Mini Biography

The youngest of three brothers, Waleed was born in Sacramento, California, but grew up in Kuwait from the age of 5 until 19. He made frequent visits to his mother's family in San Francisco during the summer holidays. He's traveled extensively to many countries including Jordan, Bahrain, Italy, Germany, France, Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, Dubai, Iraq, Switzerland and England.

He moved to the US to attend The George Washington University where he received a degree in Philosophy and Theatre. Waleed performed in various theaters in the Washington DC area after college including, The Folger Shakespeare Library, The Washington Shakespeare Company, The Studio Theatre, The Source Theatre, and the Keegan Theatre Company.

In December of 2001, just a few months after 9-11 and still living in the DC area, Waleed came up to New York to audition for the West Coast Premiere of Tony Kushner's new play, Homebody/Kabul. He booked his first audition in the big apple, and that sent him out to Berkeley, California for a very successful and long run of the show.

Waleed then moved to New York and in less than 6 months landed his first job in the Broadway production of "Sixteen Wounded" (with Judd Hirsch and Martha Plimpton). He followed this up with a role in the hit off-Broadway play, "Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom," ranked as "one of the best ten plays of 2004" by the Wall Street Journal and Entertainment Weekly.

Waleed recently starred in the US premiere production of David Greig's The American Pilot at the Manhattan Theatre Club, under the direction of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. He performed opposite Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline in the Public Theatre's production of Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage," adapted by Tony Kushner and directed by Tony Award-winner George C. Wolfe. Waleed was awarded a Drama Desk Award along with the rest of the cast for "2006 Outstanding Ensemble Performance" for David Hare's play at the Public Theatre, "Stuff Happens," directed by Tony Award-Winner Daniel Sullivan. He received extensive critical praise for his performance in this landmark production.

Zuaiter is a Producer on the critically acclaimed New York Arab-American Comedy Festival (NYAACF), which will enter its Fifth Annual season in January 2008, and which had its Los Angeles premiere in January of 2006. The NYAACF is the largest comedy festival in the US that brings together Arab-Americans to showcase a unique and edgy brand of humor. Furthermore, he formed Lion & Light Productions, LLC upon optioning the rights and adapting for the screen the PEN-Oakland Award winner and celebrated novel, "On the Hills of God," by Ibrahim Fawal. His company owns options on other feature film properties that are in various stages of development.

Waleed is a graduate of The George Washington University and the acclaimed Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory. He is also a member of the Arab-American theatre collective, NIBRAS.

Trivia

Fluent in Arabic Born in Sacramento California, grew up in Kuwait before entering George Washington University.

Brother of Abbas "Eddy" Zuaiter and Ahmad Zuaiter, both high ranking executives for Soros Fund Management LLC, Hedge Fund Tycoon George Soros's firm.

Was residing in Kuwait in August, 1990 at the time of Saddam Hussein's invasion of the country. After a month long stay in Kuwait under Iraqi rule, he was forced to flee with his family by car over a three day trip through Baghdad and into Jordan.

His son, Laith Zuaiter, appeared with him in a pilot for NBC (M-O-N-Y). The pilot was directed by Spike Lee who had attended the same elementary school in Brooklyn as Laith, P.S. 29.

Shared his Broadway debut in the production of Eliam Kraiem's "Sixteen Wounded" with close friend Omar Metwally. Waleed played his older brother Ashraf, a part that was originally written as his uncle but was later changed to cast Waleed who was initially hired as Omar's understudy.

Fluent in Arabic.

Sloan Reading A First Class Man At ...

Sloan Reading A First Class Man At ...