# List of ethnic Assyrians

    This is a list of modern individuals. For early Christian authors, see List of Syriac writers. For ancient Assyrians, see Category:Ancient Assyrians.
The following is a list of notable ethnic Assyrians. It includes persons who are from (or whose ancestry is from) the Mesopotamian Neo-Aramaic speaking populations originating in Iraq, north western Iran, north eastern Syria and south eastern Turkey.

## Activists

* Ninos Aho – poet and founding father of modern Assyrian nationalism
* Freydun Atturaya – physician, poet and founder of the first Assyrian political party, the Assyrian Socialist Party
* Wilson Bet-Mansour – physician, Assyrian and Chaldean Member of Parliament of Iran 1968-1976, Founder and First Secretary General of Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), Founder publisher and editor of Atour newspaper published monthly in Assyrian, English and Farsi from 1968-1979 with a global circulation, Founder of first global Assyrian political party Nineveh Liberation Party 1969-1979; Founder of representation for AUA at UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organizations) 1992 Assyrian nationalism
* Lado Davidov – Soviet soldier during the Second World War and Hero of the Soviet Union
* Naum Faiq – writer, poet and founding father of modern Assyrian nationalism
* Jumana Hanna – involved in anti Baath war propaganda, torture victim
* Reine Hanna – Director of the Assyrian Policy Institute
* Nuri Kino – award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, author, human rights expert, and founder of A Demand for Action
* Rosie Malek-Yonan – actress, author, director, public figure and human rights activist
* Hurmiz Malik Chikko – martyr and leader of the Assyrian armed struggle against the Ba'ath regime in Iraq in the late 1950s – early 1960s
* Farid Nazha – journalist and founding father of modern Assyrian nationalism
* David B. Perley – philosopher and nationalist
* Juliana Taimoorazy – founder and president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, senior fellow at the Philos Project

## Actors, directors and entertainers

* Brian Awadis – YouTuber
* Paul Elia – Chaldean-Assyrian comedian from Detroit
* Dustin Kahia – Assyrian film director
* Henri Charr – director
* Michael Denkha – actor
* Naguib el-Rihani – actor
* F. Murray Abraham – Academy award-winning actor
* Fairuz – singer and actress
* Josef Fares – film director and video game designer
* Fares Fares – Swedish-Lebanese actor
* Andre Khabbazi – actor
* Iloosh Khoshabe – actor; bodybuilder
* Nuri Kino – journalist; filmmaker
* Terrence Malick – Academy Award-nominated director
* Winter Jones – non-binary actor previously known as Tony Yalda
* Yeshua Malik – Assyrian stand-up comedian; London-born and raised in the United States

## Artists and designers

* Eser Afacan – painter, and sculptor
* Hannibal Alkhas – sculptor, painter and author
* Issa Benyamin – calligrapher
* Raad Ghantous – interior designer
* Thea Halo – painter and writer
* Farouk Kaspaules – artist
* Paulus Khofri – painter, lyricist and composer
* Jim Marshall – photographer
* Bishara Morad – artist
* Fred Parhad – sculptor

## Athletes
### In the Middle East
#### Athletics (Track and field)

* George Malek-Yonan – Iranian Assyrian Track & Field Athlete. Iran's Champion of Champions, Gold medalist in Pentathlon and Track & Field

#### Boxing

* Mustafa Hamsho – Syrian Assyrian/Syriac boxer, middleweight
* George Issabeg – Iranian Assyrian boxer; represented Iran in 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics
* Anwar Oshana – Syrian Assyrian boxer, super middleweight in USA. Illinois State Champion
* Shoura Osipov – Iranian Assyrian boxer 1948 Summer Olympics representing Iran
* Thomas Younan – Assyrian boxer from Chicago

#### Football (soccer)

* Douglas Aziz – Iraqi Assyrian footballer
* Ammo Baba – Iraqi Assyrian footballer and Manager of Iraq – Iraq International. Voted best Iraqi Athlete of All Time
* Saad Benyamin – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – Iraq International
* Edison David – Iraqi Assyrian footballer
* Youra Eshaya – Iraqi Assyrian footballer, first Iraqi to play professionally in the west, for Bristol Rovers, England – Iraq International
* Basil Gorgis Hanna – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – World Cup Player 1986
* Aram Karam – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – Iraq International
* Ayoub Odisho – Iraqi Assyrian footballer and club manager (in Lebanon)
* Thamer Yousif – Iraqi Assyrian footballer – Iraq International

