QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1974
Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Renowned for her groundbreaking work in comedy and her advocacy for disability rights and Palestinian issues.
BRIEF BIO
Maysoon Zayid is a Palestinian-American comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate. She is known for breaking barriers in comedy as one of the first Muslim women comedians in the United States and for her vocal advocacy for Palestinian rights and disability inclusion. Zayid co-founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival and has used her platform to address serious issues through humor and activism.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Graduated from Arizona State University: Earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, setting the stage for her career in entertainment .
Co-Founded New York Arab-American Comedy Festival (2003): Established this annual festival to showcase Arab-American talent and address stereotypes through comedy .
TED Talk "I Got 99 Problems... Palsy Is Just One" (2014): Her talk became one of the most viewed TED Talks, propelling her into international recognition and highlighting issues of disability and identity.
Runs Arts Program in Palestinian Territories: Spends three months a year in Palestine, running arts programs for disabled and orphaned children in refugee camps, funded largely by her comedy earnings.
Published Memoir "Find Another Dream" (2014): Authored a best-selling memoir that details her journey, struggles, and achievements, inspiring many around the world.
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Promoting Palestinian Culture and Issues: Uses her comedy and public appearances to raise awareness about Palestinian struggles and counter negative stereotypes ...See More
Advocacy for Disabled Individuals: Through her personal experiences and public talks, Zayid champions the rights of people with disabilities, advocating for better representation and inclusion...See More
Support for Refugee Children: Her arts programs in Palestinian refugee camps help children cope with trauma and build connections between disabled and non-disabled children (Arab America) .
Breaking Barriers in Entertainment: As a prominent figure in comedy and acting, she has paved the way for other Muslim and Palestinian women in the entertainment industry.
Educational Outreach: Frequently speaks at universities and events, educating audiences about Palestinian issues, disability rights, and the importance of diversity in media (Maysoon Zayid) .
Disclaimer: This chat uses AI to generate responses inspired by the profile content and publicly available information. It does not represent the real person.
Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
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