Who is the most famous Arab-American?

[Jed Dilligan]

No one was voting for Omar Sharif, so I changed it to Tony Shalhoub. Sorry, Omar!

[rzemanfl]

1. Omar Sharif, on edit does not appear to be a U.S. citizen, so

never mind....

[Jed Dilligan]

3. US Citizen?

[rzemanfl]

13. Dunno, back to google. n/t

[Trajan]

16. Dr Zhivago ....

And famous Bridge expert ....

I am pretty sure he is a naturalized citizen ...

[stimbox]

2. Klinger?

Jamie Farr

[Jed Dilligan]

6. I think he was Jewish?

[reichstag911]

31. With a real name like...

...Jameel Joseph Farah ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0268026/bio ), Jewish is unlikely. If memory serves, he is Lebanese (not mentioned on the imdb.com page), so most likely Muslim or Christian. And I'm not sure whether Lebanese are considered ethnic Arabs.

[Jed Dilligan]

34. It's funny, then

I met him once when I was a little kid at the old diner in Gorman, CA (great place, now a Sizzler--yuck).

He remarked that my brother and I had "good Hebrew names," so I always assumed he was Jewish!

on edit: There are Jewish Arabs, too. They are unlikely to be named "Mohammed," but otherwise they have Arab-sounding names.

[MADem]

51. Actually, in Lebanon, it's not uncommon to find someone with a

Biblical name (often one of those either-Xtian-or-Jewish ones) AND a Muslim name. Muhamad Isa (Isa meaning JESUS, e.g.) or some version of the all-purpose Abraham/Ibrahim. That way, you can use either name depending on what section of Beirut you're traversing....

[Jed Dilligan]

57. Muslims accept Jesus as a prophet,

just not THE prophet. (Buddhists also consider him a great teacher and in some versions, a Bodhisatva.) Christians and Muslims both believe in the Old Testament, so I don't find it at all surprising if Muslims are named Isa or Ibrahim. What would be odd is if a Jew or Christian were named Mohammed, because neither Jews nor Christians accept Mohammed as prophet or teacher.

[MADem]

101. The "Muslim" name for the Christians is usually something more generic

This isn't specific to the point I am making, but it applies to the whole dual-name business:

What’s In a Name?

A significant trend in a culture that lays special store by the meanings of names is reflected by the many Muslim and Christian families who are naming their children for the attributes and historic figures honored by both traditions. Hence: Amin (faithful), Fayez (victor), Habib (beloved), Najib (noble), Samir (companion) and Fuad (heart) seem to be in the ascendant. So do names common to the sacred pages of both the Christian Bible and the Muslim Koran, among them: Abraham, Ishmael, Solomon, Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Ibrahim, Ismail, Suleiman, Issa, Maryam and Yusuf). Interestingly, the stained-glass chapel windows in the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies (which works on joint Muslim-Christian research projects with Cairo’s Al-Azhar University) feature only scenes described in both the Bible and the Koran.

http://www.ameu.org/printer.asp?iid=72&aid=114

[Jed Dilligan]

103. Or, in the case of Jamie Farr,

Jameel, "beautiful."

[Katzenjammer]

64. Yes, Lebanese are definitely considered Arabs. PERSIANs aren't, but everyone else is.

Persians are Muslims, but they're "Aryans" along with the Afghanis, Pakistanis, etc., not Semites.

[Jed Dilligan]

66. I dig your username

I'm an old comics fan. Almost called myself The Yellow Kid but I figured people wouldn't get it.

[Katzenjammer]

83. Thanks. Them was the days, alright. (You should've done it--buggrem if they don't get it)

TYK was a good panel, for sure.

[Jed Dilligan]

86. Just too many other implications...

I think the "yellow dog blue dog" thing is silly, and I also didn't want it to look like an Asian slur.

I've found Outcault's work to be a great teaching tool RE turn-of-the-century urban society.

[Katzenjammer]

99. "a great teaching tool"

It's amazing how many of those there are, really. Whenever I feel despairing, I go have a look at how things used to be. Perks me right up. We ain't there yet, and we're moving damned slowly, but we're moving.

[MADem]

119. Well, if there's a name change amnesty after the Monkey leaves, you could

always use the Kid as your avatar, and make your signature line "If you don't understand my user name, check my avatar and google it!"

