Rizwan Manji
Rizwan Manji | |
---|---|
![]() Manji at the Carmel Film Festival in 2016 | |
Born | Toronto, Ontario,Canada | October 17, 1974
Alma mater | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1997–present |
Spouse | Taslim Manji |
Children | 3 |
Rizwan Manji(born October 17, 1974) is a Canadian actor. He is known best for his portrayals of Ray Butani onSchitt's Creek,Tick Pickwick onThe Magicians,Rajiv Gidwani in theNBC UniversalTV seriesOutsourced,and Jamil in theDC Extended Universe(DCEU) television seriesPeacemaker(2022–present).[1]
Early life[edit]
Manji was born inToronto,Ontario, toIndianparents who emigrated fromTanzania.[2]His family isIsmaili-MuslimofGujaratiIndian descent,[3]and he has said that his religion is very important to him.[4]When Manji was in grade one, he and his family moved toCalgary,Alberta,where he was raised.[5]He graduated fromCrescent Heights High School.[1][6]
Manji's parents wanted him to go to university to earn a degree, but he wanted to be an actor.[7]He attended theUniversity of Alberta,where his sister Rishma was enrolled.[7]The only class he enjoyed there was drama.[8]In 1992 Manji enrolled at theAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academyin New York City.[9]
Career[edit]
During the early years of Manji's career, he played small parts in various films and television shows, with recurring roles inPrivileged,Better Off Tedand24.[1]
From 2010 to 2011, Manji played Rajiv Gidwani on theNBCcomedyOutsourced.He initially auditioned for the role of Gupta;[1]Parvesh Cheenagot the part, but the producers cast Manji as the scheming assistant manager Rajiv.[10][11]
Manji played Ray Butani on theCBCcomedySchitt's Creekfrom 2015 to 2020, for which he was nominated for aCanadian Screen Award.[12]
He also appeared in seasons 2-5 ofThe Magicians,a fantasy television series onSyFy.
In 2019, he starred in theNBCcomedyPerfect Harmonyas Reverend Jax, a missionary who runs a church. The show, which starredBradley Whitford,was cancelled after one season.
Manji has also appeared in aGEICOcommercial as a customer in the checkout aisle who wins the "auction,"[13][14]and in commercials forKmart,LendingTree,National Car Rental,The UPS Store,[14]andBeyond Meat.
Manji co-hosts a podcast titledThe Brighter Side of News.[15]
Personal life[edit]
Manji lives inStudio City,California,with his wife and three children.[1][16]He has spoken openly about issues facingSouth AsianandMuslimactors in Hollywood.[17]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Sue Lost in Manhattan | Newsstand Owner | |
1998 | Too Tired to Die | Young Arab | |
2001 | American Desi | Salim Ali Khan | |
Queenie in Love | Ahmed | ||
2002 | The Guru | Party Waiter | |
2004 | Fillum Star: The Peter Patel Story | Peter Patel | |
2007 | Transformers | Akram | |
Charlie Wilson's War | Colonel Mahmood | ||
God, Inc. | Muslim Publicist | Short film | |
2009 | Karma Calling | Nikhil Shah | |
2010 | Morning Glory | DayBreakProducer | |
2012 | The Dictator | HIV Patient | |
The Citizen | Mo | ||
2013 | The Wolf of Wall Street | Kalil | |
Don Jon | Teacher | ||
Decoding Annie Parker | Assistant | ||
2014 | Dr. Cabbie | Vijay | |
That Thing with the Cat | Manu | ||
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day | Mr. Cellars | ||
2015 | Equals | Gilead | |
Miss India America | Balu Patel | ||
2016 | Paterson | Donny | |
The Tiger Hunter | Babu Rahman | ||
Odd Squad: The Movie | Weird Mitch | ||
The Bounce Back | Daryl | ||
Arranged | Raj | Short | |
2017 | Wild Honey | Writers' Group Leader | |
2018 | The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot | Maple Leaf | |
2020 | Eat Wheaties! | Bruce Rapp | |
Midnight Curry | Aman Khoja | ||
2022 | Wedding Season | Vijay, Asha's father | |
