Lebanese-American celebrities

Canadian-born Paul Anka first achieved success in the 1950s as a teenage singing star (and, for the times, an unusual one in that he wrote many of his own songs). Although he appeared in several films, and was quite believable as a nervous, hyper young soldier in The Longest Day (1962) (for which he also composed the theme music), Anka's main interest was music, and he concentrated his efforts into composing (he wrote lyrics for Frank Sinatra's classic "My Way") and nightclub appearances in Las Vegas.

After growing up in sunny California (Pacific Palisades and Sherman Oaks), he headed for the East in 1990 to attend the country's oldest acting conservatory program Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a BFA in Drama. Straight to New York in 1994, he spent most of his stage life as an understudy, most notably in Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile". His big break came when he got cast in his Broadway debut, the 2000 TONY award-winning musical "Contact". For his performance he received a Drama Desk Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

Jenna Dewan is an actress, former model, and dancer. She was born on December 3, 1980 in Hartford, Connecticut, to Nancy (Bursch) and Darryll Dewan. Her father is of half Syrian Lebanese and half Polish descent, and her mother has German, English, and Cornish ancestry. Jenna grew up in Grapevine, Texas and discovered a love for dancing at the age of five. She is a graduate of Grapevine High School and has also attended the University of Southern California, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi. Jenna was discovered by a dance agent and toured alongside some of the greatest in music entertainment, most notably Janet Jackson and Ricky Martin. She has also appeared in several music videos for artists such as Justin Timberlake, Mandy Moore and Missy Elliott. She has also appeared in several television sitcoms, including Quintuplets (2004), The Young and the Restless (1973) and Joey (2004). Jenna is most noted for her role as Nora Clark in the movie, Step Up (2006), in which she played an accomplished dancer. Jenna has a daughter with her ex-husband, actor Channing Tatum, and a son with her fiancé Steve Kazee.

Shannon Elizabeth was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of a Syrian/Lebanese father. When Shannon was in 3rd grade, her family moved to Waco, Texas, to be close to relatives. As a girl, Shannon took dance lessons, including tap, ballet, and jazz. While attending high school, however, she was very interested in tennis. She even considered going pro and making tennis her life. During high school, she was active in cheerleading, dance team, and the student council. As a senior, Shannon was in a music video shot in Waco. The local music artists were called "Hi-5", and the director of that video just happened to be Antoine Fuqua. After graduating, Shannon moved to New York City to model. She then traveled all over the world with her newfound career to places that included Japan, Italy, France, and Australia. After moving to Los Angeles years later, she signed on with Ford Models and, eventually, Elite. Shannon had always wanted to start her acting career and had just modeled in hopes that it could help lead her into acting, which it did. About a year after moving to Los Angeles, she started taking acting classes with several different coaches. She got an agent, started working, and in 1999, she landed the iconic role of "Nadia" in the movie American Pie.

Shannon enjoys wearing even more hats these days. Since cutting her directing chops on music videos, she is now directing documentaries and film projects via her production company, Ganesha Productions. She also co-hosts the podcast The Art of Conservation.

Shannon also splits her time between the US and South Africa, running programs within her nonprofit, the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation. The mission is to improve this planet for the animals, environment, and indigenous people.

"You don't know who you are until you know where you came from" is a quote Rima carried out through most of her life. Today, at 33 years old Rima Fakih Slaiby resides in California with her husband Wassim 'Sal' Slaiby and two children. Holding her current mission to break barriers for Arab women Rima holds today the title of National Director and Executive Producer of Miss Lebanon/ Miss Universe.

In less than two years Rima competed in and won four consecutive pageants prior to winning the title of Miss USA in 2010. Her win was a monumental breakthrough for all Arab women in the western world and beyond as Rima became the first and only ever Immigrant, Arab woman to win the title of Miss USA. As Miss Michigan USA 2010, Fakih served as one of the first official pageant ambassadors for women's self-defense awareness, educating women on the importance of taking the necessary precautionary measures to best protect and prepare themselves from unwanted situations. As Miss USA, Fakih is a spokeswoman for breast and ovarian cancer education, research and legislation - a platform that is close to her heart. She will travel nationwide as an advocate for organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Gilda's Club, among others. Rima received the Key to the City of Waterbury and a Proclamation from the State of Connecticut declaring September 18th "Rima Fakih Day." Mayor, John B. O'Reilly Jr. awarded Dearborn, Michigan native Rima Fakih the Key to the City and proclaimed Saturday, July 10 as "Rima Fakih Day" along a "Welcome to Dearborn, Home of Rima Fakih sign to the city.

