Wikipedia

Ramy Youssef

For the Egyptian handball player, see Ramy Youssef (handballer).
Not to be confused with Ramzi Yousef.

Ramy Youssef (Arabic: رامي يوسف, Egyptian Arabic: [ˈɾɑːmi ˈjuːsɪf]; born March 26, 1991) [1][2] is an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and director. He is known for his role as Ramy Hassan on the Hulu comedy series Ramy (2019–2022), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Peabody Award in 2020. He was also nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Ramy Youssef
Youssef holding a microphone and smiling while wearing a tuxedo
Youssef in 2017
Born (1991-03-26) March 26, 1991 (age 33)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • screenwriter
  • director
Years active2009–present
Notable work

Early life and education

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Ramy Youssef was born in 1991[3] in the Queens borough of New York City, to Egyptian parents,[4] and raised in Rutherford, New Jersey.[5] Ten years after emigrating from Egypt, his father became a manager at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.[6] He was raised in a Muslim household, observing Islamic holidays, and Youssef remains a practicing Muslim.[7][8]

Youssef attended Rutherford High School. In high school, he and his friend Steve Way appeared on their high school television program.[9][5] He went on to study political science and economics at Rutgers University, Newark, but he left before graduating to enroll at William Esper Studio to focus on acting.[10][11]

Youssef speaks Arabic and English.[12] His maternal grandfather was a French and Arabic interpreter at the United Nations.[12]

Career

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Youssef made his acting debut on the Nick at Nite sitcom See Dad Run in which he had a main role. During the run of the show, Youssef shadowed the writers' room, an experience Youssef would bring to his own show in 2019.[5]

In 2017, Youssef appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he performed his stand-up routine.[5]

His television series Ramy debuted on Hulu on April 19, 2019, with 10 episodes.[13] The show, in which Youssef plays the title character, tells the story of a millennial Muslim who is a first-generation American born to immigrant parents in the United States.[14][15] Soon after its first season debuted, Hulu renewed it for a second season.[16] He received a Golden Globe in January 2020 for this role, and was also nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, as both an actor and director.[17]

In June 2019, Youssef starred in his first HBO stand-up comedy special, Ramy Youssef: Feelings.[18]

Along with Mo Amer, Youssef is the co-creator of Mo, an American comedy-drama streaming television series that premiered on August 24, 2022, on Netflix.[19]

After the debut of Ramy, Youssef signed an overall television production deal with A24. As of December 2019, he had two shows in development, one for Apple TV and one for Netflix.[20]

In 2021, he was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy for Ramy.[10][21][22]

Ramy season three premiered in the US on 30 September 2022.[23]

In a February 2024 interview, Youssef told Vanity Fair that his art has often taken him to Palestine, including to perform stand-up comedy in 2014 and in the aforementioned third season of Ramy.[12]

In 2023, Youssef toured his comedy show "More Feelings" and announced that proceeds from the final 12 nights would raise funds for Gaza through American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA).[24] On December 8, 2023, Youssef's "More Feelings" show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), which donated all proceeds from ticket sales to ANERA, drew headlines when celebrities including Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez attended.[24]

Youssef had his first major movie role [25] in the 2023 film Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

On March 30, 2024, Youssef hosted Saturday Night Live.[26]

In August 2024, it was announced [27] that Youssef had inked a new first-look deal with Netflix, via his production company Cairo Cowboy.

Personal life

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Youssef has been married to a visual artist from Saudi Arabia since 2022.[28][29] He met his wife through May Calamawy, his co-star in Ramy.[28] He is private about his personal life, and has chosen not to disclose his wife's personal details publicly.[28][30]

In October 2023, he signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza during the Israeli invasion of Gaza.[31] Youssef also wore an "Artists for Ceasefire" pin at the 2024 Academy Awards,[32] and called for the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza when he hosted Saturday Night Live on March 30, 2024.[26]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Why Him? Coder in kitchen
2018 Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Drinker
2023 Poor Things Max McCandles
Wish Safi Voice

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2012–2014 See Dad Run Kevin Kostner Main role
2015 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn Ty Episode: "Unhappy Campers"
2016 Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street Lennon Episode: "Gortimer vs. the World's Best Mom"
2017 Mr. Robot Samar Swailem 3 episodes
2019–2022 Ramy Ramy Hassan Lead role; also creator, writer, director, and executive producer
2019 Ramy Youssef: Feelings Himself Stand-up special
2022–present Mo — Co-creator
2023 The Bear — Director; episode "Honeydew"
2024 Ramy Youssef: More Feelings Himself Stand-up special
Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode "Ramy Youssef/Travis Scott"
TBA Golf Main role; also co-creator and executive producer[33]
Upcoming series

Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref(s)
Critics' Choice Television Awards 2019 Best Actor in a Comedy Series Ramy Nominated
2021 Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 2020 Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy Won
2021 Nominated
Gotham Awards 2019 Breakthrough Series – Short Form Nominated
NAACP Image Awards 2021 Outstanding Breakthrough Creative – Television Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards 2020 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [34]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Nominated
2024 The Bear (Episode: "Honeydew") Nominated [35]
Satellite Awards 2021 Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series Ramy Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2021 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
TCA Awards 2020 Individual Achievement in Comedy Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards 2020 Comedy/Variety – Specials Ramy Youssef: Feelings Nominated
Peabody Awards 2023 Entertainment Mo Won
Directors Guild of America Awards 2024 Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series The Bear (Episode: "Honeydew") Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Morris, Julie (May 2, 2024). Introduction to Sociology Through Comedy. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-040-01860-6.
  2. ^ "Ramy Youssef".
  3. ^ "Ramy Youssef". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Deb, Sopan (April 18, 2019). "'Ramy' Is a Quietly Revolutionary Comedy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019. Youssef, 28 [as of April 18, 2019]
  5. ^ a b c d Kuperinsky, Amy (April 19, 2019). "Meet Ramy Youssef, star of 'Ramy,' the Hulu show that breaks new ground while drawing on his N.J. roots". NJ.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Ramy Youssef: I Wish Muslims Prayed On Sundays". The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. April 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Ramy Youssef's Muslim American Life". The New Yorker. October 19, 2022. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Last, First (April 2019). "Ramy Youssef Discovers Himself". The Last Laugh (Podcast). Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2019. Timestamp needed.
  9. ^ "Q&A: Hulu's 'Ramy' Creator Ramy Youssef on Upending the First-Generation Narrative". April 17, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Izadi, Elahi. "Comedian Ramy Youssef is still figuring out life as a Muslim millennial. So he made a show about it". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  11. ^ Graham, Adam (April 25, 2019). "'Ramy' Star Ramy Youssef Has Faith in His Comedy". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Warner, Kara (February 22, 2024). "Ramy Youssef's Big Year: Poor Things, The Bear, Taylor Swift, and More". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Siede, Caroline. "Ramy is a Muslim millennial comedy with impressively big questions on its mind". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  14. ^ "'Ramy' Is About One Millennial American Muslim – And Everyone's Racist Uncles". NPR. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  15. ^ Ali, Lorraine (April 19, 2019). "Ramy Youssef on making TV's first Muslim American sitcom, Hulu's millennial comedy 'Ramy'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  16. ^ Thorne, Will. "'Ramy,' 'Pen15' Renewed for Second Seasons at Hulu". Variety. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  17. ^ "Ramy Youssef - Awards and Nominations". The Emmys. The Television Academy. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "Ramy Youssef: Feelings". HBO. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  19. ^ Vognar, Chris (August 19, 2022). "Mohammed Amer Is a Salad Bowl". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "Ramy Youssef Inks Overall Deal With A24 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  21. ^ Framke, Caroline (March 10, 2019). "TV Review: 'Ramy'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  22. ^ Ibrahim, Shamira (April 23, 2019). "What 'Ramy' Gets Wrong About Muslim Women". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "Ramy | Season 3 Trailer | Hulu". September 14, 2022 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ a b Duran, Anagricel. "Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez attend Gaza fundraising show". NME. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  25. ^ Rose, Steve (January 8, 2024). "'No one knew what to do with me': Ramy Youssef on privilege, fear and his friend Taylor Swift". The Guardian.
  26. ^ a b Zach, Vasquez (March 31, 2024). "Saturday Night Live: host Ramy Youssef calls for ceasefire in otherwise muted episode". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  27. ^ "Ramy Youssef Will Develop Shows for Netflix - Netflix Tudum". Netflix.
  28. ^ a b c Ryzik, Melena (March 19, 2024). "Ramy Youssef: Making Sense of the World and Finding Faith (With Jokes)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Hagi, Sarah (August 16, 2022). "How Bella Hadid and Ramy Youssef Became BFFs". GQ. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024. He made certain that he properly introduced me to his then fiancée, and now wife, who came to hang out
  30. ^ Mullally, William (January 2, 2023). "Ramy Youssef is just getting started". Esquire Middle East. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  31. ^ Murphy, Jim K. (October 20, 2023). "Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett and More Stars Demand Joe Biden Call for Israel-Gaza Ceasefire: 'Compassion Must Prevail'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  32. ^ "Ramy Youssef wears an Artists for Ceasefire pin to the #Oscars: "We're calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We're calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine."". Variety. March 10, 2024. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  33. ^ Cordero, Rosy (May 15, 2024). "Will Ferrell Sets Netflix Comedy Series 'GOLF' With Ramy Youssef & Josh Rabinowitz". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  34. ^ Horton, Adrian (September 21, 2020). "Emmy winners 2020: the full list". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  35. ^ Nordyke, Hilary Lewis,Kimberly (July 17, 2024). "Emmys 2024: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 17, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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