Perhaps the most well known and renowned of Egyptian actors, Omar Sharif has starred in many notable roles of classic Hollywood films. He attended the University of New Hampshire, where he majored in Theater, graduating in 1992. Keanu Charles Reeves ( kee-AH-noo; born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian actor. She is an actress and director, known for Where Do We Go Now? 2. Nicolas has starred in some of the most-watched and critically-acclaimed drama series in Egypt, Lebanon Delphine was born in Beirut on the 10th April 1932 into an intellectual Protestant family. Has been cast in some of the Producer | It's based on the director's experience. The nastiest on screen villainwho had a big heart in real lifewould have probably appreciated his belated success. Film/TV. The bigger issue is for Arabs to change their thinking about subjects like sex. 20 Celebrities You Never Knew Were Lebanese. Strong media and communication professional with a Bachelor's Degree focused in Film/Cinema/ Philippe Aractingi: Author, director, producer and photographerWho is Philippe? It's a hard situation for the Middle East. Tony had roles in major motion pictures likeMen in Black(1997) andMen in Black II(2002). It was genuine. Here are 11 international celebrities that Lebanese like to claim as our own . In an interview during the El-Gouna Film Festival with . Her father, Danny Thomas, was also a successful entertainer whose career lasted for more than 40 years. For Americans of Lebanese descent, he is Mohammad Hassan Yachteen, a native of Lebanon and the first actor to portray the role of the bad guy" in Hollywood. He was recently the lead in the psychological drama Busters Mal Heart (2017) and is set to appear next year as Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. We are not allowed the fullness to be human. Her biggest break yet was when she starred in the first of the Step Up series, Step Up (2006) as Nora Clark. Take a look at these Middle Eastern actors that have become notable names in Hollywood. She is known for Superstore (2015), The 15:17 to Paris (2018) and Modern Family (2009). He was an actor, known for Rescue 8 (1958), Sound of Horror (1966) and The Investigators (1961). He is an actor, known for The Hidden (1987), Flashdance (1983) and The Terminal (2004). They have one child. she managed to land the voice-acting role of the Arabic version of Lara Croft in the 2013 video game Tomb Raider. In terms of the gay issue in the Middle East, like the world, they are trying to figure it out. The most famous living actors include Keanu Reeves, Antonella Lualdi, and Haifa Wehbe. 3-Zoe SaldanaThe sexy Avatar starlet was born in the Dominican Republic, but has admitted to MBC that she is part Lebanese and enjoys Lebanese cooking. Times are changing for everyone -- gay marriage, women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and trans people's rights. None of the main characters are played by Lebanese actors in this movie; the film mostly featured actors of Algerian descent playing Lebanese characters. ), Danielle Arbid's first two features, Dans les champs de bataille and Un homme perdu, were Nicole Saba was born on June 26, 1974 in Beirut, Lebanon. You probably have heard their names more than a few hundred times. His most recent appearances were in Wes Andersons ensemble comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and Dar Adal on TVs Homeland. Amy Yasbeck Born on the 12th of September 1962 in Ohio to John Anthony Yasbeck, a Lebanese Maronite, and Dorothy Louise Mary, an Irish homemaker. They have one child. He is best known for portraying Ashur on the Starz TV series Spartacus. Her father is from Baghdad, Iraq, and her mother has Irish, Italian, and Norwegian ancestry. His movie career has also had a healthy life, appearing regularly as Pharaoh Akhmenrah in the Night at the Museum trilogy. Her first job was hosting a pop music program on the national Lebanese radio station called "Marsipulami got blue eyes." Lackteen's career lasted for five decades, from 1917 until 1968. Here are 10 celebrities you didn't know had a Middle Eastern background. and "Which movies stars are from Lebanon?". Vincent Anthony Vaughn: Known in celeb-speak as Vince Vaughn, he is a Hollywood heavy who turns out to be partially Lebanese. We judge and shame. A mesm Lebanon - a colorful Mediterranean country with a magnificent climate, full of unexpected contrasts. With a smile that melts the hearts and looks that catch any eye, Lebanese actress Nour made quite an impression on the audience from her first roles in Egyptian films, TV series and plays. Usually it was their hardcore fans who refused to accept them in any other light. I have a loving family and Arabs are very family-oriented, but I couldn't talk to anyone about it. Sam Kalidi is a multilingual actor based in Los Angeles.Sam holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Boston University and a Bachelors in Communication Arts from the American University of Paris and has trained at New York's HB Studio.He guest starred on CBS' The Unit and Hulu's East Los High.He Jalal Merhi is recognized worldwide as a premiere action-film producer / director after successfully delivering over 20 films worldwide within a decade, and numerous short film projects. Born in Niha, Lebanon, Wadih El Safi started his. Ivn Noel was born in 1968 in Beirut, Lebanon. Syrian actor Ghassan might have kicked himself for turning