Comedian, Actress & Disability Advocate; Co-Founder of New York Arab American Comedy Festival; Author of "Find Another Dream"

Cliffside Park, NJ, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Maysoon Zayid Biography

Maysoon Zayid is a Palestinian American comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate known for her work in stand-up comedy, television, and disability rights. Zayid is among the first Muslim women to achieve prominence as a comedian in the United States and to perform stand-up in Palestine and Jordan, contributing to the development of Arabic stand-up comedy. She studied theater at Arizona State University and later served as a guest comedian in residence at the institution. Living with cerebral palsy, Zayid has incorporated her experiences into her comedy and advocacy, addressing disability representation and inclusion.

Early in her acting career, Zayid faced challenges securing roles due to her disability. She transitioned to stand-up comedy, performing at leading New York clubs and touring internationally. Zayid is the co-founder and co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and The Muslim Funny Fest. Her television appearances include Comedy Central's Watch List, PBS's "America at a Crossroads: Muslim Comics Stand Up," CNN, HBO, As The World Turns, Law & Order, MTV, and a recurring role on General Hospital. In film, she appeared with Adam Sandler in "You Don't Mess with the Zohan."

Zayid's TED Talk, "I Got 99 Problems… Palsy Is Just One," has reached a global audience, accumulating millions of views. She was recognized by BBC's 100 Women and has held roles such as Princeton Fellow, on-air contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and columnist for The Daily Beast. Her additional television credits include appearances on Oprah Winfrey Network's "In Deep Shift," 60 Minutes, and ABC News.

Zayid is the author of the memoir "Find Another Dream" and the Scholastic graphic novel "Shiny Misfits." She collaborated with Dave Matthews and served as a consultant on Disney's "Out of My Mind." As an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Zayid advocates for the inclusion of disabled students in education, with a focus on Palestinian refugees and students in the United States. She conducts workshops in the Palestinian Territories for disabled and orphaned children in refugee camps, utilizing art to address trauma. Zayid's work integrates comedy, disability advocacy, and representation in entertainment and education.

BOOK Maysoon Zayid

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/02/2026.

Maysoon Zayid Speaking Topics

  • Arts and Conflict

    Maysoon explores how to use comedy and theater to reach high-risk youth and teach them non-violent self-expression.

  • Growing Up Muslim in America

    Maysoon shares her experiences of growing up Muslim in a country that is afraid of Muslims and growing up American in a family that's afraid of Americans.

Read More +

Maysoon Zayid Videos

Maysoon Zayid keynote speech at RootsTech 2022

Maysoon Zayid keynote speech at RootsTech 2022

Maysoon Zayid's full keynote speech from RootsTech 2022.

I got 99 problems... palsy is just one | TED

I got 99 problems... palsy is just one | TED

"I have cerebral palsy. I shake all the time," Maysoon Zayid announces at the beginning of this exhilarating, hilarious talk. (Really, it's...

Comedian Maysoon Zayid Refuses to Let Cerebral Palsy Stop Her Dreams

Comedian Maysoon Zayid Refuses to Let Cerebral Palsy Stop Her Dreams

We’re talking with inspirational women that you need to know. Maysoon Zayid is an actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate with cerebral...

  • How do I book Maysoon Zayid to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Maysoon Zayid for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Maysoon Zayid, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Maysoon Zayid or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Maysoon Zayid

    Speaking fees for Maysoon Zayid, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Maysoon Zayid are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Maysoon Zayid, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Maysoon Zayid speak about?

    Maysoon Zayid is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Comedian, Disability, Diversity & Inclusion, Middle Eastern Heritage, Muslim, Muslim, Overcoming Adversity, Performing Arts, Personal Growth, Resilience, Storytelling, Women
  • Where does Maysoon Zayid travel from?

    Maysoon Zayid generally travels from Cliffside Park, NJ, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Maysoon Zayid’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Maysoon Zayid for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Maysoon Zayid for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Maysoon Zayid or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Maysoon Zayid is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Arts and Conflict, Growing Up Muslim in America and Survival of the Unfittest. The estimated speaking fee range to book Maysoon Zayid for your event is available upon request. Maysoon Zayid generally travels from Cliffside Park, NJ, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Linda Sarsour, Lizzie Velasquez, Jessica Cox, Jillian Mercado and Tatyana McFadden. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Maysoon Zayid for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP