Muslim Celebrities

Top 10 Muslims Making Strides in Hollywood

By Dilshad D. Ali

They may not be major Hollywood players just yet, but Muslim actors, writers, producers, directors, and other artistic professionals have been on the rise over the past decade. You may recognize some on our list as frequent character actors who have gone beyond playing the typical "terrorist" or immigrant roles. Others are less known to the public, though they help shape some of our most popular movies and TV shows.

Drawing on their faith to fuel their work (or help make fun of life), some of these Hollywood folks have been working the scene for years, while others are just starting to make their mark. From shows like "Sleeper Cell" and "The Daily Show" to movies like The House of Sand and Fog and Independence Day, these Muslims have steadily and quietly produced a stellar body of Hollywood work. Meet them now in Beliefnet's guide to the top Muslims in Hollywood.

Kamran Pasha

In 2008 as he was working on the NBC drama "Kings," Hollywood screenwriter and author Kamran Pasha received a call from his mother telling him that she wanted to do her Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, and as a son it was his duty to accompany her. Reluctant to go, Pasha later wrote on washingtonpost.com that he often had felt "the need to put my career before my faith, missing prayers and even forgoing some of the fasts of Ramadan to focus on my work." But that material success was coming "at the cost of something far more precious—my relationship with God."

With the blessings of his executive producer Michael Green, Pasha went with his mother and discovered that the Prophet Muhammad's life story was "far more remarkable than any of the Hollywood epics I have written." Pasha came back profoundly affected and put his experiences into his work. He spent two seasons as a writer and co-producer on Showtime's drama "Sleeper Cell" and worked on the recently canceled TV series "Kings," a contemporary retelling of the story of the biblical King David. In an interview with Beliefnet, Pasha said, "There aren't many Muslims in Hollywood, but there are stories that need to be heard, and Muslims like me should be the ones telling those stories."

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Iranian-born actress Shohreh Aghdashloo captured critical acclaim in "The Stoning of Soraya M." (2009), a wrenching film about an Iranian woman framed for adultery and sentenced to stoning under an archaic Islamic law. Aghdashloo has made a name for herself playing numerous ethnic roles in film and television, most recognizably as an undercover Muslim terrorist on FOX's "24," which outraged many Muslim-Americans. Aghdashloo later countered in a Time magazine interview that though she previously had resisted stereotypical Muslim terrorist roles, the "strength and complexity" of the "24" character convinced her to take the part. She played opposite Ben Kingsley in "House of Sand and Fog" (2003).

Aghdashloo began acting in her 20s and starred in numerous Iranian films, but left the country for England to study following the 1979 revolution. After she completed her education, she moved to Los Angeles to continue her film and TV career. Proud of her Iranian and Muslim heritage, Aghdashloo continues to take complex roles that push the envelope of cultural and religious perceptions (she played the Jewish character Elizabeth in "The Nativity Story"). Aghdashloo is only moving up in Hollywood—she just scored her first Emmy for her supporting role in the HBO miniseries, "House of Saddam."

Dave Chappelle

Comedian and actor Dave Chappelle knows how to get a laugh. He parlayed his groundbreaking brand of sketch comedy into the wildly popular Comedy Central program, "The Dave Chappelle Show," which debuted in 2003. Then Chappelle, whose comedic star was on a meteoric rise, took a sudden hiatus in 2005 from Season Three of the show. He disappeared and then turned up in South Africa. Why would the comedian walk away from a $50 million contract and retreat to relative seclusion with an old friend named Salim? To reflect on his Muslim faith, to be "well balanced" and to "check my intentions," Chappelle told Time Magazine in 2005.

Chappelle has always charted his Hollywood career on his own terms. His film debut came by way of a small role in Mel Brook's comedy "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." The actor later was offered the star-making role of Bubba in "Forrest Gump," which he regrettably turned down. A steady stream of small TV and film roles finally landed Chappelle his breakthrough show on Comedy Central. But the actor, who reportedly converted to Islam in 1998, walked away from it all in 2005. The reason for his choice is still being debated, but it doesn't seem to bother Chappelle, who has since maintained a low profile at his residence in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Said Chappelle, "Turns out you don't need $50 million to live around these parts, just a nice smile and a kind way about you."

Mara Brock Akil

In the high-powered world of Hollywood TV where cable channels are producing dramas and sitcoms that rival (and sometimes surpass) those produced by the major networks, Mara Brock Akil stands out. She is a successful writer and producer of such shows as "The Jamie Foxx Show," "Moesha," and UPN's "Girlfriends," which began in 2000 and ran until 2008. She and her husband, TV director Salim Akil, are Sufi Muslims who are also teaming up to write and produce a film for the Weinstein Company.