down a role in Syriana as he mistakenly feared it would paint Arabs in a bad light, but he still found plenty of Hollywood roles to compensate. But we're inclusive and empathetic because of what we have all gone through. It was Chicago where he started auditioning for roles in the local theatre houses to gain experience.Like most young aspiring actors, Winter enrolled in a college that would provide him with the skills necessary to develop a Raymond Tarabay was born on December 16, 1967 in Beirut, Lebanon. Saldana has confirmed in an interview that she is part Lebanese, and even enjoys Lebanon cuisine very much. Dewan gets her Middle Eastern ancestry from her father who is half Syrian Lebanese. He is an actor and composer, known for Kick-Ass (2010), Monte Carlo (2011) and Spy (2015). Mohammad was the youngest of three brothers and held various jobs before becoming an actor. Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia to Nidia del Carmen Mebarak (ne Ripoll Torrado) & William Alberto Mebarak Chadid. Actors, Singers, Producers they have managed to reach a high position in life with their talents. 2022 LOrient-Le Jour. His biography has been translated into 18 different languages. We'll take it. Elie Samaha was born on May 10, 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. It is true that the directorial board of Hollywood's biggest studios are white-dominated, 10 of the 16 people on Universal Pictures' board of directors are . Jesus is usually played by white, blond-haired, blue-eyed actors. I'm glad to be the Middle Eastern actor who played [him]. Although he is known as an American actor, producer and comedian, Vaughn's grandmother on this dad's side was Lebanese. A daughter of Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler, Mia Tyler is a paternal sister of Liv Tyler, Chelsea Tallarico, and Taj Tallarico are again from a different mother but same father. Lebanon, a suburb southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 7-ShakiraShakira Mebarak was born to a Lebanese father and a Spanish-Italian mother and my guess is that she gets her hot dance moves from the Lebanese side of the family. I think playing someone from my ethnic background and gay is good, not typecasting. She began taking dance lessons when she was eight. The iconicSeinfeld (1989)sitcomhappened when he partnered with the legendary Larry David. He is the son of Patricia Taylor, a showgirl and costume designer, and Samuel Nowlin Reeves, a geologist. Fares Fares (Swedish pronunciation: [fars fars] (listen); born April 29, 1973) is a Swedish-Lebanese actor. Although he is primarily known as an actor, Mitri has co-hosted along with Nancy Iskandar, the Crazy Science show, an hour long family show filled . Hollywood is filled with actors of all races and genders, but it can sometimes be a challenge to find Middle Eastern actors in leading and supporting roles. Peter Macdissi is an actor and producer who can be seen in the comedy-drama film "Uncle Frank," written and directed by Alan Ball. Antonella Lualdi was born on July 6, 1931 in Beirut, French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon [now Lebanon]. He worked as a composer, orchestrator or producer for such singers as Franoise Hardy, Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Bcaud and Mireille Mathieu. Winter Jones is an Assyrian-American and Chicago's Lincoln Square native. I was in Lebanon in 2017, and they were going to have a gay pride parade, but they were nervous and got death threats and cancelled it. He also received Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Anthony Marc Shalhoub was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Ghassan was last seen in the 2012 TV miniseries Omar as Abu Bakr. I had empathy and compassion from a young age. Doueiri Mika was born on August 18, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon. She has been married to Khaled Mouzanar since October 2007. Born in Wisconsin to an American motherand a Lebanese father, who immigrated from the Middle Eastern country at 10 years of age. He is an actor and cinematographer, known for The Jaundiced Eye (1999), Pranks (1996) and Tales from Home (2004). Raised in a well-to-do Catholic home, Hayek attended a . Yachteen, who changed his name to Frank Lackteen, appeared in several films and had a long artistic career. I need to humanize them. He is known for His Only Son (2023), Teleat Rohi (Drop Dead Diva) (2019), and Saabe' Gaar (2017). He is an actor, known for Criminal Minds (2005), As the World Turns (1956) and How I Met Your Mother (2005). Sadly, however, Kasem passed away in June 2014. Keanu Reeves Her Swiss mother, Hermine De Saussure, was an adept of Nadine Labaki was born on February 18, 1974 in Beirut, Lebanon. Michael performed in children's Jade Hassoun was born on February 18, 1991 in Lebanon. I can say whatever I want and express whatever I choose. Nasim Pedrad (born November 18, 1981) is an American actress and comedian best known for her five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live (1975) from 2009 to 2014. He is an actor and producer, known for Man from Beirut (2019), 4 Blocks (2017) and Kanun (2018). He is an actor and director, known for Trigger Happy TV (2000), Trigger Happy TV (2003) and Earworm (2018). The Best Hispanic Actors Under 25 In 2023, Wadih El Safi was a Lebanese singer, songwriter,composer and actor. He is being recognized with the festival's Vanguard Award