Azhar Usman

Usman was born in Chicago, Illinois, to immigrant Indian Muslim parents. As a child, his family lived in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.{{cite news|last=Donadoni |first=Serena |url=http://thecinemagirl.com/reviews/a/allah.htm |title=Comedy With a Mission |work=Dispatches |publisher=The Cinema Girl |year=2008 |access-date=October 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830195853/http://thecinemagirl.com/reviews/a/allah.htm |archive-date=August 30, 2011 }} In the 1970s, Usman's veterinarian father Zia Usman (a graduate of Aligarh Muslim University{{cite news|last=Naim |first=Anjum |url= http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=551296 |title= Azhar Usman : Allah Made Me Funny |work= Span |date=January–February 2009 |access-date= November 1, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120412/http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=551296 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}) and school-teacher mother Atiya Usman left Bihar, India, and emigrated to the United States.{{cite news |last=Lall|first=Rashmee Roshan |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Meet-Azhar-Usman-the-bin-Laughing-from-Bihar/articleshow/2586253.cms |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001437/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-01/uk/27985125_1_azhar-usman-preacher-moss-muslims |url-status= live |archive-date= September 26, 2012 |title= Meet Azhar Usman, the 'bin Laughing' from Bihar|newspaper=The Times of India |date= December 1, 2007 |access-date= October 1, 2013}}

In 1993, Usman graduated from Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} In 1996, he graduated with a BA degree in Communication and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and in 1999 a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School. He co-founded an Internet startup, then practiced law, and then started performing stand-up comedy.{{cite web|url=http://www.azhar.com/about/ |title=About |publisher=Azhar Usman |year=2011 |access-date=August 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925003143/http://www.azhar.com/about/ |archive-date=September 25, 2011 }}

He chose not to practice law after graduating from law school. Instead he did a dot-com start-up. He turned down six-figure salary offers to pay himself $35,000 working for his own dot com. He then folded the dot-com business and started practicing law briefly as a solo practitioner, whilst doing stand up as a hobby.{{cite news |last=Ali|first=Wajahat|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2007/10/were_trying_to_bring_an_expression_about_us_to_us_from_us/|title="Allah made me funny" comedy tour: "We're trying to bring an expression about us, to us, from us"|publisher=Patheos|date=October 25, 2007|access-date=November 1, 2013}}

Since 1996, Usman had a friend who was an amateur comic and he would take him to a comedy club in Minneapolis.{{cite news |last=Lall|first=Rashmee Roshan|url=http://www.indymedia.be/index.html%3Fq=node%252F35227.html|title=Azhar Usman: "Never imagined becoming a comedian"|newspaper=The Times of India|date=October 19, 2009|access-date=November 1, 2013}} This inspired him to write an act in 2000.{{cite news|last=Abrams |first=Abby |url=https://www.stlbeacon.org/?_escaped_fragment_=%2Fcontent%2F26578%2Flaugh_in_peace_081712 |title=Take five: American Muslim comedian makes people laugh by telling the truth |publisher=St. Louis Beacon |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=November 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102181344/https://www.stlbeacon.org/?_escaped_fragment_=%2Fcontent%2F26578%2Flaugh_in_peace_081712 |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }} Usman started performing stand-up comedy in early 2001, a few months before September 11,{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/comedy-of-terrors/2006/06/29/1151174330447.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|title=Comedy of terrors|location=Melbourne|newspaper=The Age|date=July 1, 2006|page=1|access-date=November 1, 2013}} initially as a hobby. However, in 2004, he had enough bookings to make a run at it. In early 2004, Usman stopped practicing law full-time.{{cite news|last=McQuern|first=Elizabeth|url=http://www.theapiary.org/thebastion/2007/8/24/dave-chappelle-produces-chicagos-azhar-usman-in-allah-made-m.html|title=Dave Chappelle Produces Chicago's Azhar Usman in "Allah Made Me Funny"|publisher=The Apiary|date=August 24, 2007|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103104302/http://www.theapiary.org/thebastion/2007/8/24/dave-chappelle-produces-chicagos-azhar-usman-in-allah-made-m.html|archive-date=2013-11-03|url-status=dead}} He has performed in many major cities in the U.S. as well as in over 20 countries on five continents.

