AS Program Board Presents… In Conversation with Ramy Youssef (LIVE w/ Q&A) on Thursday, October 15th, 2020 at 7 PM (PST) via Zoom.
This event is free and closed to UCSB students only.
Ramy Youssef is an Egyptian-American comedian, actor and director that is quickly becoming an innovator within the industry. The New York-born New Jersey-raised entertainer is best known for creating, producing, and starring in the critically acclaimed Hulu show, “Ramy”, for which he most recently won a 2020 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. After dropping out of Rutgers University at age 20 to study at the prestigious William Esper Studio, Youssef moved to LA to start the draft for what would eventually become “Ramy”. In 2017, Youssef’s career began to take off following a successful stand-up appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, which led to him finally pitching “Ramy” to major networks.
“Ramy”, which was inspired by Youssef’s own experiences, was embraced by audiences for its realistic depictions of a first-generation Egyptian-American Muslim embarking on a spiritual journey in a politically divided New Jersey. Earning a 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Ramy” is beloved by viewers for its multidimensional characters and storylines that grapple with racism, sexism, transphobia, and more, taking care to accurately reflect the lived experiences of those who typically do not see themselves represented in traditional media.
The success of “Ramy” is only the tip of the iceberg. Youssef recently signed a deal with A24 and is in the process of developing projects with Apple and Netflix. It’s clear that the Ramy Youssef success train is about to leave the station, and we hope you’ll climb aboard with us.
