Biography

Omar Koury is a New York-based actor, writer, and comedic performer whose career has moved from award-winning theater stages to network television, international festivals, and cult late-night comedy. Born in Washington, D.C. to a Jordanian father and a mother of English and Irish descent, Omar spent much of his childhood moving from place to place. Before reaching eighth grade, he had already lived in Washington, D.C., Jordan, the Chicago area, Northern California, Bethesda, Maryland, and several towns in between. The experience shaped his adaptability, curiosity about people, and instinct for finding both humor and humanity wherever he landed. After earning a B.S. in Business Administration and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps, Omar ultimately turned toward the arts, changing the course of his life. He went on to study at institutions including The Folger Theatre, The Public Theater, and The Actors Studio, developing a grounded, emotionally connected style that moves seamlessly between drama and comedy. In the wake of 9/11, Omar co-founded Nibras, the first Arab American theater company in the United States, and later co-founded the Arab American Comedy Festival, helping create a new space for Arab American artists to tell stories with humor, complexity, and humanity. Omar’s stage work includes the Drama League-nominated world premiere of Aftermath at New York Theatre Workshop, followed by an international tour through London, Ireland, and Australia. His regional theater work includes the Barrymore Award-winning production of Scorched and the acclaimed stage adaptation of The Kite Runner. On screen, Omar’s credits include The Blacklist, Lights Out, The Devil's Advocate, Jesus' Son, and HBO’s The Chair Company. His comedic side found a cult following through recurring appearances as The Turkish Guy on Late Show with David Letterman, where he managed to steal scenes by nearly uttering nothing more than, "I kiss you, David Letterman," while wearing a red Speedo and a cheesy-cool mustache. After stepping away from the craft for several years to pursue personal and entrepreneurial goals, Omar is now bringing that expanded life experience back into his work with renewed perspective, sharper instincts, and a deeper connection to storytelling. Equal parts dramatic actor, comedic wild card, and writer with a global point of view, he continues to build work that feels unpredictable, human, and unmistakably his own.
- IMDb mini biography by: Omar Koury