Akil has expressed pride in her faith, but tends to keep it out of her work. Some have called "Girlfriends" the black "Sex in the City." Akil saw her show as a forum for bringing to light important issues facing black women. Akil has worked hard to gather a diverse behind-the-scenes staff for "Girlfriends" and more recently "The Game." In a 2004 interview with Northwestern University's magazine, Akil said, "There are a lot of women in top positions, black, white, Asian, Polynesian, Latino, gay, and Jewish. It's a beautiful, 'We are the World' thing, and it's one key to the successes of [my] shows."

Said Taghmaoui

When "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" hit the theaters last summer, Said Taghmaoui got a chance to fight terrorists rather than play them. Taghmaoui's character, Breaker, has Muslim origins and is a member of the global G.I. Joe team hunting down the world's baddies. Taghmaoui, a standout actor in France of Moroccan parentage, has steadily built a career in Hollywood, even playing the stereotypical role of the terrorist (such as in the movie "Vantage Point" and "Traitor")--but adding nuance, complexity, and even a touch of sympathy every time he takes on such a role.

Taghmaoui, who is more widely recognized now for his recurring role as Caesar in Season Five of the ABC hit drama "Lost," first had a career as a boxer. Later, with a friend, he wrote and starred in the script for "La Haine" ("Hatred," about race and violence in the ghettos of Paris), which won him awards and accolades. Since then he's made his mark as an international star, making movies in Hollywood ("Hidalgo," "Three Kings," "The Kite Runner"), as well as in France and Morocco. As he continues to score bigger and more popular roles in Hollywood, Taghmaoui is poised to become that actor who can take on roles where faith can be part of his backstory instead of the main plot focus.

Axis of Evil Comedy Trio

On March 10, 2007, the country was introduced to the Axis of Evil. No, not the one identified by former President George W. Bush. I'm talking about the comedy trio of Maz Jobrani, Ahmed Ahmed, and Aron Kader (with special guests Dean Obeidallah, Wan Ho Chung, and Nick Youssef), who made their debut on Comedy Central with a side-splitting special that showcased their particular brand of self-deprecating Middle Eastern and Muslim humor. (And yes, they took their name from Bush's 2002 State of the Union address.) The comedic trio, which started touring in 2005, have been making people laugh all around the world. But their Hollywood roots go much deeper.

All three have had roles in TV and film, from Egyptian-born Ahmed appearing on "Executive Decision," "JAG," and as a featured comedian on the PBS special, "STAND UP: Muslim Comics Come of Age," to Iranian-born Jobrani, the breakout actor of the group who has appeared in "The Interpreter," "Friday After Next" and "Dragonfly" to Kader, who was raised in Washington, D.C. and trained in sketch comedy at The Groundlings theater in Los Angeles. (Kader wrote on his website that he "would like to thank his Palestinian father and Mormon mother for giving him so many reasons to be a comedian.") Jobrani and other members of the Axis have spoken out against the stereotypical terrorist or "7-Eleven store owner" roles open to them. Jobrani once refused a plum role of a terrorist mastermind on "24," saying the show was "bad for him and for America." Minorities need image rehabilitation, Jobrani said in an article on Newsweek.com and Washingtonpost.com. Though these comedians milk their culture and faith for huge laughs, they take their character choices very seriously.

Aasif Mandvi

On a recent episode of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show," the faux anchorman reported on the story of Bollywood film legend Shah Rukh Khan, who had been detained and questioned for two hours at Newark Liberty (N.J.) International Airport before being released by immigration authorities. After a small riff on the story, Stewart moved on to other news. But "Daily Show" correspondent Aasif Mandvi popped up in mock outrage that he hadn't been called on to cover the story. "I'm, Indian, I'm Muslim," he complained. "I should've been all over this!"

On stage, screen, and TV, Mandvi has been drawing on his ethnicity and faith for years to fuel his humor. The Mumbai-born actor, who later emigrated to England (and recalls his early years at an all-boys school as his first impetus to explore issues of ethnic pride versus integration), got his first big break in his 1998 one-man show, "Sakina's Restaurant," which was based on his family's immigrant experience. Following 9/11, the funnyman parlayed his experiences into political humor while still playing small roles on film and television (including "Spider-Man 2" and "Freedomland"). He was seen recently in "The Proposal," with Sandra Bullock. But it's probably on "The Daily Show" that Mandvi has come into his own, uproariously tapping his ethnicity and faith to color his brand of Middle East reporting.