[MADem]

118. I woulda gotten it...but then, I'm OLD!!!! nt

[MADem]

49. Nope, Lebanese. NT

[Trajan]

4. I voted for Salma ....

Because I believe she is actually Latina from Mexico ....

Certainly the PRETTIEST in that poll ...

[azurnoir]

27. She is 1/2 mexican 1/2 lebanese as is Zappa (i think) n/t

[Aristus]

5. Casey Kasem?

n/t

[Stuckinthebush]

7. John Zogby this week!

:D

[Mabus]

8. Helen Thomas

Okay, she's popular around here, not sure about how famous she is outside of the political arena.

[Finder]

9. MONK.lol

[meldroc]

46. That would be Tony Shalhoub

a Lebanese American who plays the Defective Detective Adrian Monk.

[Goblinmonger]

47. From Wisconsin, Baby n/t

[Kali]

10. Helen Thomas? Marlo Thomas...

[Jeanette in FL]

14. I was going to add Danny Thomas. n/t

[NMDemDist2]

11. Zogby, Helen Thomas should be added IMO n/t

[KingFlorez]

12. edit

[Jed Dilligan]

17. She became a citizen in 2003 IIRC

[Trajan]

18. Still not arab ....

[Jed Dilligan]

20. Lebanese father, Mexican mom

[Hidden Stillness]

15. Danny Thomas I think (Lebanese); Jamie Farr.

Danny Thomas. Jamie Farr of "MASH" and women's golf tournament fame.

[Itchinjim]

19. I believe that Frank Zappa was Italian,

not Arabic. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Jed Dilligan]

21. Half-Sicilian, Half-Arab.

Not sure what flavor of Arab, but definitely half-Arab.

[charlie]

25. Quarter Arab

His dad was Greek/Lebanese.

[Clark2008]

113. Greek/Lebanese is basically Palestinian...

Palestinians are a Greek/Arabic mix - Palestine=Philistine=Philies Islands off the coast of Greece.

[smirkymonkey]

124. From Wikipedia....

"Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 21, 1940 to Francis Zappa (born in Partinico, Sicily, of Greek and Lebanese descent) and Rose Marie Colimore (who was of three quarters Italian including Sicilian and one quarter French descent)."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. What, no Tony Shalhoub? -nt

[Jed Dilligan]

24. Crap, now I'm out of spaces

I don't think Tony is competing with some of these other names though, not yet!

[TheBaldyMan]

43. maybe you should do a photo comp job : multiple fav arab polls

[Jed Dilligan]

58. I don't understand "photo comp job"

I like your avatar, though. I was gratified last year when I traveled to Aberdeen and saw the St Andrews cross displayed, not alongside, but instead of the Union Jack at the airport.

[TheBaldyMan]

67. like the photographic competitions, they are spread over several eliminator polls

then there is a final poll to decide the winner.

I'm glad you like my avatar - I knitted it myself :D

[Poll_Blind]

23. Here's a huge list...

Right here.

PB

[tridim]

26. Is David Blaine Arab-American?

Not that he's all that famous any more, but he used to be.

[Jed Dilligan]

29. No

From Wikipedia:

His father was Spanish-Puerto Rican and his mother, Patrice White, was Jewish of Russian descent.

Most Spaniards have a little Arab in them, but I wouldn't call them "Arab Americans".

[hatrack]

28. Frank Zappa? He was Italian-American!

:eyes:

[Jed Dilligan]

30. He was both, and identified as both

if you read his autobiography.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. Paula Abdul Is Jewish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Abdul

[Jed Dilligan]

35. Syrian Jewish

not sure if that qualifies or not. My Christian Arab friend claims her.

[Wilber_Stool]

33. I like Danny Thomas more

than Ralph Nader.

[Totally Committed]

36. Isn't Salma Hayek Hispanic?

I never heard she was Arab before.

TC

[Jed Dilligan]

40. Lebanese father, Mexican mom

see above

[Mabus]

37. Kahlil Gibran who wrote "The Prophet", Christa McAuliffe,

F. Murray Abraham
Paul Anka
Doug Flutie
Spencer Abraham. T
Donna Shalala
John H. Sununu
Jamie Farr
Vince Vaughn

oopsie, Gibran obviously wasn't an Arab-American but he is one of the most famous and influential person of Arab descent because of his writings.

[Jed Dilligan]

44. Actually, he was

Grew up in Lebanon and Boston according to Wikipedia. But I was thinking more about modern times (50s to present).

Didn't know about Vince Vaughn, though!

