Dean Obeidallah

Born in New Jersey, Dean Obeidallah's comedy arises from his distinctive background as the son of a Palestinian father and a Sicilian mother. A former practicing attorney, he later transitioned to a career in comedy, activism, and writing. Obeidallah co-starred on Comedy Central's "Axis of Evil" Comedy TV special and is the co-creator of Comedy Central.com’s "The Watch List," which highlighted Middle Eastern-American comedians in stand-up and sketch comedy formats.

Obeidallah co-directed and produced the documentary "The Muslims Are Coming!" which features a lineup of American-Muslim comedians performing free shows across the U.S. to promote understanding and tackle misconceptions about Muslims. The documentary, which includes interviews with notable figures such as Jon Stewart and Russell Simmons, is available on platforms like Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon. Additionally, he is a national radio host of "The Dean Obeidallah Show" on SiriusXM and hosts "Salon Talks" for Salon.com.

As an advocate for peace and understanding, Obeidallah co-created and performs in "Stand Up for Peace" alongside Jewish comic Scott Blakeman. The show is aimed at fostering peace and understanding between Arab, Muslim, and Jewish-Americans. He is also the co-founder and co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival, which celebrates Arab-American culture and helps to break down stereotypes through humor. Obeidallah frequently contributes columns to CNN.com, MSNBC.com, and The Daily Beast, addressing topics related to race, politics, and culture, often using personal anecdotes and humor to challenge bigotry and misconceptions.

In addition to his comedy and media contributions, Obeidallah has appeared on a wide variety of television and radio programs, including CNN's "The Situation Room," MSNBC's "The Reid Out," ABC's "Good Morning America," and "The View," among others. He has also performed stand-up comedy across the U.S. and the Middle East, actively using his platform to encourage productive dialogues on sensitive issues. Dean Obeidallah's efforts in comedy and advocacy have earned him recognition, including the "Bill Hicks Spirit Award" for thought-provoking comedy, highlighting his commitment to meaningful and impactful humor.