This Iranian Comedian is Tired of Playing Terrorists

posted on: Feb 15, 2015

When Iranian comic and actor Maz Jobrani snagged an audition for “24” in the show’s 2002 season, he was mostly glad about one thing: It wasn’t for the part of a terrorist.

“It was a big role, and he was a regular guy,” says Jobrani, 42, who was tired of being cast as a cartoonish Middle Eastern baddie in movies and shows. “But later, they called and said, ‘[We] want to offer you the part of the terrorist instead.’ I said, ‘No!!’ They said, ‘But listen — he changes his mind halfway through the mission.’
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“‘Ah, the ambivalent terrorist,’” he said wryly.
Jobrani took the part, but it started him on a path toward pushing back on Hollywood stereotypes of Middle Easterners; a few years later, he would turn down the chance to audition to play a terrorist in the Oscar-nominated movie “United 93.”Instead, the comedian founded the “Axis of Evil” comedy tour, which he headlined and toured the world with from 2005 to 2007. Now he’s written a book, out Tuesday, about his career: “I’m Not a Terrorist, But I’ve Played One on TV: Memoirs of a Middle Eastern Funny Man.”

Source: nypost.com