Holding many notable appearances, Rima F Slaiby, has appeared at Ronald Reagan's Centennial Celebration, riding in a float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Regis&Kelly Show, Good Morning America, The Wendy William Show, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, and attending an American Chamber of Commerce conference in Cairo alongside former President Bill Clinton. Rima continued to make many appearances with the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE), including a special segment titled "Tribute to the Troops" and a role in the reality show "Tough Enough", "Dancing With the Stars", and Fox "The Choice."

On September 30, 2018, through her role as President and Executive Producer of the Miss Lebanon 2018 pageant, Rima not only sparked country wide interest but she also delivered a record-breaking show. By combining her pageant and business knowledge, Rima and her team of professionals lead the vision for the new and improved pageant for future participants and winners of Miss Lebanon. Rima's outing and humorous personality continues to lead her to new adventures in life.

One of the most prolific character actors of his time starting with his role of Santini in the Blackboard Jungle (1955). Since then has appeared in iconic shows as the Twilight Zone, the Red Skelton Hour, the Dick Van Dyke Show, the Danny Kaye Show, Hazel, My Three Sons, Ben Casey, The Lucy Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Andy Griffith Show, My Favorite Martian, F Troop, Get Smart. Gomer Pyle, The Flying Nun, The Blue Knight, Barnaby Jones, The Love Boat, Diagnosis Murder and of course M*A*S*H.

Kristina Haddad is known for You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008), Olive Unleashed (2014) and Mafia II (2010).

Daniel Jbara was born on 22 February 1964 in the USA. Daniel was a producer and writer, known for The Last Seduction (1994), Trunk (2008) and Ripley's Believe It or Not! (2000). Daniel died on 21 October 2020 in Cathedral City, California, USA.

Born an entertainer, Casey reigns from Michigan, the same birthplace for fellow Shaggy voice actor Matthew Lillard (whom both Casey and Matthew do a very fine, smashing job voicing the iconic character). Debuted as a radio operator and legendary disc jockey in his early days, he was the greatest and most likely the best one seen in recent years. Having an iconic voice and a set of vocal cords, Casey pleased the audience through radio and voice. Casey hit the big time in the early 60's with voicing both major and minor roles in television series, until Hanna-Barbera released, then later debuted, the same role he characterized his career off of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, in which he had the pleasure of working with legendary voice actors Don Messick and Hal Smith. For over 3 decades, he co-founded and hosted American Top 40, which aired the top songs of the week. In his later years, he spent his time with his friends and family, in the way he could showcase with love, passion, and voicing. He died on June 15th, 2014. He was 82 years old. He will be forever missed in the hearts of fans around the world.

John Edward Kassir is an American actor and producer from Baltimore, Maryland who is known for voicing the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt. He also played Jibolba from Tak and the Power of Juju, Deadpool in various Marvel games and cartoons, Ralph from Reefer Madness and many more roles.

Skandar Amin Casper Keynes (born 5 September 1991) is an English actor best known for starring as Edmund Pevensie in the 2005 film adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He returned in the role of Edmund in the film's sequels The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Keynes was born in London, to writer Randal Keynes and Zelfa Cecil Hourani, and has a sister called Soumaya. Through his father, Keynes is the great-great-great grandson of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. His paternal great-grandfather, Edgar Douglas Adrian, 1st Baron Adrian, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932.

His maternal grandfather, Cecil Fadlo Hourani, is a famous writer, and the brother of Albert Hourani, also a well-known writer and professor. Skandar's father is of English descent and his mother is of Lebanese, as well as Persian and Turkish, ancestry. He attended the Anna Scher Theatre School from 2000 to 2005, and the all-boys City of London School.

Frank Lackteen was born on 29 August 1897 in Kab Elias, Syria (now Lebanon). He was an actor, known for The Green Archer (1925), The Desert Hawk (1944) and The Sea Wolf (1941). He was married to Muriel Elizabeth Dove and Sarah. He died on 8 July 1968 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Karla Maatouk is known for L.A.'s Finest (2019), Dune: Part Two (2024) and Paranormal (2020).

Shadia Martin was born in Panama City, Panama. She is an actress, known for Francis (2025).

Alanna Masterson (born June 27, 1988) is an American actress who is known for her role as Tara Chambler in the AMC television series The Walking Dead.

Masterson was born on Long Island, New York to Carol Masterson (a manager) and Joe Reaiche, a Lebanese Australian former rugby league player with the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. She is the younger sister to her full brother, Jordan Masterson, and two half-brothers, Danny Masterson, Christopher Masterson. The family later relocated to Los Angeles, California. She grew up around and was influenced by her older brothers who both starred in popular television shows in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Masterson's passion for acting came from spending a lot of time on set with her brothers and seeing the filming process.

