Aristotle Athari

Aristotle Athari, born in 1991 in Plano, Texas, began his career in stand-up comedy. He gained recognition for his collaborative work with fellow Muslim-American comedians Hasan Minhaj, Asif Ali, and Fahim Anwar, forming the sketch comedy group known as 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 in the industry. During this period, Athari also developed skills as a director and cinematographer, contributing to various video and TV 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 in his career 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 his acting career with roles in prominent productions such as “M3GAN 2.0” (2025) and “Hacks” (2024-2025).

Beyond his on-screen work, Athari has also directed several TV specials over the years, including “Drew Lynch: Concussed” (2021), “Whiskey Fists” (2021), “IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading” (2019), and “Erik Griffin: Amerikan Warrior” (2018). His directing credits demonstrate his comprehensive involvement in comedy production, spanning acting, writing, and helming projects. He is also a co-host of the improvised podcast “This Is Americans Live,” a parody of the radio show “This American Life,” further diversifying his professional achievements.