Naaj M. Dean

Stand-up comedian and actor.

thisisnaaj.com

Raised an Indigenous Amazigh shepherd in a Tunisian village with no electricity.

African Leadership Academy, Notre Dame (Hesburgh-Yusko Scholar, Film Department Chair Award), USC MFA (George Lucas Family Foundation Scholar; admitted to USC, NYU, FSU and LMU), script intern on CONAN. His debut hour, Legal Alien, was taped at Notre Dame’s Washington Hall and The Hollywood Comedy.

Watch

Legal Alien · a laugh in 10 seconds
Play the Legal Alien trailer
Legal Alien · trailer 1:42

Stand-up bits · YouTube

Directing Play the directing reel
Directing reel · 2:20

Credits

On stage

  • Legal AlienDebut hour
  • The Hollywood Comedy, West HollywoodSummer Comedy Heat; Underground Comedy Heat
  • Washington Hall, Notre DameTaped Legal Alien
  • DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Notre DameStage roles; directed Steve Martin’s WASP

Trained & worked

  • USC MFA, Film & TV ProductionDirecting & sound · George Lucas Family Foundation Scholar
  • University of Notre DameBA Film & Theatre · Hesburgh-Yusko Scholar · Film Department Chair Award
  • The Second City, ChicagoStand-up & comedy writing classes
  • CONAN (TBS)Script intern, 2019
  • African Leadership AcademyFrancis Deng African Scholar; created NaajShow

Directs at ShepherdBoy Entertainment and Impeccable Boost.

For casting

Photos

NAAJ on a yellow backdrop, in a colour-block sweater
Photo: dantejbailey
Black and white headshot of NAAJ in a dark suit NAAJ in blue and red light, hands together NAAJ seated, in a black shirt Close headshot of NAAJ in a black shirt

Press

Front page of The Observer, October 4, 2018 The Observer · Front page October 4, 2018. “One-act plays address American dream”, on Steve Martin’s WASP, directed by Naaj at Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Requests

Book a show Request the Legal Alien screener Casting Representation

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