Mo Amer

Mo Amer is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer known for his work exploring themes of identity, immigration, and the Arab-American experience. After the death of his father, Amer faced academic challenges until an English teacher encouraged him to perform a Shakespearean monologue for extra credit, sparking his interest in performance and comedy. He began his stand-up career in Houston, reaching the finals of Houston's Funniest Person Contest and receiving mentorship at The Comedy Showcase. By age 19, Amer was performing for U.S. troops stationed abroad, becoming one of the first Arab-American refugee comedians to do so.

Amer toured nationally as part of the "Allah Made Me Funny" tour with Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman, performing in more than 27 countries across five continents. His comedy has been featured at venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo, and the Shrine Auditorium. Amer became the first Arab-American to star in his own nationally televised one-hour stand-up special. He made his U.S. network television debut on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and released two Netflix stand-up specials: "Mo Amer: The Vagabond" and "Mo Amer: Mohammed in Texas." His special, "Mo Amer: Wild World," explores his Palestinian roots, experiences on the road, and journey into fatherhood.

Amer appeared in the Hulu sitcom "Ramy," portraying Mo, Ramy's cousin who owns a diner. This role led to the creation of "Mo," a semi-autobiographical series on Netflix inspired by Amer's life as a Palestinian refugee in Houston. The series, created and executive produced by Amer and Ramy Youssef, received critical acclaim for its portrayal of a Palestinian-American refugee protagonist and for highlighting Houston's ethnic diversity. Both seasons of the show earned a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Mo" earned Amer a Gotham Award, an AFI Award, a Peabody Award, and a Television Academy Honor. Amer also appeared in the DC film "Black Adam" and hosted a season of Doha Debates' flagship series, filmed in Qatar's Education City.

Amer's comedy draws from his Palestinian heritage and family background, addressing topics such as religion, terrorism, and contemporary politics. Through personal storytelling, he explores what it means to grow up in America as a Palestinian refugee, establishing himself as a distinctive voice in stand-up comedy and television.