#### Tennis

* Andrew Simon – Iraqi Assyrian tennis champion

### Diaspora
#### American football

* Alex Agase – Assyrian American – top level American Football (Gridiron) player
* Lou Agase – Assyrian American – top level American Football (Gridiron) player

#### Boxing

* Mustafa Hamsho
* Sammy Merza – USA based middleweight
* Anwar Oshana – Assyrian American super middleweight boxer, Illinois State Champion
* Isho Shiba – Assyrian Canadian boxer – Canadian champion

#### Fencing (sabre)

* George Yako – Assyrian sabre fencer based in Australia

#### Figure Skating

* David Avdysh – Assyrian/Ukrainian figure skating choreographer
* Erin Moorad – Assyrian/American Pacific Coast Sectional Figure Skating Medalist

#### Football (soccer)

* Alexander Alkhazov – Assyrian Russian footballer – plays for FC Krylia Sovetov Samara
* Zaya Avdysh – Assyrian Ukrainian footballer – Ukrainian based
* Kennedy Bakircioglu – Assyrian Swedish international footballer – Sweden based – Swedish International player
* Abgar Barsom – Assyrian Swedish footballer
* Stefan Batan – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
* Steven Beitashour – currently plays for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, Iran international
* Louay Chanko – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Denmark based – Syrian International player
* Imad Chhadeh – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
* Daniyel Cimen – Assyrian German footballer
* Christian Demirtas – Assyrian German footballer – German based
* Sargon Duran – Assyrian Austrian footballer – plays for FC Sollenau
* Jimmy Durmaz – Assyrian Swedish footballer
* David Durmaz – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Syrianska FC
* Ninos Gouriye – Assyrian Dutch footballer
* Andreas Haddad – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
* Dani Hamzo – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
* Zurab Ionanidze – Assyrian Georgian International footballer – Georgian International player
* Mikael Ishak – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
* Leena Khamis – Assyrian Australian female footballer – Australian Women's Football International
* Sanharib Malki – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Dutch based (Roda JC) – Syrian International player
* Justin Meram – Assyrian USA based soccer player
* Ilyas Merkes – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Syrian International player, plays for Assyriska
* George Mourad – Assyrian Syrian footballer – Iran based – Syrian International player
* Eddie Moussa – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Assyriska
* Gabriel Özkan – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for AIK Fotboll
* Frans Dhia Putros – Assyrian Danish footballer – plays for Hobro IK in Denmark
* Mario Shabow – Assyrian Australian footballer – plays for Central Coast Mariners in the Australian A-League
* Suleyman Sleyman – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Syrianska FC
* Rebin Sulaka – Assyrian Swedish footballer – Iraq International
* Jasar Takak – Dutch based Assyrian footballer, formerly of Vitesse Arnhem
* Sharbel Touma – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Syrianska FC
* Gabriel Ucar – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Ängelholms FF, and previously for Irish team Derry City
* Daniel Unal – Assyrian Turkish footballer – plays for FC Basle in Switzerland
* Andreas Yacoub-Haddad – Assyrian Swedish footballer – played for Assyriska
* Christer Youssef – Assyrian Swedish footballer – plays for Djurgårdens IF

#### Martial Arts

* Beneil Dariush – Assyrian American Mixed martial arts (MMA)
* Randa Markos – Assyrian Canadian Mixed martial arts (MMA)
* Tiras Odisho – Assyrian Iraqi Karate champion, Director General of National Olympic Committee of Iraq
* Mikhail Sado – Assyrian Russian Wrestling champion
* David Teymur – Assyrian Swedish Mixed martial arts (MMA)

#### Poker

* Daniel Alaei

#### Tennis

* Susanne Celik – Assyrian Swedish tennis player
* Andre Khabbazi – American actor and semi-pro tennis player
* Michael Shabaz – American tennis player
* Andre Agassi - American tennis player

