Famous Iranian Americans

Famous Iranians
Updated June 15, 2019 54.3K views154 items

Some of the most famous actors, athletes, politicians, academics, journalists, and musicians are from Iranian decent. Some of these famous Persian-Americans immigrated to the US, while others are natural-born US citizens. A few of the names on this list have dual citizenship in both Iran and the United States. As of 2011, the US has the second-largest Iranian population outside of the nation of Iran, largely due to a sizable wave of immigration from Iran between the years 1980 and 1990 following the Iranian Revolution and the abolition of the Iranian monarchy. 

Who are some of the most famous Iranian-Americans? Adrian Pasdar tops our list. He's best known for his role as Jim Profit on the hit Fox TV series, Profit. He also has a recurring role Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and has done a ton of voice-acting in some of Marvel's cartoon superhero stories. 

Check our our list of the most famous Iranian-Americans below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section. 
Ranked by
  • Sarah Shahi
    • Birthplace: Euless, Texas, USA
    Actress.
    Aahoo Jahansouz "Sarah" Shahi (Persian: آهو جهانسوز سارا شاهی‎; born January 10, 1980) is an Iranian-American television actress and former NFL Cheerleader of Iranian and Spanish ancestry. She played Kate Reed in the USA Network legal drama Fairly Legal in 2011–12, Carmen on The L Word in 2008, and also starred as Sameen Shaw on the CBS crime drama Person of Interest. She has also appeared as the main female role Det. Dani Reese in Life, and in a supporting role in Alias. In 2018, she starred in the series Reverie. In 2019, she appeared in a few episodes of City on a Hill on Showtime.
  • Catherine Bell
    • Birthplace: London, England, UK
    Actress.
    Catherine Bell may refer to: Catherine Bell (religious studies scholar), American scholar of religious studies Catherine Bell (actress), American actress Catherine J. Bell, Canadian trade unionist and politician Catherine Bell (British Civil Servant) in 2012 New Year Honours
  • Nasim Pedrad
    • Birthplace: Tehran, Iran
    Actress, comedian.
    Nasim Pedrad (Persian: نسیم پدراد‎; born November 18, 1981) is an American actress and comedian best known for her five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2009 to 2014. She has since gone on to co-star in sitcoms such as Mulaney, Scream Queens, People of Earth, and New Girl, and the live-action remake of Aladdin.
  • Nadia Bjorlin
    • Birthplace: Newport, Rhode Island, USA
    TV/soap opera actress.
    Nadia Alexandra Bjorlin (born August 2, 1980) is an American actress, singer, and model.
  • Nazanin Boniadi
    • Birthplace: Tehran, Iran
    Television and film actress.
    Nazanin Boniadi (; Persian: نازنین بنیادی‎ [nɑzæˈniːn bonjɑˈdiː]; (born 22 May 1979) is an Iranian-British actress and human rights defender.
  • The Iron Sheik

    The Iron Sheik

    Dec. at 83 (1940-2023)
    • Birthplace: Tehran, Iran
    Retired professional wrestler, better known by his stage name of The Iron Sheik.
    Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (March 15, 1942 – June 7, 2023), better known by his ring name The Iron Sheik, was an Iranian-American former professional wrestler, amateur wrestler and actor. Vaziri was the first-and-only Iranian world champion in WWE history, having won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983. Coming off the Iranian hostage crisis, The Iron Sheik is considered to be one of the greatest heels of all time. His villainous character peaked during the 1980s WWF wrestling boom and his rivalry with Hulk Hogan turned Hogan into one of the greatest television heroes of the decade. He would later form a tag team with Nikolai Volkoff, with whom he won the WWF Tag Team Championship at the inaugural WrestleMania event. In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.