Masterson has recently appeared as Tara Chambler on the AMC series The Walking Dead, having debuted in the show's fourth season. Masterson was promoted to a series regular for the fifth season and was added to the main credits in the seventh season. She had a recurring role in the fourth season of the ABC series Mistresses.

On November 4, 2015, Masterson gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Marlowe, with then-boyfriend Brick Stowell.

Randi Mayem Singer is known for Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jack & Jill (1999) and Tooth Fairy (2010).

Robert Nadder was born on February 15, 1935 to Assyrian parents in Yonkers, New York, USA. He was a film actor, known for Foxy Brown (1974), Mission: Impossible (1966) and The Main Event (1979) as well as work in television. He died on December 13, 1995 in Atherton, California, USA.

In the decades before joining the national touring company of The Great White Hope in the early 1970s, which ultimately took him to California where he relocated, Nadder acted in various theater productions in NYC, including an ensemble role in The Devils (1965-66). Summers he performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

Born in Pasadena, California, George Nader became interested in acting while still in school and appeared in several productions at the Pasadena Playhouse. This led to several small parts in movies before earning the lead role in the ridiculous 3-D thriller Robot Monster (1953). The movie was bad but profitable, and Nader soon had a contract with Universal Pictures. Unfortunately, the studio already had on its roster such good-looking and athletic actors as Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis and Jeff Chandler, so Nader often found himself being cast in their leftovers, usually playing parts that emphasized his "beefcake" appeal. (At 6' 1" and 180 pounds, Nader had the kind of physique fan magazines drooled over and unlike many of his colleagues, he frequently appeared with his chest hair intact.) However, he did enjoy a few good years in the mid-1950s, turning in a commendable performance in Away All Boats (1956) before his career began to decline. He tried his hand at three TV series and then relocated to Europe, where he enjoyed a modest revival in the late 1960s starring as "Jerry Cotton" in a series of West German films.

Michael Nader was born on 19 February 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Dynasty (1981), All My Children (1970) and Pajama Party (1964). He was married to Jody Lister, Beth Windsor and Robin Weiss. He died on 23 August 2021 in Lake Tahoe, California, USA.

Ralph Nader was born on 27 February 1934 in Winsted, Connecticut, USA. He is an actor, known for Fun with Dick and Jane (2005), Laugh-In (1977) and LateLine (1998).

Kathy Najimy was born and raised in San Diego, California. She is the daughter of Samia (Massery) and Fred Najimy, a postal worker, both of Lebanese ancestry. Kathy attended Crawford High School, and began her film career in the early 1990s, with several minor roles. Kathy got her breakthrough screen role as "Sister Mary Patrick" in Sister Act (1992). She reprised this role in 1993 in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993). She is most notably known as the voice of "Peggy Hill" on King of the Hill (1997).

Kathy lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor/singer Dan Finnerty (the Dan Band) and their daughter, Samia Najimy Finnerty.

George Noory hosts the nationally syndicated program Coast to Coast AM, heard by millions of listeners on more than 600 stations in North America, is the #1 most listened to radio show in the overnight time period, according to Arbitron.

While hosting The Nighthawk, a wildly successful, late-night program on KTRS in St. Louis, George Noory was recruited by Premiere Networks to guest host on Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell. On January 1, 2003, George Noory became the permanent host of the phenomenally successful overnight program, following the retirement of Art Bell. Under Noory's hosting, the show grew significantly.

Noory captivates program listeners with his discussions including paranormal phenomena, time travel, alien abductions, religion, spirituality, conspiracies and all things curious and unexplained. He is driven, he has said, by the desire to solve the great mysteries of our time. From his first days as a radio broadcaster he says, "I've wanted to cover stories that the mainstream media never touch--the unusual, the paranormal and things like that. I learned that broadcast is the best business for exploring these issues, and I've been doing it for years."

He dates his interest in these matters to a book by Walter Sullivan, We Are Not Alone, that his mother gave him when he was 13. He was hooked.

Prior to his late-night show on KTRS, Noory had an extensive broadcast career. He started in radio at WCAR-AM in Detroit, where his first-ever interview was with nuclear physicist and UFO expert Stanton Friedman. From 1974-1978, he served as news producer and executive news producer at WJBK-TV. At age 28, he became the youngest major market news director in the country at KMSP-TV in Minneapolis. Noory was also the director of news planning and development at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, was news director at KSDK-TV in St. Louis and the recipient of three Emmy Awards while a news executive.