for being one of the few visible gay, Muslim, Arab-American men in Hollywood. The most intriguing part of Lackteens career is that he never got the recognition he deserved in Hollywood or in the Arab-American community. Carlos Azar (Image via Twitter) Michael Karim Malarkey (born 21 June 1983) is a British-American actor and musician. It is worth looking back at the long career of Mohammad Hassan Yachteen, a historical figure in the world of Hollywood, who was one of the first actors to fill this role. Of these 9, 8 (88.89%) of them are still alive today. DJ Khaled was born on November 26, 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Nidal Al Achkar (born 1941) is a Lebanese actress and theater director, hailed as "The Grande Dame of Lebanese Theater". Born in Lebanon, from a Palestinian father and an Egyptian mother. He has played bass guitar for the band Dogstar and pursued other endeavours such as writing and philanthropy. When the government is not protecting you, it becomes more challenging. Sally Field and Elizabeth Montgomery come first to mind as Vincent Anthony Vaughn was born on March 28, 1970, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, and was raised in Lake Forest, Illinois. Casey Kasem was actually the voice of Shaggy in Scooby Doo! Like her sister Liv, she started out as a model and eventually became an actress. He is best known for his award winning film West Beirut. He appeared in nearly 200 films between. Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, and philanthropist 2. The major star of the hit series Prison Break (2005-2017), Wenworth Miller was born to an Afro-Jamaicanfather and a mother with Syrian/Lebanese roots. Vincent Heneine has also played in pieces from the classical repertoire to the theater. In the same way, Egyptian . Lebanese Americans Total population 504,000 (ancestry unknown) 0.16% of total population (2007) [1] Regions with significant populations Michigan, California, New York, Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Arizona, New Jersey, Washington Languages American English, Arabic, Aramaic, French, and Armenian Religion At 17, Yachteen made his first appearance in a film by Frank Crane. He now lives in France and works in Europe and the US. Philippe Aractingi is a renowned artist in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Greater stardom came for playing Neo in the science fiction series The Matrix, beginning in 1999. She quickly left Washington, Kosai Khauli is an award winning critically acclaimed popular Syrian actor born on April 1, 1976 in Tartus, Syria. He died on July 19, 2021 in Alta Gracia, Argentina. The mentality of the Arab world is not right or wrong; it just is what it is. Keanu's father was born in Hawaii, of British, Michael Malarkey was born on June 21, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon. American actress Saldana may be more in touch with her Dominican and Puerto Rican roots, but she has definitely notedher Lebanese ancestry as well. A character actor for many years on different television shows since the 1960s, he took small parts in The Andy Griffith Show (1960), Dave grew up in Mt. Haifa Wehbe (Arabic: Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [hjfa wehbe]) is a Lebanese-Egyptian singer and actress. Jalla!". These qualities are what make him so ingratiating on and offscreen and part of the reason why the actor will be honored at OUTShine, Fort Lauderdale's LGBTQ+ film festival, on October 20. The actress Wendie Malick was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1950 and attended Ohio Wesleyan University, from which she graduated in 1972. List contains film actors like Joana Hadjithomas and Mohamad Chamas. 3. With an HPI of 40.46, Nidal Al Achkar is the 7th most famous Lebanese Actor. He was previously married to Vicki Light and Lynn Goldsmith. She entered the field of acting as a guest of honor in the movie Bahr Al Nojoum in 2008, and in 2009 she was chosen to star in the movie Dokan Shehata, which was directed by Khaled Youssef. He was previously married to Tia Carrere. It was a surprise for me. He gained praise for playing a hustler in the independent drama My Own Private Idaho (1991) and established himself as an action hero with leading roles in Point Break (1991) and Speed (1994). Since then, Abraham hasnt stopped acting, loading up his resume with plenty of television and movie roles. With an HPI of 46.66, Fares Fares is the 6th most famous Lebanese Actor. I come from love. Many researchers looking at this question have found that on television and in the cinema, actors of Arab origin often take on the role of the bad guy. Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia to Nidia del Carmen Mebarak (ne Ripoll Torrado) & William Alberto Mebarak Chadid. Like the majority of immigrants coming from that region of Lebanon, the Yachteens settled down in Lawrence, Massachusetts. more. He is an actor and composer, known for Project Blue Book (2019), The Oath (2018) and The Vampire Diaries (2009). Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages. Born from an Assyrian, F. Murray Abraham worked his way up from tiny roles as taxi drivers and car mechanics to the award winning actor he is today. 11-Amal Alamuddin Known also by Amal Clooney, Amal was born on February 3rd 1978. When Shannon was in 3rd grade, her family moved to Waco, Texas, to be close to relatives. 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