IN CONVERSATION WITH MALIK ELASSAL
Lebanese Canadian actor, writer, and comedian Malik Elassal has quickly become known in the entertainment industry for his unique blend of humor, relatability and authenticity. In television Malik can next be seen starring in the upcoming FX series ‘Adults’, premiering on Hulu on 29th May.
You’re starring in the upcoming FX series ‘Adults’, premiering on Hulu in May 2025. What drew you to the role of Samir, and how did you approach bringing him to life?
Thinking about Samir brought me back to my early 20s, when I practically lived at my friend's place. It was one of those phases where I didn’t really know what I was doing with my life but I didn’t care that much because I was with my boys. I looked at a lot of old pictures and listened to songs that my first girlfriend showed me while I was figuring out Samir.
The show’s premise of twenty-somethings trying to figure out adulthood feels so relatable. How does ‘Adults’ reflect your own experience navigating early adulthood?
After high school, when I started doing stand up, I would move around Canada a lot. Either living in different spots or visiting for a while. I’m like the Forrest Gump of Canadian comedy, I’ve been in a bunch of scenes, but I would always go back and live with my parents in between some of the adventures and that was always the best, something about being in the home you grew up in. I still think about moving back.
Working with creators from ‘The Tonight Show’ and such a strong ensemble cast must’ve been exciting. What was the vibe on set like, and what excited you the most about it?
Ben and Rebecca wrote scripts that made me feel so supported. The words were funny so all I had to do was say them. We also got to riff a lot. We’d all riff something together and Kroll would come in and suggest something. It felt like the world's longest sleepover where you don’t even know what makes sense anymore, but you’re dying laughing. We’d shoot late sometimes and when it wasn’t my coverage, I would play Nintendo Switch in Samir’s childhood bedroom. It was a vibe.
You’ve been recognized as one of Vulture’s “Comedians You Should and Will Know” and a “New Face” at Just for Laughs. How have those milestones impacted your career or opened new doors?
Any sort of recognition is incredible. I’m so lucky to get to do this. Both of those were such honors. Kyle from Don’t Tell Comedy saw my set at JFL, so that’s how that set came out. One thing always leads to the other. I’ve also met some of my best friends at these festivals.
Your stand-up blends personal storytelling with cultural nuance. How does your Lebanese-Canadian identity influence your comedy?
Being a leb from Northeast Calgary is something that’s in my bones. It's in the fabric of everything I do. I always want to stay true to that. My cousins are all there, and they’re some of the funniest people I know and I always want them to think what I’m doing is sick.
In stand up, you’ve performed across North America. What’s been your most memorable gig so far, and why?
I remember early on, I did a show in Fort McMurray, Alberta. It was one of my first times on the road, and it all felt super exciting. A local journalist had interviewed me and Chris Gordon, the headliner I was opening for. Then, during my set that night, this woman in the audience, completely hammered and heckling, starts shouting and calls me a terrorist. I’m looking at her and I’m like “Is that the journalist?” And it was. She thought she was helping the show and honestly the show was so bad that it kind of did.
How do you balance writing, acting, and performing stand-up? How do they feed into each other creatively?
I feel like it’s all one thing. I’m not really separating any of it. My job is just to be creative and there will hopefully be some path for it.
Comedy often walks a fine line between humor and vulnerability. How do you decide what parts of your personal life to share with an audience?
It’s a weird balance, wanting the audience to feel like they know me, but not giving everything away. I want to give people enough context to understand where I’m coming from. Hopefully I can worldbuild enough that when you leave my show, you to feel like you can see how I see things.
What stories or themes are you most passionate about exploring next, whether on stage or on screen?
Northeast Calgary.
With ‘Adults’ about to premiere and your stand-up career on the rise, what’s next for you in 2025 and beyond?
I never really know what’s next, I’ve never been able to predict even the next three months of my life. I love it though. I want to put out a special soon.
photography EMILY SOTO
