Maz Jobrani is an Iranian-American comedian, actor, and writer who has made a significant impact in the world of comedy with his sharp wit and insightful humor. He gained widespread recognition as a founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, which showcased some of the most talented Middle Eastern-American comics. The tour's Comedy Central Special, which premiered in 2007, holds the distinction of being the first American TV show to feature an all Middle Eastern/American cast. Following its success, the tour expanded internationally, with 27 sold-out performances across the Middle East, including notable shows in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Kuwait, and Amman, where they performed for the King and Queen of Jordan. Building on the momentum from Axis of Evil, Maz embarked on his own solo tour titled "Maz Jobrani; Brown and Friendly." This tour took him to diverse locations around the globe, from the United States to Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. The "Brown and Friendly" Comedy Special premiered on Showtime in 2009 and was subsequently released on DVD, available on platforms such as MazJobrani.com, iTunes, and Amazon. Maz continued his comedic journey with his second solo tour, "Browner and Friendlier." His unique comedic voice also found a place on the big screen, with noteworthy roles such as "Moly" in Ice Cube's "Friday After Next," Secret Service Agent "Mo" in "The Interpreter" alongside Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, and Jennifer Garner’s colleague, Glenn, in "13 Going on 30." On television, Maz has demonstrated his versatility with guest appearances on popular shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The West Wing," "24," "NYPD Blue," and "ER." He has been featured in series such as "Traffic Light," "Perfect Couples," FOX’s "Life on a Stick," and ABC’s "Knights of Prosperity." In 2010, he was part of a pilot for ABC directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, titled "Funny in Farsi," and he recurred on ABC’s "Better off Ted." In 2008, Maz pitched a television show to CBS, inspired by his life as an Iranian-American in the United States, described as a Middle Eastern "Everybody Loves Raymond." He also prepared to shoot "Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero," a comedic film likened to a Middle Eastern "Pink Panther" meets "Bend it Like Beckham." Maz's comedic talents have been showcased on numerous platforms, including stand-up performances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "Lopez Tonight," and Comedy Central's "Premium Blend." He is a recurring panelist on NPR’s "Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me" and co-hosts the podcast "Minivan Men" with two fellow comedians. His sketch comedy performances at the ACME Theater in Los Angeles have been praised by LA Weekly as "devilishly funny" and "extraordinary." Maz Jobrani was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where his passion for acting was ignited in eighth grade when he starred in the production of "Li’l Abner." He pursued theater throughout high school and went on to earn a BA in Political Science and Italian from UC Berkeley. Initially embarking on a Ph.D. program in Political Science at UCLA, Maz's visit to the university's prestigious theater program reignited his love for acting, prompting him to leave the program and follow his passion for comedy and performance.