Max Amini

Updated: April 28, 2026

Name: Max Amini
Birth Name: Max Amini
Date of Birth: September 20, 1981 (age 44 years)
Origin: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Iranian (Persian)
Parents: Iranian immigrants
Occupation: Comedian, Actor, Producer, Director

Biography & Career:
Max Amini is an Iranian-American comedian, actor, producer, and director who has become one of the most-watched stand-up performers in the world. Born in Tucson, Arizona, to Iranian parents who immigrated after the 1979 revolution, he grew up on the East Coast before moving to Los Angeles to study at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television, graduating in 2004. The full name is simply Max Amini — no stage persona, no mask, just pure personality on stage.

The ethnicity is Persian, the nationality American, and the religion has never been publicly confirmed. His father's blessing was a defining moment — it was receiving that support that gave Max the confidence to fully commit to a career in comedy. The mother and broader family background have always been a rich source of material, with family dynamics, cultural clashes, and bicultural identity sitting at the heart of the stand up comedy show format he has made his own.

The career launched in 2002 at the LA Improv, and the show grew from there at a remarkable pace. By 2006 the Laugh Factory in Hollywood made Max a resident comedian, and tours followed shortly after — first across the US, then internationally. The tour circuit now spans 19 countries, 60 cities, and has produced over 150 sold-out shows in a single year. He made history as the first Iranian-American artist to headline Madison Square Garden and sell out the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, and is the highest tickets-selling international comedian in India. The upcoming events calendar continues to grow, with concerts drawing record crowds across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.

As an actor, movies and TV credits include NBC's Heroes, Netflix's Real Rob, and Comedy Central's Mind of Mencia. The comedy special Max Amini: Authentically Absurd was directed by Rob Schneider and released in 2015. Off stage, Max founded Abstraction Media and the non-profit Gifting Hearts, supporting underprivileged young artists.

Max Amini Best Shows & Specials:
Exotic Imports Tour
Max Amini: Authentically Absurd
Madison Square Garden Live Show