Born and raised in Rabat, Morocco, Youssef grew up with Americans and Moroccans after attending the Rabat American School from 2nd to 12th grade. He speaks four languages fluently, including English, French, Italian, and Moroccan Arabic. In 1996 he attended Bard College in upstate New York where he majored in Drama/Dance under Joanne Akalitis. Upon graduating in 2000 he moved to New York City where he joined the theater company Division 13 headed by Joanna Settle. His past jobs have included stints at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia, Richard Foreman's Maria Del Bosco, as well as a vast body of work within the downtown New York theater scene. He also worked extensively on independent film projects with various directors in and around New York city. After 9/11, Youssef chose to move to London, England where he currently lives and works as a full time actor. He returns to New York City during the summer, and always for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Recently graduated with a First Class degree, from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).