Mo Amer: Bio, Age, Netflix Series, Specials & Where to Watch

Mo Amer (full name Mohammed Mustafa Amer) is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian, actor, and Peabody Award-winning creator born July 24, 1981, in Kuwait. He is the creator and star of the Netflix series Mo (2022–2025), has three Netflix stand-up specials (The Vagabond, Mohammed in Texas, Wild World), and co-starred in Black Adam. He is a Comedy Cellar regular and one of the first Arab-American refugee comedians to perform for U.S. troops overseas.

Mo Amer Quick Facts

• Full Name: Mohammed Mustafa Amer
• Born: July 24, 1981, in Kuwait
• Age in 2026: 44
• Nationality: Palestinian-American (U.S. citizen since 2009)
• Known For: Netflix series Mo (creator/star, Peabody Award-winning), Netflix specials The Vagabond (2018), Mohammed in Texas (2021), Wild World (2024), and film roles in Black Adam and Bad Monkey Season 2
• Family: Divorced; has a son named Ali
• Languages: Fluent in English, Arabic, and Spanish
• Current Residence: Los Angeles (formerly Houston, Texas)
• Signature Tour: Allah Made Me Funny (with Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman)

Who Is Mo Amer?

Mo Amer is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and actor whose career bridges a personal story most comedians don’t carry and a creative voice that refuses to be reduced to it. He was born in Kuwait in 1981, fled the country at age nine during the first Gulf War, settled in Houston as a refugee, and spent nearly 20 years stateless before gaining U.S. citizenship in 2009. That story is his material — but the material works because Amer writes jokes, not biographies.

He is the creator and star of the Netflix series Mo, which won a Peabody Award for its first season. Season 2 premiered January 30, 2025, and holds a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes (Season 1 holds 100%). He has three Netflix stand-up specials — The Vagabond, Mohammed in Texas, and Wild World. He co-starred in 2022’s Black Adam alongside Dwayne Johnson, appeared in two seasons of Hulu’s Ramy, and joined the cast of Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey for its second season.

He is a Comedy Cellar regular, a performer at Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo, and the Shrine Auditorium, and has performed in over 27 countries across five continents.

Mo Amer’s Early Life and Path to Comedy

Mohammed Mustafa Amer was born July 24, 1981, in Kuwait, the youngest of six children. His father was an engineer for the Kuwait Oil Company. He attended a British school in Kuwait, where he learned British English — a linguistic quirk that became material later.

In 1990, when Amer was nine, Iraq invaded Kuwait, and his family fled. After stints in temporary resettlement, they eventually arrived in Houston, Texas. His father died when Amer was thirteen, a loss he’s addressed openly in interviews — it derailed school but sharpened the drive to pursue comedy. He participated in Houston’s Funniest Person Contest in June 1999, reached the finals, and was mentored by Danny Martinez at The Comedy Showcase.

By age 19, Amer was performing for U.S. troops stationed abroad — one of the first Arab-American refugee comedians to do so. He became a U.S. citizen in 2009, nearly 20 years after arriving in America. It was only then that he could travel to Jordan to visit family he hadn’t seen since fleeing Kuwait. He later returned to Kuwait and Baghdad for the first time since the war.

Mo Amer’s Netflix Specials

• The Vagabond (2018) — his first Netflix special, built from years of touring as a refugee before and after gaining citizenship
• Mohammed in Texas (2021) — his second Netflix hour, filmed during the pandemic
• Wild World (2024) — his third Netflix special, released late 2024, covers Mo’s expanded post-Mo-series touring and international experiences

All three specials are available to stream on Netflix.

Mo Amer’s Netflix Series: Mo

Mo is a Netflix comedy-drama series Amer created with Ramy Youssef. The show stars Amer as Mo Najjar, a loosely autobiographical Palestinian refugee navigating life in Houston while seeking asylum and U.S. citizenship. It premiered August 24, 2022, to critical acclaim, won a Peabody Award, and held a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score for its first season.

Season 2 premiered January 30, 2025, opening with Mo stranded in Mexico City after being trapped in a truck in the season 1 finale. The season follows his attempt to return to Houston before his long-awaited asylum hearing, selling falafel tacos from a vending cart and playing in a mariachi band to survive. The finale aired with Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” playing over the closing scene, set on October 6, 2023. Amer has indicated Season 2 will be the series’ last. Season 2 holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and was called “Essential Viewing” by Mashable.

