Aasif Mandvi

Aasif Mandviwala, known professionally as Aasif Mandvi, was born on March 5, 1966, in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. His family moved to Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, when he was one year old, where he lived until he was 16. In the early 1980s, his family relocated to Tampa, Florida, where Mandvi completed his high school education at Chamberlain High School in 1984. He later earned a degree in theatre from the University of South Florida. His early career included performing at Disney-MGM Studios and Universal Studios Florida, followed by a move to New York City to pursue off-Broadway productions. He gained recognition for his one-man show, “Sakina’s Restaurant,” winning an Obie Award for his performance.

Mandvi transitioned into a prominent career across various media. On television, he was a correspondent for “The Daily Show” from 2006 to 2017, a role that brought him significant public attention. His acting credits include appearances in series like “Evil” (2019-2024), “The Brink” (2015), “A Series of Unfortunate Events” (2017-2018), and various “Law & Order” iterations. In film, he has taken on roles in “Million Dollar Arm” (2014), “The Last Airbender” (2010), “The Proposal” (2009), and “Spider-Man 2” (2004). His stage work includes playing Ali Hakim in the Broadway production of “Oklahoma!” and originating the role of Amir in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Disgraced” (2012).

Beyond acting, Mandvi has also worked as a writer and producer. He co-wrote and starred in the film “Today’s Special” (2009) and was a writer, producer, and co-star for the HBO series “The Brink.” He also co-created and starred in the web series “Halal in the Family,” which earned a Peabody Award for its innovative approach to addressing anti-Muslim bigotry through humor. Mandvi continues to be active in both creative and charitable endeavors, supporting organizations like Relief 4 Pakistan and the Endometriosis Foundation of America.