In May 2004, Usman along with Preacher Moss and Azeem Muhammad (later replaced by Mohammed Amer in 2006) launched a comedy tour titled Allah Made Me Funny.{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobalunity.com/08/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&/ |title=Performers |publisher=Global Peace and Unity Event 2008 |date=October 2008 |access-date=August 28, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He also co-wrote and produced a feature-length documentary/concert film based on the live tour, which was theatrically exhibited at Landmark Theatres in over a dozen top US markets in 2008. The film was directed by award-winning documentarian Andrea Kalin and funded by the Unity Productions Foundation. Allah Made Me Funny toured 30 U.S. cities during its first year, and also in Canada, Europe, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Middle East.{{cite web|url=http://www.bass-schuler.com/allahmademefunny.php4 |title=Allah Made Me Funny Tour |publisher=Bass/Schuler Entertainment |access-date=August 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724174653/http://www.bass-schuler.com/allahmademefunny.php4 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.allahmademefunny.com/about/index.html |title=About Allah Made Me Funny |publisher=Allah Made Me Funny |year=2008 |access-date=September 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930093019/http://www.allahmademefunny.com/about/index.html |archive-date=September 30, 2011 }}

He has performed in 23 countries on five different continents. Usman and his comedy have been covered by over 100 major world media outlets, including The New York Times, The Economist, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN Headline News, and a whole episode of ABC Nightline. He has played original sketch comedy characters for MTV Networks, E4, and he was the creator and star of his own short-lived, semi-scripted, alternative web comedy show [http://www.tinkusworld.com/ Tinku's World].{{cite web|url=http://www.makechainotwar.com/comedians/azhar-usman |title=Azhar Usman |publisher=Make Chai Not War |access-date=September 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110102224/http://www.makechainotwar.com/comedians/azhar-usman |archive-date=January 10, 2012 }}{{cite news |last=Trendcrusher |url=http://www.mideastdynasty.com/?p=2979|title=Azhar Usman tells the world "ALLAH made me funny"|publisher=MidEast Dynasty|date=May 27, 2011|access-date=November 1, 2013}} He performed at Global Peace and Unity Event in the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London. He also appeared in the independent film Mooz-lum.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedohadebates.com/debates/debate.asp?d=78&s=6&mode=speakers|title=Comedy special: This House believes women are superior to men|publisher=The Doha Debates|date=May 24, 2010|access-date=September 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824100846/http://www.thedohadebates.com/debates/debate.asp?d=78&s=6&mode=speakers|archive-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead}} Azhar Usman He has shared the stage with comedians including Dave Chappelle, Jim Gaffigan, Russell Peters, Todd Barry and Mitch Hedberg.

In 2008, CNN aired an hour-long special, entitled America's Funniest Muslim, on its Turkish affiliate, which included both performance clips and an extended Q&A session with Usman. In November 2008, he toured India, debuting at the American Center in New Delhi.

Usman and Matt Sunbulli founded a production company called 9 Saints. (now defunct). In 2008, Usman produced a short film, The Boundary (directed by Julius Onah), which was selected as a finalist by the HBO Short Film Competition, and aired on that network several times.{{cite news |last=Amanullah|first=Shahed|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2008/10/allah_made_him_funny/|title=Comedian Azhar Usman: Allah made him funny|publisher=Patheos|date=October 3, 2008|access-date=November 1, 2013}} Usman also appeared in the critically acclaimed, independent feature film Mooz-lum (directed by Qasim "Q" Basir) in 2011, starring opposite Roger Guenveur Smith, Evan Ross, Nia Long, and film legend Danny Glover. He also appeared in several documentaries as himself, including It's My Country Too: Muslim Americans (directed by Ruhi Hamid for BBC), Me and the Mosque (directed by Zarqa Nawaz for CBC), and STANDUP: Muslim American Comics Come of Age (directed by Glenn Baker for PBS).

In June 2013, Usman featured on an interfaith special, What's So Funny About Religion?, alongside Lewis Black and Mohammed Amer, which was broadcast on the CBS Television Network.{{cite news |url=http://www.muslimentertainment.com/cbs-airs-whats-so-funny-about-religion/|title=CBS Airs What's So Funny About Religion?|publisher=Muslim Entertainment|date=July 1, 2013|access-date=November 1, 2013}}

In February 2017, Usman appeared in the recurring role of Kkyman Candahar in the Amazon original series Patriot, created, written, and directed by Chicago screenwriter and producer Steven Conrad. He returned the following year to reprise his role in the second season of the show.{{Cite web|title=Azhar Usman|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2550871/|access-date=2020-06-30|website=IMDb}}

In 2018, he served as a Creative Advisor on the Hulu original series RAMY, created by and starring Egyptian-American standup comedian and actor, Ramy Youssef. In 2019, he served as an Executive Creative Advisor on the show's second season, as well as a staff writer, and co-wrote an episode of the show, co-starring Egyptian screen legend Amr Waked and two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali,{{Citation|title="Ramy" Frank (TV Episode 2020) – IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt12216284/reference|access-date=2020-06-30}} with the show's eponymous creator.

