Accomplished Arab American Directors
by swansswan | created - 11 Mar 2013 | updated - 11 Mar 2013 | PublicFilmmakers from Arab background who have had noble contribution to the art of cinema.
1. Moustapha Akkad
Producer | The Message
The creativity of Moustapha Akkad came in such movies as Lion of the Desert (1980) and The Message (1976), where he directed and showed some really creative amazing view on the history of Islam. As an Arabic Muslim it was really hard for him to make it in Hollywood but no one could deny his talent ...
2. Tom Shadyac
Director | The Nutty Professor
Tom Shadyac moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and, at age 24, became the youngest staff joke writer ever for comedian Bob Hope. Shadyac received his master's degree in film from UCLA in 1989 after completing the critically acclaimed short, Tom, Dick and Harry. He then worked on movies-of-the-week, ...
3. Callie Khouri
Producer | Thelma & Louise
Raised in Texas and Kentucky by her doctor father and mother. Went to Purdue University to study landscape architecture but switched to drama. Moved to Nashville after college to be with her family before heading to Los Angeles in 1982 to study at the Strasburg Institute. Worked for a commercials ...
4. Salma Hayek
Actress | Frida
Salma Hayek was born on September 2, 1966 in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico. Her father is of Lebanese descent and her mother is of Mexican/Spanish ancestry. After having seen Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) in a local movie theater, she decided she wanted to become an actress. At age 12, she...
5. Asaad Kelada
Director | Who's the Boss?
Asaad Kelada was born on May 24, 1940 in Cairo, Egypt. He is a director and producer, known for Who's the Boss? (1984), Frannie's Turn (1992) and Married People (1990).
6. Tony Shalhoub
Actor | Monk
Anthony Marc Shalhoub was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. His father, Joseph Shalhoub, who owned a grocery chain, emigrated from Lebanon to the United States as an orphan at age ten, later marrying Shalhoub's mother, Helen (Seroogy), who herself was born in Wisconsin, to Lebanese parents. ...
7. Ziad H. Hamzeh
Producer | Take My Breath
Ziad's body of work as a director, producer and writer has earned over fifty awards and honors. Presently, Ziad is in pre-production for the feature film Hello Beautiful based on Christine Handy's book Walk Beside Me. Earlier this year, Ziad produced two films: Upstanding in Rwanda and the Tunisian...
8. John Bowab
Director | Here and Now
John Bowab is known for Here and Now (1992), Jennifer Slept Here (1983) and All About Us (2001).
9. George Spiro Dibie
Cinematographer | Growing Pains
George Spiro Dibie was born on November 15, 1931 in Jerusalem, Palestine [now Israel]. He was a cinematographer and producer, known for Growing Pains (1985), Just the Ten of Us (1987) and Dudley (1993). He was married to Daniele Parker. He died on February 8, 2022 in Encino, California, USA.
10. Annemarie Jacir
Director | Lamma shoftak
Annemarie Jacir was born on January 17, 1974 in Bethlehem, Palestine. She is a director and writer, known for When I Saw You (2012), Salt of This Sea (2008) and Wajib (2017).
Tell Your Friends