## Educators and explorers

* Aba I – philosopher, astronomer
* Aphrahat – 3rd century theologian
* Toma Audo – bishop, writer
* Babai (Nestorian Patriarch) – bishop
* Babai the Great – philosopher, theologian
* Bardaisan – philosopher
* Paul Bedjan
* Bukhtishu – family of Assyrian Nestorian Christian physicians from the 7th, 8th, and 9th centuries, spanning six generations and 250 years.
* Louis Cheikhô – Assyrian Orientalist
* Hind Rassam Culhane – lecturer in Middle Eastern Studies and behavioural scientist
* Fuat Deniz – writer and professor of sociology at Örebro University
* Mor Philoxenos Yuhanon Dolabani – scholar, poet, editor, and translator
* Eprime Eshag – academic, professor
* Hunayn ibn Ishaq – scholar, physician, scientist, and translator
* Emanuel Kamber
* George Kiraz – computational linguist
* Kanan Makiya – academic, professor
* Masawaiyh – physician
* Eden Naby
* Estiphan Panoussi – philosopher and oriental philologist
* Philoxenos – theologian
* Hormuzd Rassam – Assyriologist, and first-known Middle Eastern archaeologist
* Sandra Chimon Rogers – dean, academic leader, doctor, professor, researcher, chemist, Alzheimer's preventative specialist, solid state NMR specialist, TEDx speaker, and award-winning innovator for education
* Thomas L. Saaty – Iraqi born Assyrian American mathematician
* Mikhail Sado – Russian linguist, scholar, professor of Semitic languages, orientalist, politician, former paratrooper, and wrestling champion
* Toma bar Yacoub – 9th Century theological historian
* Donny George Youkhanna
* Ashur Yousif

## Entrepreneurs

* Narsai David – American restaurateur, chef, wine-maker, and author
* Daniel Hadad – Argentine businessman involved in telecommunications and media
* Milton Malek-Yonan – American inventor of Malekized Rice
* Bob Miner – American businessman, co-founder of Oracle Corporation
* Jeff Moorad – American businessman and investor, CEO of MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, and Vice-Chairman and CEO of MLB's San Diego Padres
* Victor Nacif – Mexican businessman, Vice President of Design at Nissan Design Europe
* Tony Rezko – American businessman, political fundraiser, restaurateur, and real estate developer.
* Zaya Younan- American entrepreneur, Founder, Creator, and CEO of Younan Company.

## Leaders

* Malik Khoshaba – Assyrian Military leader World War I
* Agha Petros – World War I Assyrian General
* Ashur Yousif – professor and Assyrian nationalist
* Shamoun Hanna Haydo – Village leader and defender of Assyrians during Seyfo

## Media

* Ramona Amiri – Miss World Canada 2005
* John Batchelor – author; radio host
* Jack Douglas – television host
* Claudia Hanna – Miss Iraq 2006
* Craig Morgan – sports journalist
* Diane Pathieu – news anchor based in Chicago
* Jennifer Aydin – reality television personality
* Larsa Pippen – reality television personality
* Cindy Sargon – Australian TV chef
* Nancy Oshana Wehbe – body builder and model
* Patrick Bet-David – American entrepreneur and TV personality of Assyrian-Armenian origin
* Obelit Yadgar – American radio personality
* Alfred Yaghobzadeh – Iranian photojournalist

## Musicians and composers

* Fairuz
* Evin Agassi
* Mousey Alexander
* Ricky Rich
* Gabriel Asaad
* Jamil Bashir
* Munir Bashir
* Ashur Bet Sargis
* Aril Brikha
* Sargon Gabriel
* Linda George
* Nouri Iskandar
* Juliana Jendo
* Elias Karam
* Sargon Kenoun
* Ninous Kenoun
* Mark Anthony Yaeger
* Paulus Khofri
* Adwar Mousa
* Habib Mousa
* Hanna Petros
* Janan Sawa
* Megan Kashat
* Gaboro
* Timz
* Marganita Vogt-Khofri
* Haitham Yousif
* Elias Zazi

## Politicians
### Iraq

* Dala Ashur – Assyrian Iraqi Army General of Saddam Hussein's Armed Forces
* Tariq Aziz – Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq 1979–2003 (Real name Michael Youkhana)
* Basim Bello – Mayor of Tel Kaif, Iraq
* Lara Yussif Zara – Mayor of Alqosh
* Yonathan Betkolia – Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Iran Parliament Representative
* Bahnam Zaya Bulos – Iraq Minister of Transport (2003–2004)
* Basimah Yusuf Butrus – Iraq Minister of Science and Technology 2005–2006
* Elizabeth Gawrie – Deputy Prime Minister of Rojava
* Kamel Hana Gegeo – chief bodyguard to Saddam Hussein
* Franso Hariri – Mayor of Erbil
* Fawzi Franso Hariri – Iraq Parliament Representative, Current Minister of Industry in Iraq
* Yonadam Kanna – Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement and Iraq Parliament Representative
* Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo – current Minister of Finance and Economy in Kurdistan Regional Government
* Wijdan Michael – current Minister of Human Rights in Iraq
* Ablahad Afraim Sawa – Iraq Parliament Representative
* Lady Surma D'Bait Mar Shimun (Surma Khanum)
* Pascal Esho Warda – Iraq Minister of Immigration and Refugees 2003–2004
* Albert Edward Ismail Yelda – Iraq Ambassador to the Vatican
* Yusuf Salman Yusuf – Secretary General of Iraqi Communist Party 1941–1949

### Iran

* Freydun Atturaya – co-founder of the Assyrian Socialist Party

### Turkey

* Erol Dora – Deputy of Grand National Assembly of Turkey
* Naum Faiq – Assyrian nationalist

### United Nations

* Dr. William Ishaya – Deputy Permanent Representative – Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations in New York, USA.

