Matin Atrushi parents were Kurdish political refugees from Northern Iraq, forced out by Saddam Hussein’s troops where they escaped into the Kurdish capital of America, Bismarck, North Dakota. “The great thing about being a minority in North Dakota is that you can double as multiple races because no one can really tell.
This week I feel like being Mexican, next week let’s try Indian,” joked Matin on stage.
Matin’s fascination with comedy began at an early age as the family would gather around and watch John Ritter on “Three’s Company” although the young boy’s parents barely spoke English. “Jack Tripper’s comedy was universal. My parents would laugh at his physical humor and antics,” said Matin.
Matin first tried stand-up comedy at the age of 24 in a small coffee shop in Los Angeles and has been at it ever since. He has since shared the stage with comedy legends such as Robin Williams and Chris Rock. He is a comedian with a unique perspective into the everyday life of being Middle Eastern in America today.
Matin Atrushi broadened his comedy reach by making comedy sketches online. He recently wrapped production of two comedy short films that are shaking up the San Diego comedy scene. Recently released, the two sketches can be seen on YouTube where both have gone viral.
The sketch, “Day at the Beach,” portrays a Frenchman who decides to enjoy a quiet picnic at a Normandy Beach – on June 6, 1944. The viral video was viewed over 200,000 times in its first six days on YouTube.
The second short film “Uncle Matin’s Sword Trick” recreates one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history with the help of NBC “Chuck” star and fellow comedian Mark Christopher Lawrence and has accumulated almost 500,000 views.
The sketch was shot on location in Temecula with comedians and crew from the local area as well as Los Angeles. “Temecula actually doubled as a location in Egypt,” laughed Matin.
Matin’s fellow actor brings significant credits to his work. Mark Christopher Lawrence has a long list of credits including Terminator 2, The Pursuit of Happyness as well as appearances on TV shows such as “Heroes,” “My Name is Earl,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” and over 50 other guest spots.
Matin Atrushi has accumulated over 12 million views on YouTube, has appeared on SyFy’s show “Viral Video Showdown”, and just filmed the Fox TV show, “Laughs.”
“I’m trying to show another side of Middle Eastern people. We’re the same. We really like comedy, too” said Matin Atrushi. “If you ask me why I’m doing this, I really enjoy making people laugh.”
View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Meet Nick Vujicic… Born in 1982 in Brisbane, Australia, without any medical explanation or warning, Nicholas Vujicic (pronounced Vooey-cheech) came into the world with neither arms or legs. There was no medical conclusion as to why he was born this way, but in spite of his physical limitations, his courage and tenacity for life have […]
Dr. Martha Rogers, recognized globally for her groundbreaking work in customer-focused business strategies, is a thought leader who has transformed the landscape of customer relationship management (CRM) and customer experience (CX). With over 25 years of expertise, Dr. Rogers is the co-founder of the Peppers & Rogers Group, a consultancy that has shaped the strategic […]
Arjun is Managing Partner of Cogknition Analytics, a strategy and analytics firm with offices in Chicago, Seattle, and Washington DC. Prior to Cogknition he was a senior executive at GES, serving as Senior Vice President of Analytics and Insights. He was also an award-winning Professor at the Illinois Tech Stuart School of Business, having played a […]
Dag Kittlaus is a leading authority in artificial intelligence and an entrepreneurial powerhouse in the tech industry. As the co-founder and CEO of Siri, the groundbreaking digital assistant acquired by Apple, and later Viv, an advanced AI platform acquired by Samsung, Kittlaus has been at the forefront of AI innovation for over a decade. His […]
Lolita Taub is not your typical venture capitalist. With a mission deeply rooted in community empowerment and a career spanning 15 years within the heart of Silicon Valley, she has emerged as a pivotal figure in the startup ecosystem. As a General Partner at Ganas Ventures, Lolita channels her expertise into investing in pre-seed and […]
Jackie Kallen, renowned as “The First Lady of Boxing,” has shattered glass ceilings in the male-dominated world of professional boxing. Her journey from a show business journalist to one of the sport’s most successful managers is a testament to her resilience, vision, and unwavering determination. Kallen’s story not only highlights her significant contributions to boxing […]
After years of conversations and consultations, research and interviews regarding diversity & inclusion, Risha Grant has learnt that companies don’t have diversity problems; they have people problems. For too long, diversity has been blamed for loss of productivity, discrimination and a litany of other workplace faux pas, but diversity has never been the issue. It can’t […]
Petra Velzeboer is a celebrated mental health expert, TEDx speaker, psychotherapist, and CEO of the renowned consultancy PVL. Her extraordinary personal journey from a challenging upbringing in a notorious cult to becoming a globally recognized advocate for mental well-being is both inspirational and empowering. Petra’s core message centers on cultivating psychologically safe workplaces and promoting […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
