What Do You Know About Arabs & Arab Americans?

From ancient times Arabs have been an integral part of the world culture and knowledge base. Arabs invented the cipher and decimal system, scientific and mathematical breakthroughs in theory and inventions. There are about 3 million Arab Americans. As a community, they have demonstrated loyalty, inventiveness, and courage on behalf of the United States for over 100 years. Kahlil Gibran was an artist, sculptor, poet and philosopher, who was also the original author of the words made famous by President John F. Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". Here are just a few of the famous and accomplished ones -- people you may know!

F. Murray Abraham - who won Best Actor for the movie “Amadeus.”

Paula Abdul – Singer, dancer and choreographer

Spencer Abraham - Secretary of Energy

Paul Anka - Canadian-born singer-songwriter

Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh - chairman of the board and CEO of Del Monte Produce, Inc.

Victor Atiyeh - popular governor of Oregon

John Baldacci – Congressman and Governor of Maine.

William Peter Blatty - Screenwriter and novelist who won an Academy Award for “The Exorcist”.

Dr. Michael DeBakey - chancellor of Baylor University’s College of Medicine, this Houston surgeon invented the heart pump.

Dr. Farouk el-Baz Egyptian American geologist who helped plan all the Apollo moon landings

Tony Fadell -creator & production manager of the iPod.

Doug Flutie - Heisman winning quarterback

Samir G. Gibara - chairman of the board of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Zaha Hadid – Iraqi American who was the first woman to design a major American art museum, Cincinnati’s $34 million Contemporary Art Center.

J.M. Haggar - Lebanese immigrant started Haggar Clothing Co. in 1926

Najeeb Halaby - head of the Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of Pan-American Airlines.

George Halas, founder of NFL and the Bears, who coached and owned the team.

Abul Hasan - invented the telescope.

Salma Hayek – Actress of Lebanese and Mexican descent.

Paul Jabara - won an Oscar award for Best Song, Donna Summer’s ”Last Dance” from the movie “Thank God, It’s Friday.”

Dr. Joseph Jacobs, a chemist with dozens of patents

U.S. Air Force Col. James Jabara – Korean War hero who was the world’s first jet ace.

George Kasem - the first Arab American elected to the U.S. Congress (form California)

Mario Kassar - is the head of Carolco, the production company responsible for the Rocky, Rambo and Terminator films

Khalid Khannouchi. - track and field, the world record holder for the marathon is Arab American

Al Kawarizma - invented algebra (al jabr).

Candy Lightner - Founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)

Charles Malek, former president of the UN general assembly and co-writer with Eleanor Roosevelt of the chart of human rights.

Joe and Gavin Maloof – owners of the Sacramento Kings.

Sam Maloof - is an award-winning artisan whose creations have appeared in the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Vatican, and other renowned exhibit halls.

Ned Mansour - former the president of Mattel, Inc., maker of Barbie dolls and other toys.

Edward Masry and Erin Brockovich - filed a direct action lawsuit in the late 1990s, against Pacific Gas and Electric for polluting the drinking water of Hinkley, California, resulting in the largest toxic tort injury chronicled in the blockbuster film starring Julia Roberts and Albert Finney.)

More Arabs and Arab Americans

Kristy McNichol - one of the co-stars of the series “Empty Nest”.

George Mitchell - U.S. Senate Majority Leader

Sam Moore - founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest world-wide distributor of The Bible.

Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, who ran for President during the last US elections.

Kathy Najimy - actress who starred in the Sister Act movies as the fun-loving enthusiastic nun

Jacques Nasser - former CEO of Ford Motor Company.

Queen Noor – Arab American Lisa Halaby became the only Arab American to be queen of a foreign country when she married King Hussein of Jordan.

Michael Nouri - leading man who starred in the movies “Flashdance” and “Finding Forrester”.

Naomi Shihab Nye - is an award-winning poet and author of children’s literature.

Paul Orfalea - founded the world’s biggest international chain of copying service stores, Kinko’s.

Tom Shadyac - the director of “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Liar, Liar”, “The Nutty Professor,” and “Patch Adams”.

Shakira - singer and dancer.

Tony Shalhoub - television producer and actor in USA Network’s series “Monk as well as “Men in Black” films, “The Siege”, “A Civil Action,” and “Thirteen Ghosts”.

Don Shula - one time coach of the Dolphins

Senator John E. Sununu – of New Hampshire

Helen Thomas - correspondent for United Press International

Tiffany - Lebanese and Columbian American who was the first teenager ever to have her first two singles both hit Number One.

Marisa Tomei - winner of Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in "My Cousin Vinny" (1992)

Vic Tayback – actor who played diner owner Mel in TV’s “Alice”.

Danny Thomas - comedian and actor one of the best-known Lebanese Americans; was also the founder of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Marlo Thomas - Danny Thomas’ daughter, Emmy Award-winning actress who was the first ever to play a single independent young woman in the TV series, “That Girl.”

Tony Thomas - Danny Thomas’ son, television and film producer and multi-Emmy winner for “The Golden Girls” and other TV shows.

Amy Yasbeck - appeared in the hit sitcom “Wings”, in films including Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”

Ibn Yunus - invented the pendulum.

Frank Zappa - rock legend

Dr. Elias Zerhouni - this Algerian-American is the director of the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Ahmed H. Zewail and Dr. Elias Corey - two Arab Americans who won of the Nobel Prizes for Chemistry.