The cast includes Farah Bsieso as Yusra (Mo’s mother), Teresa Ruiz as Maria, Omar Elba as Sameer (Mo’s brother), and Cherien Dabis as Nadia (Mo’s sister). Season 2 features cameos from Matt Rife, Liza Koshy, Slim Thug, and Simon Rex.

Mo Amer’s Acting Work Outside Stand-Up

• Black Adam (2022) — played Karim alongside Dwayne Johnson
• Ramy (Hulu) — recurring role as Mo, Ramy’s cousin, for two seasons
• Bad Monkey Season 2 (Apple TV+) — new cast member
• Sweet Dreams and Americanish — additional film credits
• Doha Debates (2023) — hosted the flagship series filmed in Qatar’s Education City

Mo Amer’s Comedy Style

Amer’s comedy is observational and warm, grounded in the specifics of growing up between cultures. His material addresses his Palestinian heritage, the American immigrant experience, airport security as a person named Mohammed, Uber rating dynamics tied to that same name, and the specific absurdities of navigating U.S. bureaucracy as a refugee. He also does sharp crowd work — his ability to read a room comes partly from the salesman’s instinct for “reading people” that he built during his Houston years before comedy paid the bills.

His voice works because he doesn’t moralize. He uses humor to handle discrimination, cultural stereotypes, and political tension without turning the microphone into a lectern.

Where to Watch Mo Amer

Mo Amer is a Comedy Cellar regular when he’s in New York, and Mint Comedy streams the Cellar live. Check the Mint Comedy live shows page for upcoming streams. All three of his Netflix specials and both seasons of Mo are streaming on Netflix. For Mint’s editorial take on his career arc, see Mo Amer: The Vagabond King.

Amer is also featured in Immigrant and First-Generation Comedians at the Comedy Cellar and the complete guide to the Mint Comedy comedian roster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mo Amer?
Mo Amer (Mohammed Mustafa Amer) is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and actor born July 24, 1981, in Kuwait. He is the creator and star of the Peabody Award-winning Netflix series Mo, has three Netflix stand-up specials (The Vagabond, Mohammed in Texas, Wild World), and has appeared in Black Adam, Ramy, and Bad Monkey Season 2.

How old is Mo Amer?
Mo Amer was born on July 24, 1981, making him 44 years old in 2026.

Where is Mo Amer from?
Mo Amer was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents. At age nine, during the first Gulf War (1990), his family fled Kuwait and eventually settled in Houston, Texas. He spent nearly 20 years as a refugee before gaining U.S. citizenship in 2009. He now lives in Los Angeles.

Is Mo Amer Palestinian?
Yes. Mo Amer is Palestinian-American. He was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents and identifies as Palestinian. His heritage is central to his comedy and to the Netflix series Mo, which is loosely based on his experiences as a Palestinian refugee in Houston.

Did Mo Amer win a Peabody Award?
Yes. Mo Amer’s Netflix series Mo won a Peabody Award for its first season. It is also one of the most critically acclaimed comedy-drama series on Netflix, with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for Season 1 and a 95% score for Season 2.

Is Mo Amer married?
Mo Amer is divorced. He has a son named Ali, whom he mentions in his comedy and interviews.

How many Netflix specials does Mo Amer have?
Mo Amer has three Netflix stand-up specials: The Vagabond (2018), Mohammed in Texas (2021), and Wild World (2024).

Was there a Mo Season 3?
No. Netflix renewed Mo for a second and final season, which premiered January 30, 2025. Mo Amer has indicated Season 2 is the series’ last.

What movies has Mo Amer been in?
Mo Amer co-starred in Black Adam (2022) as Karim alongside Dwayne Johnson. He has also appeared in Sweet Dreams, Americanish, and joined the cast of Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey Season 2. He previously had a recurring role on Hulu’s Ramy.

Where can I watch Mo Amer live?
Mo Amer performs at the Comedy Cellar in New York City when he’s in town. Mint Comedy streams the Comedy Cellar live. His touring schedule includes international dates across 27+ countries.