedish footballer
- David Durmaz – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Syrianska FC
- Ninos Gouriye – Assyrian Dutch footballer
- Andreas Haddad – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska[51]
- Dani Hamzo – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
- Zurab Ionanidze – Assyrian Georgian International footballer – Georgian International player
- Mikael Ishak – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
- Leena Khamis – Assyrian Australian female footballer – Australian Women's Football International
- Sanharib Malki – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Dutch based (Roda JC) – Syrian International player
- Justin Meram – Assyrian USA based soccer player[52]
- Ilyas Merkes – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Syrian International player, plays for Assyriska[51]
- George Mourad – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Iran based – Syrian International player
- Eddie Moussa – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska[51]
- Gabriel Özkan – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for AIK Fotboll
- Frans Dhia Putros – Assyrian Danish footballer – plays for Hobro IK in Denmark[53]
- Mario Shabow – Assyrian Australian footballer – plays for Central Coast Mariners in the Australian A-League[54]
- Suleyman Sleyman – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Syrianska FC
- Rebin Sulaka – Assyrian Swedish footballer – Iraq International[55]
- Jasar Takak – Dutch based Assyrian footballer, formerly of Vitesse Arnhem[56]
- Sharbel Touma – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Syrianska FC
- Gabriel Ucar – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Ängelholms FF, and previously for Irish team Derry City
- Daniel Unal – Assyrian Turkish footballer – plays for FC Basle in Switzerland
- Andreas Yacoub-Haddad – Assyrian Swedish footballer – played for Assyriska
- Christer Youssef – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Djurgårdens IF
- Martial Arts
- Beneil Dariush – Assyrian American Mixed martial arts (MMA)[57]
- Randa Markos – Assyrian Canadian Mixed martial arts (MMA)[58][59][60]
- Tiras Odisho – Assyrian Iraqi Karate champion, Director General of National Olympic Committee of Iraq
- Mikhail Sado – Assyrian Russian Wrestling champion
- David Teymur – Assyrian Swedish Mixed martial arts (MMA)
- Poker
- Tennis
- Susanne Celik – Assyrian Swedish tennis player
- Andre Khabbazi – American actor and semi-pro tennis player
- Michael Shabaz – American tennis player
- Andre Agassi - American tennis player
Educators and explorers
- Toma Audo – bishop, writer[61]
- Paul Bedjan[62]
- Louis Cheikhô – Assyrian Orientalist
- Hind Rassam Culhane – lecturer in Middle Eastern Studies and behavioural scientist
- Fuat Deniz – writer and professor of sociology at Örebro University
- Mor Philoxenos Yuhanon Dolabani – scholar, poet, editor, and translator
- Eprime Eshag – academic, professor
- Emanuel Kamber
- George Kiraz – computational linguist
- Kanan Makiya – academic, professor
- Eden Naby
- Estiphan Panoussi – philosopher and oriental philologist
- Hormuzd Rassam – Assyriologist, and first-known Middle Eastern archaeologist
- Thomas L. Saaty – Iraqi born Assyrian American mathematician
- Mikhail Sado – Russian linguist, scholar, professor of Semitic languages, orientalist, politician, former paratrooper, and wrestling champion[63]
- Donny George Youkhanna
- Ashur Yousif[64][65][66]
Entrepreneurs
- Narsai David – American restaurateur, chef, wine-maker, and author
- Daniel Hadad – Argentine businessman involved in telecommunications and media
- Milton Malek-Yonan – American inventor of Malekized Rice
- Bob Miner – American businessman, co-founder of Oracle Corporation
- Jeff Moorad – American businessman and investor, CEO of MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, and Vice-Chairman and CEO of MLB's San Diego Padres
- Victor Nacif – Mexican businessman, Vice President of Design at Nissan Design Europe
- Tony Rezko – American businessman, political fundraiser, restaurateur, and real estate developer.
Leaders
- Malik Khoshaba – Assyrian military leader during World War I
- Agha Petros – World War I Assyrian General
- Ashur Yousif – professor and Assyrian nationalist
- Shamoun Hanne Haydo – Village leader and defender of Assyrians during Seyfo
- Melke Hanne Haydo – brother of Shamoun Hanne Haydo
- Malik Yaqo – Assyrian malik from Hakkari
- Malik Ismail II – one of the most powerful Assyrian malik’s
- Dawid Mar Shimun – Assyrian military general
- Surma D'Bait Mar Shimun – Assyrian military leader and sister of Shimun XIX Benyamin
- Toma Tomas - Iraqi Assyrian guerilla fighter
Media
- Ramona Amiri – Miss World Canada 2005[67]
- John Batchelor – author; radio host[68]
- Jack Douglas – television host[69]
- Claudia Hanna – Miss Iraq 2006
- Craig Morgan – sports journalist
- Diane Pathieu – news anchor based in Chicago
- Larsa Pippen – reality television personality[70]
- Younan Nowzaradan – reality television personality[71]
- Cindy Sargon – Australian TV chef
- Nancy Oshana Wehbe – body builder and model
- Patrick Bet-David – American entrepreneur and TV personality of Assyrian-Armenian origin