In December 2020, Usman was cast in an undisclosed role in the Disney+ streaming series Ms. Marvel, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.{{Citation|title='Ms. Marvel' Introduces Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/ms-marvel-introduces-iman-vellani-kamala-khan-disney-plus|access-date=2020-12-10}}

Usman talks about family histories{{cite news |last=Fry|first=Ted|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/html/movies/2008223159_mr03allah.html|title="Allah Made Me Funny": Stand-ups riff on being Muslim in America|location=Seattle|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=October 3, 2008|access-date=November 1, 2013}} and his American-Muslim childhood.{{cite news |last1=Brussat|first1=Frederic|last2=Brussat|first2=Mary Ann|url=http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=18449|title=Film Review: Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert|publisher=Spiritual Practice|access-date=November 1, 2013}} He jokes about being mistaken for a terrorist,{{cite news |last=Martin|first=Michel|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95428171 |title=Poking Fun at Stereotypes in 'Allah Made Me Funny' |work= Tell Me More |publisher= NPR |date= October 6, 2008 |access-date= November 1, 2013}} customs, religious holidays, families and himself.{{cite news |last= Kern |first=Laura |url= https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/movies/03funn.html |title= Allah Made Me Funny (2008) |location= New York |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 2008 |access-date= November 1, 2013}}{{cite news |last=Curiel |first=Jonathan |url= http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Allah-Made-Me-Funny-Live-in-Concert-3191892.php |title= Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert |location=San Francisco |newspaper= SFGate |date= October 3, 2008 |access-date= November 1, 2013}}

Usman's character comedy includes "Sheikh Abdul, the radical imam", who intersperses vitriolic lectures with announcements about double-parked cars and meetings to re-elect the mosque committee that has remained unchanged for 37 years. There is also "Uncle Letmesplainyou", an antique Muslim who barely speaks English, has crazy political views and a voracious desire to share them, elbowing others aside to embarrass the community in television interviews. He also brags about the growth of Muslim America to people who don't care.

Usman is an artist and an activist and was a co-founding board member and director of The Nawawi Foundation, an Illinois non-profit dedicated to contemporary Islamic research{{cite web|url=http://www.nawawi.org/aboutus/azharm.html |title=Board of Directors |publisher=Nawawi Foundation |access-date=September 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027145209/http://www.nawawi.org/aboutus/azharm.html |archive-date=October 27, 2005 }} Azhar M. Usman, Esq. and private Muslim think tank.{{cite news |last=Yusuf|first=Irfan|url=https://www.newmatilda.com/2006/11/22/allah-made-me-funny|title=Allah Made Me Funny|publisher=Newmatilda.com|date=November 22, 2006|access-date=November 1, 2013}}

Usman serves as an Arts and Culture advisor to the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) in Chicago.{{cite web |url=http://www.imancentral.org/|title=Inner-City Muslim Action Network|publisher=Iman Central|access-date=September 9, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726173917/http://www.imancentral.org/| archive-date= 26 July 2011 | url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.celebratemercy.com/Speakers/?SID=g2bQMCXGGgY=|title=Azhar Usman|publisher=Celebrate Mercy|year=2011|access-date=September 9, 2011}} He also runs a boutique law practice.

Usman wrote a one-man show titled "Ultra American: A Patriot Act starring Azhar Usman" and premiered it at Silk Road Rising in Chicago in September 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.stageandcinema.com/2016/09/09/ultra-american/|title=Theater Review: ULTRA AMERICAN: A PATRIOT ACT (Silk Road Rising in Chicago)|publisher=Stage And Cinema|date=September 9, 2016|access-date=September 20, 2016}} The show was recommended for a Jeff Award.

In May 2017, Usman appeared on comedian Pete Holmes' podcast You Made It Weird, for a wide-ranging interview that covered many topics.{{Cite web|title=You Made It Weird #367: Azhar Usman — Nerdist|url=https://archive.nerdist.com/you-made-it-weird-367-azhar-usman/|access-date=2020-06-30|website=archive.nerdist.com}}

In the beginning of 2020, he announced the formation of [https://www.numinouscompany.com/ Numinous Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114092718/https://www.numinouscompany.com/ |date=November 14, 2022 }}, a boutique services firm offering creative producing and humor consulting services to fellow creatives, such as comedians and creators, startups, non-profits, and other clients.

In March 2005, ABC Nightline ran an entire episode about Usman called "MUSLIM COMIC." In 2008, CNN's Turkish affiliate (CNN Türk) ran a one-hour special starring Usman, entitled "America's Funniest Muslim," which included a portion of live standup, followed by a lengthy Q&A session with the audience. In 2009, Usman was listed as one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims by Georgetown University's The Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding and Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan. In 2010, fellow comedian and legendary standup icon Dave Chappelle remarked: "Azhar Usman is untouchable, he's like a comedian from the future," after a show at The New Parish in Oakland, California. Usman has opened for Chappelle over 40 times since first meeting him in 2005.

