Aristotle Athari

Aristotle Athari gained significant recognition for his collaborative work with fellow comedians Hasan Minhaj, Asif Ali, and Fahim Anwar, forming the sketch comedy group Goatface. Their collective efforts culminated in a one-hour special that aired on Comedy Central in 2018, showcasing their unique comedic style and establishing Athari’s early career milestones. During this period, Athari also developed his skills as a director and cinematographer, contributing to various video and television special projects. Athari’s career progressed with a recurring role as Gabe in the final season of HBO’s critically acclaimed series ‘Silicon Valley’ in 2019, appearing in five episodes.

A significant turning point came in 2021 when he was cast as a featured player on NBC’s iconic sketch comedy show ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) for its 47th season. This role marked him as the second Iranian American cast member and the first male Middle Eastern American in the show’s history. Following his tenure on SNL through 2022, Athari continued to expand his acting career. Following his tenure on SNL, Athari continued his prolific acting career with prominent productions including ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ (2023), ‘The French Italian’ (2024), and upcoming roles in ‘Hacks’ (2024-2025) and ‘M3GAN 2.0’ (2025).

Beyond his on-screen work, Athari has also directed several TV specials, demonstrating his comprehensive involvement in comedy production. His directing credits include ‘Drew Lynch: Concussed’ (2021), ‘Whiskey Fists’ (2021), ‘IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading’ (2019), and ‘Erik Griffin: Amerikan Warrior’ (2018). Athari further diversifies his professional achievements as a co-host of the improvised podcast ‘This Is Americans Live,’ a parody of the popular radio show ‘This American Life.’ His extensive experience across stand-up, sketch comedy, acting, and directing solidifies his versatile and valuable presence in entertainment and media projects.