Sayed Badreya

You've seen actor and filmmaker Sayed Badreya in dozens of big-name films and TV shows, though you may not know his name. He's broken barriers in Hollywood as the first Muslim to actually play Muslim characters back in the 1980s. Prior to that, recalled friend and fellow Hollywood screenwriter Kamran Pasha, "Most of the Muslim roles went to Greek guys."

The actor, who grew up in poverty in Egypt, turned to films as his only escape from the political turmoil in his country during the 1960s and 70s. After moving to the U.S. to attend New York University's film school, Badreya left for Hollywood and began appearing in typical "foreign" and "terrorist" roles on television and film. His big break came in the late 1990s, when he scored roles in "The Insider," "Three Kings," "Independence Day," and "Stargate." He was most recently seen in "Iron Man" and "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." But for Badreya, his true dream is to tell the stories of real Arabs. For that purpose, he formed the production company Zoom in Focus, which has put out a number Arab- and Muslim-centered short films. As the king of Muslim and Arab character roles, Badreya has been a Hollywood mainstay for three decades.

The Comedians of Allah Made Me Funny

Comedian, writer, and actor Preacher Moss imagines what it would be like if Muslims advertised to get people to join their faith: "Are you sick of eating pork? Are you tired of drinking alcohol? Only got one wife? Whaaaaat?" Cue the laughter. Moss, along with comedians Azhar Usman and Mo Amer form the Allah Made Me Funny comedy trio, which has been touring the country for years. They made their Hollywood debut in 2008 with a movie based on their uproarious and eye-opening act. Poking fun at Muslims and non-Muslimsnalike, these multi-talented comedians truly wear their faith on their sleeves as they use their comedy to encourage people to take a new look at Muslims.

But though comedy is what these three are known for, their Hollywood experience includes writing and acting as well. Preacher Moss has an extensive screenwriting resume and has written for Damon Wayans ("In Living Color" and "My Wife and Kids"), George Lopez on "The George Lopez Show" and for Darrell Hammond on "Saturday Night Live." Usman and Amer have other comedy specials and shows in the works. Of all the Muslim actors, writers, producers, and comedians making their way in Hollywood, these three are probably the most vocal about their faith--promoting Islam, breaking down stereotypes with self-deprecating humor, and challenging viewers to see Muslims for who they really are.

Irfan Khan, Khalid Abdalla, and A.R. Rahman

A number of popular foreign Muslim actors and musicians are beginning to make the crossover to Hollywood, working seamlessly among Bollywood, foreign films, and mainstream Hollywood, and bringing an international audience to American films.

India's Irfan Khan, a staple of Bollywood acting for a decade, has brought his star power to Hollywood with such films like "A Mighty Heart," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "The Darjeeling Express." He is best known for his turn as the investigating police inspector in "Slumdog."

London-bred Khalid Abdulla (of Egyptian heritage) went from a typical terrorist role in "United 93" to playing the hero in "The Kite Runner." He's now working on "The Green Zone" with Matt Damon, directed by Paul Greengrass.

A.R. Rahman, a wildly popular, prolific, and award-winning musical composer in Bollywood, recently won an Oscar for the score he wrote for "Slumdog Millionaire."

Other Muslims on the Rise in Hollywood

A number of other Muslims are beginning to make waves in Hollywood, and will surely garner larger roles in the years to come. Faran Haroon Tahir, an American whose parents were accomplished actor-directors in Pakistan and India, has made the rounds in Hollywood for several years playing guest roles and minor characters in several TV shows, including "Lost," "The Practice," "NYPD Blue" and "7th Heaven." But recently he has made the move to the silver screen with roles in "Star Trek" and "Iron Man." What makes Tahir interesting is that he's been cast in two films as non-Muslim characters—a breakthrough for Muslim actors in Hollywood.

Finally, there's Aziz Ansari, whom we debated whether to include on this list. Ansari, a hilarious comedic actor who has appeared on NBC's "Scrubs" and is starring in "Parks and Recreation." He's also been tapped by director Judd Apatow to appear in the film "Funny People." Ansari doesn't like to talk about faith (we're pretty sure his Muslim identity is non-existent), and he once related this funny story:

"'I didn't find out I was Muslim until I was 11. I was at a friend's house and my mom called. She said, 'Aziz, what are you up to?'

'Just chillin', eatin' some bacon.' She's like 'Aziz! Bacon is pork! We're Muslims! We're not supposed to eat pork!' I was like, ‘Well, double-check the Koran, Mom. This stuff is the s--t!'"

And for that story, we had to throw Ansari a plug in this gallery.