Rizwan Manji
Rizwan Manji (born October 17, 1974) is a Canadian actor. He is known best for his portrayal of Ray Butani on Schitt's Creek and Rajiv Gidwani in the NBC Universal TV series Outsourced.[1]
Rizwan Manji | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 17, 1974 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse(s) | Taslim Manji |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
Manji was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Indian parents who immigrated there 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 first grade, 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 college 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
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] In 2010 Manji auditioned for the role of Gupta on the NBC comedy Outsourced.[1] Parvesh Cheena got the part, but the producers cast Manji as the scheming assistant manager Rajiv.[10][11] Manji appeared in a GEICO commercial as a customer in the checkout aisle who wins the "auction,"[12][13] and in commercials for Kmart, LendingTree, National Car Rental, and The UPS Store.[13]
Personal life
Manji lives in Studio City, California, with his wife and three children.[1][14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Sue Lost in Manhattan | Newsstand Owner | |
| 1998 | Too Tired to Die | Young Arab | |
| 2001 | American Desi | Salim Ali Khan | |
| 2001 | Queenie in Love | Ahmed | |
| 2002 | The Guru | Party Waiter | |
| 2004 | Fillum Star: The Peter Patel Story | Peter Patel | |
| 2007 | Transformers | Akram | |
| 2007 | Charlie Wilson's War | Colonel Mahmood | |
| 2007 | God, Inc. | Muslim Publicist | Short film |
| 2009 | Karma Calling | Nikhil Shah | |
| 2010 | Morning Glory | DayBreak Producer | |
| 2012 | The Dictator | Patient | |
| 2012 | The Citizen | Mo | |
| 2013 | The Wolf of Wall Street | Kalil | |
| 2013 | Don Jon | Teacher | |
| 2013 | Decoding Annie Parker | Assistant | |
| 2014 | Dr. Cabbie | Vijay | |
| 2014 | That Thing with the Cat | Manu | |
| 2014 | Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day | Mr. Cellars | |
| 2015 | Equals | Gilead | |
| 2015 | Miss India America | Balu Patel | |
| 2016 | Paterson | Donny | |
| 2016 | The Tiger Hunter | Babu Rahman | |
| 2016 | Odd Squad: The Movie | Weird Mitch | |
| 2016 | The Bounce Back | Daryl | |
| 2016 | Arranged | Raj | Short |
| 2017 | Wild Honey | Writers' Group Leader | |
| 2018 | The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot | Maple Leaf | |
| 2020 | Midnight Curry | Amman Khoja |
Television
| 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" |
| 2005 | NCIS | Dr. Pandy | Episode: "SWAK" |
| 2005 | Damage Control | 2 episodes | |
| 2005 | Sleeper Cell | Car Salesman | Episode: "Money" |
| 2005 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Santa Claus[5] | Episode: "#13.62" |
| 2006 | E-Ring | Officer ISI | Episode: "Five Pillars" |
| 2006 | Rescue Me | Haji | Episode: "Retards" |
| 2007 | The Knights of Prosperity | Dentist | Episode: "Operation: Fighting Shape" |
| 2007 | The Game | Tubak | Episode: "To Baby... Or Not to Baby" |
| 2007 | Without a Trace | Fasil Mazarin | Episode: "Deep Water" |
| 2008–2009 | Privileged | Rami | 10 episodes |
| 2008 | Mind of Mencia | Gynecologist | Episode: "#4.1" |
| 2008 | Life | Young Doctor | Episode: "Everything... All the Time" |
| 2008 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Mehar | Episode: "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia" |
| 2008 | Hannah Montana | Ajay | Episode: "You Never Give Me My Money" |
| 2009–2010 | Better Off Ted | Rick / Male Office Worker | 5 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | FlashForward | Maneesh Sandhar | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | The Suite Life on Deck | Swami Banu Kapatu | Episode: "The Mommy and the Swami" |
| 2009 | Worst Week | Ashok | Episode: "The Epidural" |
| 2009 | Eleventh Hour | Tony | Episode: "Olfactus" |
| 2009 | How I Met Your Mother | Dr. Vikash | Episode: "Double Date" |
| 2009 | Medium | Rental Agent | Episode: "New Terrain" |
| 2009 | Three Rivers | Dr. Drev / Dr. Dev / Male Doctor | 3 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | Outsourced | Rajiv Gidwani | 22 episodes |
| 2010 | 24 | Ahman | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Glee | Dr. Gidwani | Episode: "Laryngitis" |
| 2010 | 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" |
| 2012 | Shake It Up | John | Episode: "Whodunit Up?" |
| 2012 | Squad 85 | Cubby / Asst. Principal | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Touch | Pakistani Interrogator | Episode: "Enemy of My Enemy" |
| 2013 | Wendell & Vinnie | Aziz | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Arrested Development | Animesh / Male Concierge | Episode: "Indian Takers" |
| 2013 | Save Me | Dr. Carroll | Episode: "Heal Thee" |
| 2013 | Anger Management | Indian Father | Episode: "Charlie and the Airport Sext" |
| 2013 | Lucky 7 | Ahsan Lashiri | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Bones | Raymond McCants | Episode: "The Mystery in the Meat" |
| 2013 | The Goldbergs | Donald | Episode: "Shopping" |
| 2013–2014 | Dog with a Blog | Dr. Young | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Mom | Dr. Bellin | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Working the Engels | Edward Fancy-Doodle | Episode: "Jenna vs. Big Pastry Part II" |
| 2014 | Mixology | Ganesh | Episode: "Closing Time" |
| 2015 | Young & Hungry | Cashier / Doctor | Episode: "Young & Munchies" |
| 2015 | Backstrom | Dr. Deb Chaman | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | The Thundermans | Babu Ouch | Episode: "Phoebe vs Max: The Sequel" |
| 2015 | 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" |
| 2016 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Anton | Episode: "Matryoshka, Part 1" |
| 2016 | Workaholics | Saul Kingston | Episode: "Night at the Dudeseum" |
| 2016 | Another Period | Prince Apato | Episode: "The Prince and the Pauper" |
| 2016 | Goliath | Dr. Carbo | Episode: "It's Donald" |
| 2017–2020 | The Magicians | Tick Pickwick | 24 episodes |
| 2017 | Mr. Robot | Norm | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Mondays | Tour Guide | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Rob Riggle’s Ski Master Academy | Todd | 8 episodes |
| 2018 | A Very Nutty Christmas | Justin | TV movie |
| 2019–2020 | Sydney to the Max | Vice Principal Virman | 5 episodes |
| 2019–2020 | Perfect Harmony | Reverend Jax | Main cast, 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Peacemaker | Jamil | Recurring role, upcoming miniseries |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties | Akbar |
References
- "Outsourced: Rajiv played by Rizwan Manji". NBC Universal. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved October 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". Retrieved January 23, 2015.
- Rydhan, Irfan. "Rizwan Manji: Taking Jobs From White America". ILLUME. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
- Ryan, 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.
- 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.
- 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. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- 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.
- Hanson-Firestone, Dana, "10 Things You Didn’t Know About Rizwan Manji," tvovermind.com, November 2019 Retrieved April 7, 2020
- ispot.tv Manji TV Commercials Ads Retrieved April 7, 2020
- "Rizwan Manji Welcomes Son Aariq". People. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
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