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Rizwan Manji

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Rizwan Manji
Manji at the Carmel Film Festival in 2016
Born (1974-10-17) October 17, 1974 (age 50)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma materAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academy
OccupationActor
Years active1997–present
SpouseTaslim Manji
Children3

Rizwan Manji (born October 17, 1974) is a Canadian actor. He is known best for his portrayals of Ray Butani on Schitt's Creek, Tick Pickwick on The Magicians, Rajiv Gidwani in the NBC sitcom Outsourced, and Jamil in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) television series Peacemaker (2022–present).[1]

Early life

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Manji was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Indian parents who emigrated from Tanzania.[2] His family is Ismaili-Muslim of Gujarati Indian 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 to Calgary, Alberta, where he was raised.[5] He graduated from Crescent 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 the University of Alberta, where his sister Rishma was enrolled.[7] The only class he enjoyed there was drama.[8] In 1992 Manji enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.[9]

Career

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During the early years of Manji's career, he played small parts in various films and television shows, with recurring roles in Privileged, Better Off Ted and 24.[1]

From 2010 to 2011, Manji played Rajiv Gidwani on the NBC comedy Outsourced. He initially auditioned for the role of Gupta;[1] Parvesh Cheena got the part, but the producers cast Manji as the scheming assistant manager Rajiv.[10][11]

Manji played Ray Butani on the CBC comedy Schitt's Creek from 2015 to 2020, for which he was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.[12]

He also appeared in seasons 2-5 of The Magicians, a fantasy television series on SyFy.

In 2019, he starred in the NBC comedy Perfect Harmony as Reverend Jax, a missionary who runs a church. The show, which starred Bradley Whitford, was cancelled after one season.

Manji has also appeared in a GEICO commercial as a customer in the checkout aisle who wins the "auction,"[13][14] and in commercials for Kmart, LendingTree, National Car Rental, The UPS Store,[14] and Beyond Meat.

Manji co-hosts a podcast titled The Brighter Side of News.[15]

Personal life

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Manji lives in Studio City, California, with his wife and three children.[1][16] He has spoken openly about issues facing South Asian and Muslim actors in Hollywood.[17]

Filmography

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Film

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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 DayBreak Producer
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

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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

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Year Title Role
2007 Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Akbar

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Outsourced: Rajiv played by Rizwan Manji". NBC Universal. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  2. ^ Strachan, Alex (May 12, 2011). "It's end of the season for five television programs". The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario). p. C8.
  3. ^ "Outsourcing stereotypes". Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Rydhan, Irfan. "Rizwan Manji: Taking Jobs From White America". ILLUME. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Ryan, Andrew (October 6, 2010). "Outsourced, in this case, is 'a great honour'". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). p. R4.
  6. ^ "Indo-Canadian Actor to Star in 'The Wolf of Wall Street'". News India-Times (New York). December 20, 2013. p. 23.
  7. ^ a b Hall, 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.
  8. ^ Volmers, Eric (September 30, 2010). "Sitcom laughs outsourced to Calgary actor; Rizwan Manji shows funny side in new series". Calgary Herald. p. E4.
  9. ^ ""Outsourced" not outdone — Ismaili actor makes headway in Hollywood". TheIsmaili.org. December 21, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  10. ^ ""People think Rajiv Gidwani is a jackass!" – Rizwan Manji » Bollywood Spice | Bollywood News". Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "CBC and Little Mosque on the Prairie's Zarqa Nawaz reunite for Zarqa | TV, eh?". www.tv-eh.com. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Hanson-Firestone, Dana, "10 Things You Didn’t Know About Rizwan Manji," tvovermind.com, November 2019 Retrieved April 7, 2020
  14. ^ a b ispot.tv Manji TV Commercials Ads Retrieved April 7, 2020
  15. ^ "Host The Brighter Side Of News". Rukus Avenue Radio. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "Rizwan Manji Welcomes Son Aariq". People. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  17. ^ "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. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
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