Maz Jobrani Biography

Fast Facts

• Supporter of the Persian American Cancer Institute and the International Society for Children with Cancer
• Graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in political science and Italian
• Was motivated to become a stand-up comic as a method to confront Muslim stereotypes after playing a terrorist in a Chuck Norris film in one of his first roles
• Quote: "I realized there was an important role comedy would play in healing the tragedies of September 11․ Comedy can help people cope․"
• Quote: "Comedy comes from tragedy, and being Iranian in America from 1979 on had been quite tragic․ In stand-up comedy, I was able to take the reality and exaggerate it․"
• Best known as a stand-up comic and actor who appeared in the films "The Interpreter" and "Friday After Next․"
• In 2015, he published a book about his life as a Muslim comedian living in America called "I'm Not a Terrorist But I've Played One on TV․"
• Was a founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour that resulted in sold out shows in several Middle Eastern countries and a 2007 Comedy Central special