### In the Assyrian diaspora
#### United States

* Mark Arabo – politician based in San Diego, California
* Adam Benjamin, Jr. – Indiana Congressman
* Wadie Deddeh – former California State Senator
* Anna Eshoo – California Congresswoman
* John Nimrod – Illinois Senator
* Atour Sargon – Lincolnwood Trustee

#### Australia

* Ninos Khoshaba – former Member of the New South Wales Parliament Sydney Australia
* Andrew Rohan – current State Member for Smithfield New South Wales Parliament, and Fairfield City Council Councillor for the Liberal Party of Australia

#### Sweden

* Metin Ataseven – Sweden Parliament Representative
* Ibrahim Baylan – Sweden Minister of Education 2004–2006 and Sweden Parliament Representative
* Yilmaz Kerimo – Sweden Parliament Representative
* Ilan De Basso – Former member of the European Parliament 2021-2024

#### Canada

* Helena Guergis – former Canadian Member of Parliament and Minister of State (Status of Women)

#### Netherlands

* Attiya Gamri – Netherlands Parliament Representative, president of the Assyrian Confederation of Europe

#### Other countries

* Iskender Alptekin – politician, singer and former President of the European Syriac Union
* José Murat Casab – (born to Iraqi immigrants) Mexican politician and a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party also former Governor of Oaxaca
* Sargon Dadesho – activist, author and leader of Assyrian National Congress
* Eugene Dooman
* Emmanuel Kamber – Assyrian Universal Alliance Secretary General

## Religious figures

* Addagoppe of Harran
* Babai the Great, 551–628
* Bar Daisan
* Bar-Hebraeus
* Bar Sauma
* Basile Georges Casmoussa
* David Benjamin Keldani
* Diodorus of Tarsus
* Dinkha IV, 1935–2015
* Elias Mellus
* Emil Shimoun Nona
* Emmanuel III Delly
* Ephrem the Syrian
* George Garmo
* Heliodorus – 4th Century Assyrian martyr
* Henana of Adiabene
* Ignatius Isaac Azar
* Isaac of Nineveh
* Isa Kelemechi
* Jacob of Nisibis
* Josephus Adjutus – 17th century theologian
* Louis Cheikho
* Mar Mari Emmanuel – bishop and influencer
* Nestorius
* Paulos Faraj Rahho
* Pkidha, 104–114 – first Bishop of Adiabene
* Ragheed Aziz Ganni
* Raphael I Bidawid
* Sargis Bkheera, 633 AD
* Shimun XXI Eshai
* Shimun XIX Benyamin, 1903–1918
* Shlemon Warduni
* Tatian, 120–180
* Theodore of Mopsuestia
* Toma bar Yacoub
* Youhannan Semaan Issayi
* Yousip Khnanisho, 1893–1977
* Yusuf Akbulut

## Writers and poets
### Ancient

Listed here are authors associated with Syriac Christianity regardless of whether they wrote in the Syriac language.
* Aphrahat
* Bar Daysan
* Iamblichus of Chalcis
* John bar Penkaye
* John of Ephesus
* Jacob of Serugh
* Lucian of Samosata, 125–after 180 – Assyrian rhetorician, writer and satirist who wrote in the Greek language
* Moses Bar-Kepha
* Philoxenus of Mabbog
* Stephen Bar Sudhaile
* Tatian

### Modern

* Ilyas Mawsili
* Hanna Diyab
* Maria Theresa Asmar
* Yosip Bet Yosip
* Sargon Boulus
* Nina Burleigh
* William D. S. Daniel
* Fuat Deniz
* Thea Halo
* Samuel John Hazo
* Ivan Kakovitch
* Paulus Khofri
* George Lamsa
* Rosie Malek-Yonan
* Gabriel J. Kenoun
* Sabrina Kenoun
* Robert Kenoun
* Ramman Kenoun
* Terrence Malick
* Dunya Mikhail
* Alphonse Mingana
* Leilah Nadir
* Heather Raffo
* Mikhael K. Pius
* Yuhanon Qashisho
* Ishaya Shamasha Dawid Bet-Zia