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Paul Elia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Elia
Born (1988-02-23) February 23, 1988 (age 36)
Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • television
  • film
Years active2009–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Websitewatchpaulelia.com

Paul Elia (born February 23, 1988) is an Assyrian American comedian and actor from Detroit, MI. In 2024, his debut comedy special Detroit Player was released on YouTube.[1]

Career

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Elia was born in the city of San Diego, California on February 23, 1988, to Iraqi Assyrian immigrant parents. His family moved to Southfield in Metro Detroit in 1994. Growing up, his mother was a cashier and owner of a liquor store in Clinton Township, while his father worked as a butcher for various supermarkets.[2] He was initially two classes shy of graduating from Wayne State University with a bachelor's in English and had been hoping to apply to law school before deciding to become a comedian. After his first professional role on Detroit 1-8-7, he moved to Los Angeles, California.[3]

Elia arrived in Hollywood in 2011 and immediately hit the ground running – creating and producing his own projects with money he saved while working late nights at a nightclub. Although he didn't have any solid Hollywood representation, he was still managing to audition for various TV shows and films from his savvy networking skills (Elia claims he auditioned for over 400 projects before booking his first high paying job: A National commercial for Honda). He soon began to see an influx of roles in television and film. When asked by The Arab American News about his struggles, Elia said “You have to take big risks. The people who take big risks are the ones who make it...Of course you're going to be scared, but what you do with that defines you as a human being.” [4]

Throughout his career, Elia has been vocal about his Iraqi and especially his Assyrian heritage, and the issues pressing his community in wake of violence in indigenous Assyrian lands in Iraq. He has also been vocal about the divisions that the Assyrian community faces, including among Chaldeans and Syriacs.[5] Elia has also discussed how he began to feel ostracized from his community as a result of his stance on unity, even receiving a death threat before touring in Toronto. [6]

Influences

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Elia has previously cited his family (specifically his mother) as being one of the greatest influences in his life, due to her experiences in Iraq and her hard-working lifestyle in one of Michigan's many impoverish neighborhoods. In regard to his comedy, Elia has cited some of his closest partners, Matt Rife and Bassem Youssef, as people who have helped to strengthen his comedy career, including helping him to produce Detroit Player.[7]

Personal life

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Elia is currently based in Los Angeles, California. He has three brothers, who take professions in law, neurosurgery, and mortgage banking.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 CornerStore Hassan Akrawi
2011 Holly's Holiday Darryl
Exit 33 Dax
Bad to the Bone Jesus Hernandez
2012 Divorce Invitation Sam
2013 Only in L.A. Hassan
2014 Love in the Time of Monsters Jim
The Brittany Murphy Story Caller Director
2016 Dirty Detective Jackson
In the Same Garden Anton
2017 2016 Benton
The Landlord Heckler
2018 Stillwater Willie
2020 2 Minutes of Fame Uber Man Uncredited role
2022 Who Killed Cooper Dunn? Willie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Skill Crane Eugene
The Hill Joey
2010 Scourge Northmen Guard 2
Defying Deletion: The Fight over Iraq's Nineveh Plains Terrorist
2011 Dick and Brain Coffee Shop Owner Episode 1
Bluetooths for Better Living Homeless Eddie
Detroit 1-8-7 FBI Man #2 Episode: "Blackout", Recurring cast member
The Finalist Harold Levy
2012 The People Who Were Never There The Man
2013 Vegas AD Episode: "Two of a Kind"
A Friend Ralphy
Bad News Mark
ABC Discovers: Los Angeles Talent Showcase
Nameless Bullet #3
2014 Mixology Kevin Episode: "Liv and Jim"
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Diaz Episode: "Ragtag"
Mistresses Delivery Man Episode: "Friends with Benefits"
The Yellow Attic Yusef Thabit
Mentor Paul
2014-2016 Absolutely Jason Stuart Himself Recurring guest
2015 Xanadu Joel
Serial Scoop Now Himself Episode: "6th Annual ISAs Red Carpet Show - Part 5"
The Perils of Posting Himself
2016 Lady Dynamite Brian Episode: "I Love You"
Open House on Beverly Mr. Kashat
Knives Ray
No Other Like You Him
2017 Add-TV Himself Episode: "Episode 1.1"
Sremm Break Trevor Norton
Major Crimes Charles Gray Episode: "Shockwave: Part 2"
2018 Broken Minds Samuel
Dry City Seth
Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks Himself Episode: "The Inappropriate Barber"
Sh#t I Love with Jason Stuart Himself Episode: "Paul Elia"
2018-2020 Conan Various roles Recurring cast, seasons 8-10
2019 TMI Hollywood Himself Episode: "Paul Elia Hosts TMI Hollywood"
2020 Doubting Thomas Jon
Ramy Kalim Episode: "Miakhalifa.mov"
Tournament of Laughs Himself Episode: "And A Round of 32 We Go, Part 1"
2021 Cultural Blasphemy Himself Episode: "John Mayer is Overrated" & "The Titanic Was NOT Iconic"
2022 We Need to Talk about America Himself
2023 All AT Once
Paul Elia: Detroit Player Himself Comedy special

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2011 Action on Film Award Breakout Action Star – Male Bad to the Bone Nominated
2015 Indie Series Awards Best Writing (Comedy) Mentor
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References

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  1. ^ Paul Elia: Detroit Player (2024) | FULL SPECIAL on YouTube
  2. ^ Paul Elia talks new comedy special, Matt Rife, Hip Hop & Mexicans in Detroit. on YouTube
  3. ^ "Detroit native Paul Elia inspiring youth to pursue their dreams". PIX11 News. February 21, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Detroit native Paul Elia inspiring youth to pursue their dreams". The Arab American News. August 22, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  5. ^ "Paul Elia on breaking comedic barriers for Iraqi-Americans". ABC News. March 15, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "Assyrian Podcast". PodBean (Podcast). August 13, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Elia Opens up about Friendship W/ Matt Rife, Bombing on Stage & Assyrian-Chaldean Identity Video on YouTube