Rizwan Manji

Rizwan Manji was born on October 17, 1974, in Toronto, Ontario, to Indian parents who had emigrated from Tanzania. He spent his formative years in Calgary, Alberta, where he graduated from Crescent Heights High School. Initially, his parents encouraged him to pursue a university degree, but Manji, finding his passion in drama, enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City in 1992. Early in his career, Manji took on minor roles in various films and television series, building a foundation with recurring appearances in productions such as ‘Privileged,’ ‘Better Off Ted,’ and ’24.’ From 2010 to 2011, Manji gained wider recognition playing Rajiv Gidwani in the NBC comedy ‘Outsourced.’ He had originally auditioned for a different role on the show but was ultimately cast as the assistant manager. His career continued to expand with a notable role as Ray Butani on the CBC comedy ‘Schitt’s Creek’ from 2015 to 2020, which earned him a Best Guest Actor nomination at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards. Following this, he featured in seasons 2–5 of ‘The Magicians’ on SyFy and led as Reverend Jax in the NBC comedy ‘Perfect Harmony’ in 2019. Manji’s film credits include ‘The Dictator’ (2012), ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ (2007), and ‘Transformers’ (2007), showcasing his work alongside prominent directors and actors. Manji has also notably contributed to commercial campaigns for major brands such as GEICO, Kmart, LendingTree, National Car Rental, The UPS Store, and Beyond Meat. He continues to be active in the industry, taking on roles in projects like ‘Peacemaker’ (2022–present) and the film ‘Mustache,’ which received the SXSW Audience Award in 2023. Beyond his acting career, Manji co-hosts a podcast titled ‘The Brighter Side of News.’ He resides in Studio City, California, with his wife, Taslim Manji, whom he married in 2002, and their three children.