Noory released his first book in 2006. Worker In The Light: Unlock Your Five Senses And Liberate Your Limitless Potential, co-written by best-selling author William J. Birnes, is Noory's revolutionary guide to spiritual enlightenment, human empowerment, ultimate productivity and absolute happiness. Noory and Birnes co-authored a follow-up in 2009 entitled Journey to the Light, in which they present amazing first-hand accounts of how ordinary people changed their own lives, transcended their doubts and fears, and unlocked the secrets to their spiritual growth. In October 2011, Noory released his third book, Talking To The Dead. Co-written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, a leading expert on the paranormal and supernatural, the book explores the colorful history and personalities behind spirit communications, weaving together spirituality, metaphysics, science and technology. Noory, along with Richard Belzer and David Wayne, released Someone is Hiding Something: What Happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370? in February 2015. Scrutinizing the theories the media and politicians claim are the "most likely" reasons the plane crashed, they argue that if a year after a huge Boeing 777 has gone missing, and there's still no sign of it whatsoever, it's time to think outside the box.

In July, 2016, Noory released Night Talk, a fictional story about a late-night talk-show host who is fascinated by the paranormal and becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy. His latest work, Mad As Hell, is set for release in June 2017 and discusses the problems facing our country, why Noory is mad about it, and how we could bring about positive change.

In December 2012, GAIAM TV launched Beyond Belief with George Noory, a new TV show exploring the unknown and mysteries of the universe. The one-hour, weekly series features Noory's informative, investigative and dynamic conversations, as well as some of his favorite guests from the radio program. Taped in front of a live audience at GAIAM studios in Boulder, Colo., Beyond Belief with George Noory is available exclusively on http://www.beyondbelief.com/.

When he's not busy hosting his radio show or writing his next book, Noory travels the U.S., meeting with fans at events like Contact in the Desert and the Conscious Life Expo, or his live George Noory & Friends stage shows. Last summer, he launched ParanormalDate.com for people who enjoy the subject matter covered on Coast to Coast AM. A companion site, ConspiracyDate.com, was also recently launched. Both apps are available for free on IOS and Android devices. For more information, please visit www.coasttocoastam.com.

Noory was born, raised and educated in Detroit. He has three children and six grandchildren. He served nine years in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Coast to Coast AM is the most listened to overnight radio program in the USA and is broadcast live, Monday-Sunday from 1-5 a.m. ET.

Michael Nouri was born on 9 December 1945 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is an actor, known for The Watcher (2022), Yellowstone (2018) and Devils (2020). He was previously married to Vicki Light and Lynn Goldsmith.

Jeanine Pirro was born on 2 June 1951 in Elmira, New York, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), Judge Jeanine Pirro (2008) and God's Not Dead: We the People (2021). She was previously married to Albert J. Pirro, Jr..

Distinctive American actor, screenwriter, and producer of Lebanese ancestry, born Richard Joseph Romanos to Dr. Raymond Daniel Romanos and his wife Eileen Dorothy ((née Maloof). His younger brother, Robert, is also an actor. Richard attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating with a degree in philosophy in 1964. He initially set out to pursue a career in law. After studying for a year at the University of Connecticut Law School, he dropped out, moved to New York and enrolled in drama classes with Lee Strasberg at the renowned Actor's Studio. He made his screen debut in 1968 and quickly established himself as a versatile character player in high profile TV shows, commencing with Mission: Impossible (1966). Often cast as Latinos or Italians, he was reputedly considered for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972). In fact, he did play a gangster named Michael (Longo) in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973).

In episodic television, Richard came to be equally adept at portraying good guys (Detective Sam Carlucci in Kojak (1973)) and black Hats (Johnny Noah in Hawaii Five-O (1968)). He had recurring roles in the short-lived, underrated detective series Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980) as the aptly named Crazy Tommy Tedesco, and, conversely, as tough police captains in Foul Play (1981). He was also a regular in the cast of Strike Force (1981) as the wry ladies' man Charlie Gunzer. In The Sopranos (1999), Richard played the ex-husband of psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) who strongly disapproved of her treating Mafia don Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini).

Richard's first wife was the actress Tina Romanus (aka Bohlman, aka Bowman). Their marriage produced a son but ended in divorce in 1980. In 1985, he married the Oscar-nominated costume designer Anthea Sylbert. Together, they wrote the TV comedy Giving Up the Ghost (1998) and the Christmas fantasy If You Believe (1999), the latter receiving a nomination for a Best Original Screenplay Award from the Writers Guild of America in 1999. In 2004, the couple sold their home in Los Angeles and resettled on the Greek island of Skiathos. Henceforth, Richard concentrated on writing novels on Greek historical themes, an interest he had developed during his college years. He published 'Chrysalis' in 2011 and 'Matoula's Echo' in 2014, as well as a memoir, 'Act III', in 2012. A 2013 book, 'Sketches of Skiathos', was a homage to his new home and its inhabitants.

A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America, and a fellow of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Richard Romanus died on December 26 2023 on Skiathos at the age of 80.