- Obelit Yadgar – American radio personality[72]
- Alfred Yaghobzadeh – Iranian photojournalist[73]
Musicians and composers
- Fairuz[74]
- Evin Agassi[75]
- Mousey Alexander[76][77]
- Gabriel Asaad
- Jamil Bashir[78]
- Munir Bashir[79]
- Ashur Bet Sargis[80]
- Aril Brikha[81]
- Sargon Gabriel
- Linda George[82]
- Nouri Iskandar[83][84]
- Juliana Jendo
- Elias Karam
- Joseph Malke
- Paulus Khofri[85]
- Adwar Mousa[86]
- Habib Mousa
- Hanna Petros
- Janan Sawa
- Gaboro
- Ant Wan
- Ricky Rich
- Timz
- Marganita Vogt-Khofri[87]
- Haitham Yousif
- Elias Zazi[88]
- Santa Dimopulos
Politicians
Iraq
- Tariq Aziz – Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq 1979–2003 (Real name Michael Youkhana)[89][90][91]
- Basim Bello – Mayor of Tel Kaif, Iraq[92][93][94]
- Lara Yussif Zara – Mayor of Alqosh
- Yonathan Betkolia – Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Iran Parliament Representative[95]
- Bahnam Zaya Bulos – Iraq Minister of Transport (2003–2004)
- Basimah Yusuf Butrus – Iraq Minister of Science and Technology 2005–2006[96]
- Elizabeth Gawrie – Deputy Prime Minister of Rojava
- Kamel Hana Gegeo – chief bodyguard to Saddam Hussein
- Franso Hariri – Mayor of Erbil
- Fawzi Franso Hariri – Iraq Parliament Representative, Current Minister of Industry in Iraq
- Yonadam Kanna – Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement and Iraq Parliament Representative
- Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo – current Minister of Finance and Economy in Kurdistan Regional Government
- Wijdan Michael – current Minister of Human Rights in Iraq
- Ablahad Afraim Sawa – Iraq Parliament Representative
- Lady Surma D'Bait Mar Shimun (Surma Khanum)
- Pascal Esho Warda – Iraq Minister of Immigration and Refugees 2003–2004[97]
- Albert Edward Ismail Yelda – Iraq Ambassador to the Vatican
- Yusuf Salman Yusuf – Secretary General of Iraqi Communist Party 1941–1949
Iran
- Freydun Atturaya – co-founder of the Assyrian Socialist Party
Turkey
- Erol Dora – Deputy of Grand National Assembly of Turkey
- George Aslan – Deputy of Grand National Assembly of Turkey
- Naum Faiq – Assyrian nationalist
United Nations
- Dr. William Ishaya – Deputy Permanent Representative – Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations in New York, USA.[98]
In the Assyrian diaspora
United States
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- Alina Habba – Counselor to Donald Trump (45th and 47th U.S. President)
- Mark Arabo – politician based in San Diego, California
- Adam Benjamin, Jr. – Indiana Congressman[99]
- Wadie Deddeh – former California State Senator
- Anna Eshoo – California Congresswoman[100][101]
- John Nimrod – Illinois Senator[102][103]
- Atour Sargon – Lincolnwood Trustee[104][105]
Australia
- Ninos Khoshaba – former Member of the New South Wales Parliament Sydney Australia
- Andrew Rohan – current State Member for Smithfield New South Wales Parliament, and Fairfield City Council Councillor for the Liberal Party of Australia
Sweden
- Metin Ataseven – Sweden Parliament Representative
- Ibrahim Baylan – Sweden Minister of Education 2004–2006 and Sweden Parliament Representative[106]
- Yilmaz Kerimo – Sweden Parliament Representative
- Ilan De Basso – Former member of the European Parliament 2021-2024
Canada
- Helena Guergis – former Canadian Member of Parliament and Minister of State (Status of Women)[107]
Netherlands
- Attiya Gamri – Netherlands Parliament Representative, president of the Assyrian Confederation of Europe[108]
Other countries
- Iskender Alptekin – politician, singer and former President of the European Syriac Union[109]
- José Murat Casab – (born to Assyrian Iraqi immigrants) Mexican politician and a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party also former Governor of Oaxaca
- Sargon Dadesho – activist, author and leader of Assyrian National Congress[110]
- Eugene Dooman
- Emmanuel Kamber – Assyrian Universal Alliance Secretary General
Religious figures
- Basile Georges Casmoussa
- David Benjamin Keldani
- Dinkha IV, 1935–2015
- Elias Mellus
- Emil Shimoun Nona
- Emmanuel III Delly
- George Garmo
- Ignatius Isaac Azar
- Josephus Adjutus – 17th century theologian
- Louis Cheikho
- Mar Mari Emmanuel[111] – bishop and influencer
- Paulos Faraj Rahho
- Pkidha, 104–114 – first Bishop of Adiabene
- Ragheed Aziz Ganni
- Raphael I Bidawid
- Shimun XXI Eshai
- Shimun XIX Benyamin, 1903–1918
- Shlemon Warduni
- Tatian, 120–180
- Youhannan Semaan Issayi
- Yosip Khnanisho, 1893–1977
- Yusuf Akbulut
Writers and poets
- Ilyas Mawsili[112]
- Maria Theresa Asmar[113]
- Yosip Bet Yosip[114]
- Sargon Boulus
- Nina Burleigh[115]
- William D. S. Daniel[116]
- Fuat Deniz[117]
- Thea Halo
- Samuel John Hazo[118]
- Ivan Kakovitch[119]
- Paulus Khofri[120]
- George Lamsa[121]
- Rosie Malek-Yonan
- Terrence Malick
- Dunya Mikhail[122]
- Alphonse Mingana
- Leilah Nadir[123]
- Heather Raffo
- Mikhael K. Pius[124]
- Yuhanon Qashisho[125][126]
- Ishaya Shamasha Dawid Bet-Zia[127][128]
Other
- Lado Davydov – Soviet soldier during the Second World War and Hero of the Soviet Union[129]
- Sergey Sarkhoshev – Soviet soldier during the Second World War and Hero of the Soviet Union[129]