Usman is an Indian American Sufi Muslim. He is divorced with four children. His ex-wife is a lawyer. In the spring of 2020, it was announced on his personal Instagram account that he is now married to visual artist Jennifer Hoffman Usman (f/k/a Jen Jackson),{{Cite web|title=Azhar Usman on Instagram: "﷽ Confucius said: "We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one." The appearance of this virus has inspired…"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B-_sNbzDplX/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/azharcomedy/2287741572974811479_2287741568109369893 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Instagram|language=en}}{{cbignore}} a graduate of The King's Foundation School of the Traditional Arts.

• Allah Made Me Funny
• Islamic humour
• Indian American
• Islamic Neo-Traditionalism
• List of American Muslims
• List of Indian Americans

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.azhar.com/}}
• [https://www.numinouscompany.com/ Numinous Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114092718/https://www.numinouscompany.com/ |date=November 14, 2022 }}
• {{IMDb name|id=2550871|name=Azhar Usman}}

• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/people/azharusman.shtml BBC interview with Azhar Usman]
• Jalil, Jannat. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3796109.stm Muslim comedians laugh at racism]. BBC News. June 15, 2004
• [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2006/09/15/september-15-2006-muslim-comedian/12282/ PBS on Azhar Usman]. Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. September 15, 2006
• Rahman, Emdad. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120412/http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=551296 Interview with Azhar Usman]}}. Mathaba. February 26, 2007
• Manzoor, Sarfraz. [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/apr/06/comedy.religion Funny old world]. The Guardian. April 6, 2007
• Ali, Wajahat. [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2007/10/were_trying_to_bring_an_expression_about_us_to_us_from_us/ "Allah made me funny" comedy tour: "We're trying to bring an expression about us, to us, from us"]. Patheos. October 25, 2007
• Khan, Yasmeen. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7102519.stm Does Islam have a sense of humour?]. BBC News. Tuesday, 20 November 2007
• Lall, Rashmee Roshan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001437/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-12-01/uk/27985125_1_azhar-usman-preacher-moss-muslims Meet Azhar Usman, the 'bin Laughing' from Bihar]. The Times of India. December 1, 2007
• Amanullah, Shahed. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110911154350/http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/n/2828 Comedian Azhar Usman: Allah made him funny]. Patheos. October 3, 2008
• Kaitlin. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110513025648/http://insideislam.wisc.edu/index.php/archives/131 Comedians Break Muslim Stereotypes]. Inside Islam. October 15, 2008
• Naim, Anjum. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111016002259/http://span.state.gov/jan-feb2009/eng/azhar-usman.html Azhar Usman : Allah Made Me Funny]. Span. January/February 2009
• Kieran, Fox, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8003208.stm Muslim comedy trio take on UK]. BBC News. April 17, 2009
• Vandersteen, Victoria. [http://www.indymedia.be/index.html%3Fq=node%252F35227.html Azhar Usman: "Never imagined becoming a comedian"]. Indymedia.be. 19 October 2009
• [http://www.stthomas.edu/bulletin/2011/04/06/comedian-activist-azhar-usman-to-keynote-nonviolence-in-the-islamic-traditions-conference-here-saturday/ Comedian-activist Azhar Usman to keynote 'Nonviolence in the Islamic Traditions' conference here Saturday]. Bulletin today. University of St. Thomas. Wednesday, April 6, 2011
• Abrams, Abby. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131102181344/https://www.stlbeacon.org/?_escaped_fragment_=%2Fcontent%2F26578%2Flaugh_in_peace_081712 Take five: American Muslim comedian makes people laugh by telling the truth]. St. Louis Beacon. August 21, 2012
• {{Cite web |url=http://youthcentral.vic.gov.au/News+%26+Features/ViewPage.action?&repositoryName=&siteNodeId=1993&CurrentFolderID=1966&ItemID=14719 |title=Allah Made Me Funny are funny!. Youth Central |access-date=2018-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310184357/http://youthcentral.vic.gov.au/News+%26+Features/ViewPage.action?&repositoryName=&siteNodeId=1993&CurrentFolderID=1966&ItemID=14719 |archive-date=2014-03-10 |url-status=bot: unknown }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Usman, Azhar}}

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:American stand-up comedians

Category:American comedians of Indian descent

Category:Muslim male comedians

Category:American Sufis

Category:American male actors of Indian descent

Category:American male film actors

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:Illinois lawyers

Category:Writers from Chicago

Category:Male actors from Chicago

Category:University of Illinois Chicago alumni

Category:University of Minnesota Law School alumni

Category:Allah Made Me Funny

Category:Comedians from Chicago

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:Muslims from Illinois