[Mabus]

54. found this link

Information on famous Arab-Americans published by The Arab American Institute http://www.aaiusa.org/arab-americans/23/famous-arab-americans

edited to add:

"The box-office hits “Swingers”, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park”, and “The Wedding Crashers” starred Vince Vaughn, who has a Lebanese grandparent."

[Lurking Dem]

38. Secretariat doesn't count?

Actually, I think Danny Thomas probably is the most broadly known.

[Totally Committed]

39. How about Marlo Thomas?

She's pretty well-known, too.

TC

[Lurking Dem]

41. When I was a kid

I absolutely adored her. (Dating myself.) I actually won a copy of Free To Be You and Me in a school writing contest which was a compendium of the tv special.

[Hidden Stillness]

100. Marlo Thomas is Great

Marlo Thomas is fabulous, both for her own career--"That Girl," "Free to be You and Me," etc.--and also for the way she has taken over the running and fundraising of the St. Jude's Children's Hospital, founded by Danny Thomas, and where families do not pay, and so have no fears on that score. I thought the thread-starter meant only people of Middle Eastern descent (Arab and also Iranian/Persian, Kurd, etc.?) on both sides of the family: Marlo Thomas's Mom, I believe, is Italian. If counting all, even ancestry on only one side, then Marlo and Danny Thomas are the most famous names, I think. Also, "Tiny Tim," ("Tiptoe Through the Tulips"), if anybody wants to admit it.

[Lurking Dem]

104. St. Jude's

is an amazing and inspiring place, isn't it? I've given them money before - they do important work.

This year for my anniversary, though, I wanted the money a little closer to home. We donated to the Nashville Rescue Mission to feed local homeless Thanksgiving dinner.

Is it just me, or is Jennifer Love Hewitt kind of doing a Marlo thing lately?

[TheBaldyMan]

42. Edward Said ?

he'd get my vote if he were an option, so I'll have to go with Salma Hayek.

[Recursion]

45. Tony Shalhoub?

Diane Rehm?
Jamie Farr?
John Abizaid?

Kind of gets into "what exactly makes someone Arab" territory.

[Hand]

50. Good point.

I know a Lebanese guy who swears up and down that Lebanese are not Arabs, but rather Phoenicians, which may well be true--thing is, of course, that Lebanon has a huge ethnic and racial mix that likely includes just about every race and ethnicity on earth.

I don't know what distinguishes a Serb from a Croat, either, but it sure seems to matter to some people... :shrug:

[Ravenseye]

98. it definately depends on who you're talking to

Some people will classify everyone from Morocco to Iraq as an Arab, and others will disagree heartily. There's a decent amount of people that consider 'arab's to only be those from the arabian penninsula and parts of Iraq, Jordan, and Syria. They'll say Lebanese aren't arab, Egyptian aren't arab, etc.

[MADem]

48. George Mitchell? John Abizaid? John Sununu (pervert father or son)?

Darryl Issa (the whiner who funded the Gray Davis recall)? Paul Anka? F. Murray Abraham? Donna Shalala? Doug Flutie? Ralph Nader? Bobby Rahal?

Your list, and mine, are barely the tip of the iceberg....

[Swamp Rat]

52. Frank Zappa wins by a long shot

I have lived in Central and South America, and Europe. The only one mentioned out of the group above by people of those countries was Frank Zappa. In fact, Frank Zappa is still popular in Brazil.

[charlie]

59. Truly

I've even met Zappaphiles in Japan. He was set for appointment in the Czech gov't before James Baker nixed it. How many musicians can claim their guidance was sought in running another country?

[Swamp Rat]

102. Way'at charlie! ... get your Frank Zappa videos here!:

:hi: :D

Maybe you have seen these, but someone else might click on this post and have the opportunity to see the amazing Frank Zappa! :D

Frank Zappa interview 1974:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYu3UsNIXMM

Host: "Do you consider yourself avant-garde now?"

