Ramy Youssef

Ramy Youssef is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and screenwriter. He gained widespread recognition for creating, directing, and starring in the Hulu comedy series Ramy. For his work on the show, he earned a Golden Globe Award and a Peabody Award, as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards in both acting and directing categories.

Youssef was born in Queens, New York, in 1991 to Egyptian immigrant parents and was raised in Rutherford, New Jersey. Raised in a practicing Muslim household, he speaks both English and Arabic. During his time at Rutherford High School, he participated in the school's television program alongside a friend. He later pursued studies in economics and political science at Rutgers University, Newark, before leaving prior to graduation to train in acting at the William Esper Studio.

Youssef began his professional acting career in 2012 with a main role on the Nick at Nite television sitcom See Dad Run, where he gained early experience observing the show's writing staff. In 2017, he performed a stand-up routine on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. His major breakthrough came in April 2019 with the launch of his series Ramy on Hulu, which focuses on the experiences of a first-generation Muslim-American millennial.

Following the debut of Ramy, Youssef released his first HBO stand-up special, titled Ramy Youssef: Feelings, in mid-2019. He also entered an overall television production deal with A24. In 2022, he co-created the Netflix comedy-drama series Mo alongside comedian Mo Amer. The third season of Ramy premiered in September 2022, and Youssef earned a second Golden Globe nomination for his lead performance.

Youssef made his major film debut with a prominent role in the 2023 feature Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. In late 2023, he embarked on a comedy tour titled More Feelings, directing proceeds from the final portion of the tour toward humanitarian relief for Gaza through American Near East Refugee Aid. In March 2024, he hosted Saturday Night Live. He subsequently formed a production partnership between his company, Cairo Cowboy, and Netflix in August 2024, and co-created the animated series #1 Happy Family USA for Amazon Prime Video in 2025.

Youssef married a visual artist from Saudi Arabia in 2022 after being introduced by a cast member from his television series. Throughout his career, he has engaged in public advocacy, including signing an open letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in October 2023. In 2023, he was named a Distinguished Graduate by his former high school, and in 2025, he received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Rutgers University, where he delivered the commencement address.