2023 | The Donor Party | Kahlil | |
Shazam! Fury of the Gods | Docent | ||
Mustache | Hameed | ||
Journey to Bethlehem | Caspar |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Money Kings | Club Patron | Television film |
1999 | One Life to Live | Dr. Patel | Episode: #1.7991 |
2005 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Santanu Singh | Episode: "Gone" |
NCIS | Dr. Pandy | Episode: "SWAK" | |
Damage Control | 2 episodes | ||
Sleeper Cell | Car Salesman | Episode: "Money" | |
Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Santa Claus[5] | Episode: "#13.62" | |
2006 | E-Ring | Officer ISI | Episode: "Five Pillars" |
Rescue Me | Haji | Episode: "Retards" | |
2007 | The Knights of Prosperity | Dentist | Episode: "Operation: Fighting Shape" |
The Game | Tubak | Episode: "To Baby... Or Not to Baby" | |
Without a Trace | Fasil Mazarin | Episode: "Deep Water" | |
2008–2009 | Privileged | Rami | 10 episodes |
2008 | Mind of Mencia | Gynecologist | Episode: "#4.1" |
Life | Young Doctor | Episode: "Everything... All the Time" | |
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Mehar | Episode: "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia" | |
Hannah Montana | Ajay | Episode: "You Never Give Me My Money" | |
2009–2010 | Better Off Ted | Rick / Male Office Worker | 5 episodes |
FlashForward | Maneesh Sandhar | 3 episodes | |
2009 | The Suite Life on Deck | Swami Banu Kapatu | Episode: "The Mommy and the Swami" |
Worst Week | Ashok | Episode: "The Epidural" | |
Eleventh Hour | Tony | Episode: "Olfactus" | |
How I Met Your Mother | Dr. Vikash | Episode: "Double Date" | |
Medium | Rental Agent | Episode: "New Terrain" | |
Three Rivers | Dr. Drev / Dr. Dev / Male Doctor | 3 episodes | |
2010–2011 | Outsourced | Rajiv Gidwani | 22 episodes |
2010 | 24 | Ahman | 3 episodes |
Glee | Dr. Gidwani | Episode: "Laryngitis" | |
Hawthorne | Dr. Asheesh Danee | Episode: "Afterglow" | |
2011 | Rizzoli & Isles | Private Investigator | Episode: "Seventeen Ain't So Sweet" |
2012–2013 | Crash & Bernstein | Dr. Gordon | 2 episodes |
2012 | New Girl | Interviewer | Episode: "Normal" |
Shake It Up | John | Episode: "Whodunit Up?" | |
Squad 85 | Cubby / Asst. Principal | 3 episodes | |
2013 | Touch | Pakistani Interrogator | Episode: "Enemy of My Enemy" |
Wendell & Vinnie | Aziz | 2 episodes | |
Arrested Development | Animesh / Male Concierge | Episode: "Indian Takers" | |
Save Me | Dr. Carroll | Episode: "Heal Thee" | |
Anger Management | Indian Father | Episode: "Charlie and the Airport Sext" | |
Lucky 7 | Ahsan Lashiri | 3 episodes | |
Bones | Raymond McCants | Episode: "The Mystery in the Meat" | |
The Goldbergs | Donald | Episode: "Shopping" | |
2013–2014 | Dog with a Blog | Dr. Young | 2 episodes |
2014 | Mom | Dr. Bellin | 2 episodes |
Working the Engels | Edward Fancy-Doodle | Episode: "Jenna vs. Big Pastry Part II" | |
Mixology | Ganesh | Episode: "Closing Time" | |
2015 | Young & Hungry | Cashier / Doctor | Episode: "Young & Munchies" |
Backstrom | Dr. Deb Chaman | 5 episodes | |
The Thundermans | Babu Ouch | Episode: "Phoebe vs Max: The Sequel" | |
Minority Report | Dr. Orson | Episode: "Fredi" | |
2015–2020 | Schitt's Creek | Ray Butani | 13 episodes |
2015–2016 | Bella and the Bulldogs | Mr. Matoo | 2 episodes |
2016 | The League | Maitre D | Episode: "The 13 Stages of Grief" |
NCIS: Los Angeles | Anton | Episode: "Matryoshka, Part 1" | |
Workaholics | Saul Kingston | Episode: "Night at the Dudeseum" | |
Another Period | Prince Apato | Episode: "The Prince and the Pauper" | |
Goliath | Dr. Carbo | Episode: "It's Donald" | |
2017–2020 | The Magicians | Tick Pickwick | 24 episodes |
2017 | Mr. Robot | Norm | Recurring role |
Mondays | Tour Guide | 2 episodes | |
2018 | Rob Riggle’s Ski Master Academy | Todd | 8 episodes |