Zappa: "Yes, I am VERY avant-garde right now. I am about as avant-garde as I have ever been, right at this very moment." :evilgrin:


Frank Zappa - The Mike Douglas Show (1 of 2):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dXTifyOu3Y

Frank Zappa on David Letterman, 10-31-83:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRhZPqQ66L0

Frank Zappa on Crossfire (Zappa slaps Robert Novak around! :D) 1986:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9856_xv8gc

You've already seen the 1986 Crossfire with Novakula. Here's a follow-up interview a year later:
Frank Zappa on Crossfire (1987) - Part I:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDDIiIOFE_Q&mode=related&search=

Frank Zappa on Crossfire (1987) - Part II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H28SNdvBstA

Frank Zappa: 1988-04-27 Oslo Norway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXZH6Zci97Y

Frank Zappa on Arsenio Hall in February 1989:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DHZP9ElVEA

Frank Zappa - Documentary (part 1 of 6):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYTh1UgNHJg

[ikojo]

53. C'mon folks....vote for

Monk!!!!

Tony Shalhoub rules!!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

55. I adore Tony Shaloub but voted for Danny Thomas, as I grew up with him

and always thought him to be a wonderful person.

[Finder]

56. The Sununus too. n/t

[Minnesota_Lib]

60. For us old farts and fartesses, Danny Thomas. But I doubt many...

..younger folks have ever heard of him.

[Jed Dilligan]

63. "Fartess" is a wonderful word. nt

[charlie]

75. Old fart(esse)s

might also remember Tiny Tim, nee Herbert Khaury.

[Ravenseye]

61. It's probably generational

younger kids probably have no clue who Jamie Farr or Danny Thomas are/were, but would know who Salma Hayak is...

I also think it's interesting how many people are quick to try and point out this or that person isn't an arab, even though they are.

[Jed Dilligan]

62. That's very interesting, isn't it?

As if Latina and Arab were mutually exclusive... Anyone who would think so isn't very familiar with Latin American history and society. Mexico has been one of the most welcoming countries for Semitic people (Jews and Arabs) for centuries.

LOL I guess I'm "middle aged"... I met Jamie Farr and have always been a fan, but I had to google Danny Thomas. (I knew the name but couldn't remember exactly what he did.)

[Ravenseye]

90. Tons of Half Arab Hybrids down there

You're right. Lots of immigration to south and central america over the past hundred years by arabs. Shakira is another half-arab half-latina.

I voted for Jamie Farr because he's always been a favorite of mine, but as far as most famous it's so hard to say because of the generational issues. People of my parents generation would probably say Danny Thomas first and formost and not even know some of the currnt ones.

[WhollyHeretic]

65. I'm 29 and voted for Jamie Farr. I never saw M*A*S*H when it was on

but I love it in reruns, I've got a couple seasons on DVD.

[Jed Dilligan]

68. Wow--that shows how fast generations change

I'm only 32 but I remember the last episode of M*A*S*H clearly--I was 9.

I did just learn in this thread that Jamie Farr was Arab--see above; I assumed he was Jewish from what he said when I met him.

[WhollyHeretic]

72. It's amazing what a difference a few years can make as far as childhood experiences go

My sister and I are four years apart and went to the same high school, it was a very different place when I went there from when she was there.

[jwirr]

69. I suspect most of America would be surprised to realize these

people are Arab-Americans.

[Jed Dilligan]

70. Therein lies the point!

There were no Japanese-American celebrities in 1941; the Italians had Joe diMaggio. People could get behind putting "Japs" in internment camps. Italians were considered non-white at the time but no one could get behind interning Joe diMaggio. I think if more people realized how many beloved entertainers, etc. actually are Arab they would not be so quick to get behind ethnic profiling, detentions, etc.

[sweetheart]

71. Zalmay Khalilzad

yep

[Jed Dilligan]

73. He's Arab how?

[sweetheart]

77. isn't he?

I thought he was? Ok, nevermind, i don't know any famous arabs outside sadat and arafat, if they are arabs, kadhaffi?

Well, zalmay is the one who done all the planning for arab world anyways... he's the viceroy.

[Jed Dilligan]

78. He's a Pashtun Afghan from Mazar-i-Sharif

The confusion comes from the fact that his religion is of Arab origins. But he is ethnically about as Arab as a Chinese Catholic is Roman.

on edit: I'm sure that Bush himself doesn't realize this.

[Marr]

74. I would've voted for Omar Sharif.

Man, I love Laurence of Arabia.

[Jed Dilligan]

76. Do you know his citizenship?

Maybe he just has too much presence to even need a passport. My aunt RIP played bridge with him.

[Ravenseye]

79. He's Egyptian

[Jed Dilligan]

84. By birth, yes, but

I'm not sure whether or not he's become French, English, or American over the course of his amazing career.

[Ravenseye]

87. Well he's lived mostly in Egypt

I can't find any corrporating evidence of it, but I know he's lived in Egypt on the coast by the Red Sea for quite a while, and then makes regular forays up to Europe, Paris, Casinos on the Cote Azure etc. He's never had residency in any of those places though. I'll do some googling.

[Ravenseye]

80. How bout some love for Shannon Elizabeth

Syrian and Lebanese descent. Born Shannon Elizabeth Fadal.

[Jed Dilligan]

88. Cute face

Too much dieting going on, but I love those Arab features!

[Ravenseye]

92. When you're right you're right

[Ravenseye]

81. Steve Jobs of Apple

Half Arab. Syrian Father.

[Jed Dilligan]

89. That I did not know!

Cool!

[Ravenseye]

91. He's adopted

Abdulfattah John Jandali was his biological father's name.

Interstingly enough his biological parents eventually had another child, the author Mona Simpson. She didn't meet Steve till they were adults.

EVen more interestingly Mona Simpson eventually married a man named Richard Appel.

Apple....Appel...coincidence? I think not!

:tinfoilhat:

[Ravenseye]

82. Doug Flutie

Irony that an Arab through a Hail Mary? *rimshot*

[Ravenseye]

85. Bobby Rahal

One of the best drivers of all time.

[AngryAmish]

93. Sabu

<>

[Jed Dilligan]

94. Indian, not Arab

as far as I know. He was born in Mysore in the predominantly Hindu South of India.

[Ravenseye]

95. I think he means the wrestler

The prodigy of the Iron Sheik. A nice negative arab stereotype.

[Jed Dilligan]

96. Oh, I thought he meant the 40s-50s character actor

I don't follow wrestling--not since Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

[Ravenseye]

97. I was always a Ricky The Steamboat Dragon fan

I loved that every word in his name was a nickname. Rowdy Roddy Piper was awesome though. Today's professional wrestling is a shadow of a joke compared to it's heyday back in the mid 80's.

[Odin2005]

105. Probably a tie between Tony Shalhoub and Ralph Nader.

There are a suprising number of people of Christian Arab decent in the US, they tend to blend in to American society better then Muslim Arabs because they don't fall into the narrow cultural stereotypes the average Joe thinks of when he hears the word "Arab," and are therefore are discriminated against far less. It's a sad fact that our stereotypes of what people of a certain ethnic group look like are often based more on cultural things, like clothing and hair-style, then on actual physical appearence; if you took a Sephardic Jew and a Palestinian and gave them the same clothes, hairstyles, etc., you couldn't tell which one was the Jew and which one was the Arab.

[Red Right and BLUE]

106. Who's Danny Thomas?

:hide:

[Jed Dilligan]

107. I had to google him too.

Knew the name but not who he was when people brought him up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Thomas

[stevedeshazer]

108. You make me feel old. n/t

[AspenRose]

109. WOW thanks, now I feel old at 38....

eom

[Red Right and BLUE]

110. Heh, sorry guys. :)

:hug:

[brentspeak]

111. Zappa was not what you'd call "Arab-American"

His father had some Lebanese roots, but that's about it. From wikipedia (yeah, I know -- it's wikipedia...)

Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 21, 1940 to Francis Zappa (born in Partinico, Sicily, of Greek and Lebanese descent) and Rose Marie Colimore (who was of three quarters Italian including Sicilian and one quarter French descent).

[Jed Dilligan]

114. Really?

If he had that much African or Native American blood, he would be considered African- or Native American. He wrote of his Arab background in his autobiography. How much more identity does it take?

[brentspeak]

115. You're saying that if his one of his grandparents were black,

Zappa would then be considered "African-American"?

[Jed Dilligan]

123. Generally, yes, that's how it works

He certainly would have been subject to slavery in the old South. I'm no more than a quarter of anything, but I consider myself each of those ethnicities.

[Hubert Flottz]

112. Bandar Bush

[Rockstone]

116. Robert Novak

[TroglodyteScholar]

117. Zappa all the way...

...although I thought the Sheik Yerbouti act was as close as he got to Arab. Guess I need to go read "The Real Frank Zappa Book" now and see what else I'm missing.

[QMPMom]

120. Queen Noor of Jordan (widow of the late King Hussein)

She's American and her name was Lisa Halaby.

[bluedigger]

121. George Mitchell

should be, but Nader probably.

[Patsy Stone]

122. never mind

ed: oops.