A Very Nutty Christmas | Justin | TV movie | |
2019–2021 | Sydney to the Max | Vice Principal Virman | 7 episodes |
2019–2020 | Perfect Harmony | Reverend Jax | Main cast, 13 episodes |
2020–2021 | Mira, Royal Detective | Mr. Khan / Ajhay Sharma (voice) | 8 episodes |
American Dad! | Knight / Towel Swan (voice) | 2 episodes | |
2021 | Atypical | Vice Principal Patrick | 3 episodes |
2022 | Peacemaker | Jamil | Recurring role |
Roar | Third Husband (Raoul) | Episode: "The Woman Who Returned Her Husband" | |
Zarqa | Yusuf | 3 episodes | |
Family Guy | Giraffe (voice) | Episode: "Happy Holo-ween" | |
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration | Le Fou | Live TV special |
Video games[edit]
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2007 | Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties | Akbar |
References[edit]
- ^abcde"Outsourced: Rajiv played by Rizwan Manji".NBC Universal.Archived fromthe originalon October 27, 2010.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
- ^Strachan, Alex (May 12, 2011). "It's end of the season for five television programs".The Windsor Star(Windsor, Ontario). p. C8.
- ^"Outsourcing stereotypes".RetrievedJanuary 23,2015.
- ^Rydhan, Irfan."Rizwan Manji: Taking Jobs From White America".ILLUME.Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2010.RetrievedDecember 13,2010.
- ^abRyan, Andrew (October 6, 2010). "Outsourced, in this case, is 'a great honour'".The Globe and Mail(Toronto). p. R4.
- ^"Indo-Canadian Actor to Star in 'The Wolf of Wall Street'".News India-Times(New York). December 20, 2013. p. 23.
- ^abHall, Jamie (September 30, 2010). "Actor finds way in with Outsourced; Sitcom set in Indian firm 'a really big deal' for ex-U of A student".Edmonton Journal.p. D1.
- ^Volmers, Eric (September 30, 2010). "Sitcom laughs outsourced to Calgary actor; Rizwan Manji shows funny side in new series".Calgary Herald.p. E4.
- ^""Outsourced" not outdone — Ismaili actor makes headway in Hollywood ".TheIsmaili.org. December 21, 2010.RetrievedDecember 12,2010.
- ^""People think Rajiv Gidwani is a jackass!" – Rizwan Manji » Bollywood Spice | Bollywood News ".Archived fromthe originalon December 12, 2010.RetrievedDecember 13,2010.
- ^Brioux, Bill (November 27, 2010). "Landing a big job on Outsources: The new show is the latest in a trend that reflects the growing global reach of the South Asian community".Toronto Star.p. SW4.
- ^"CBC and Little Mosque on the Prairie's Zarqa Nawaz reunite for Zarqa | TV, eh?".www.tv-eh.com.RetrievedNovember 6,2021.
- ^Hanson-Firestone, Dana, "10 Things You Didn’t Know About Rizwan Manji," tvovermind.com, November 2019 Retrieved April 7, 2020
- ^abispot.tv Manji TV Commercials Ads Retrieved April 7, 2020
- ^"Host The Brighter Side Of News".Rukus Avenue Radio.RetrievedDecember 27,2022.
- ^"Rizwan Manji Welcomes Son Aariq".People.RetrievedSeptember 26,2020.
- ^"Rizwan Manji: It wasn't a surprise that people loved Schitt's Creek. It was a surprise that it took so long for people to find it!".Hindustan Times.November 21, 2020.RetrievedNovember 6,2021.
External links[edit]
- 1974 births
- Living people
- Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States
- Canadian Ismailis
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian male television actors
- Canadian male voice actors
- Canadian people of Gujarati descent
- Canadian people of Indian descent
- Canadian people of Tanzanian descent
- Male actors from California
- Male actors from Toronto
- Gujarati people
- Actors from Gujarat
- People from Studio City, Los Angeles
- 20th-century Canadian male actors
- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- American Musical and Dramatic Academy alumni
- Khoja Ismailis
- Muslims from California