Rizwan Manji
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 Universal TV series Outsourced, and Jamil in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) television series Peacemaker (2022–present).[1]
Rizwan Manji | |
|---|---|
 Manji at the Carmel Film Festival in 2016 | |
| Born | October 17, 1974 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | Taslim Manji |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
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
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, and The UPS Store.[14]
Manji co-hosts a podcast titled The Brighter Side of News.[15]
Personal life
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
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 | HIV 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 | Eat Wheaties! | Bruce Rapp | |
| 2020 | Midnight Curry | Aman Khoja | |
| 2022 | Wedding Season | Vijay, Asha's father | |
| 2023 | The Donor Party | Kahlil | |
| 2023 | Shazam! Fury of the Gods | Unnamed docent | |
| 2023 | Mustache | Hameed |
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 |
| 2019–2021 | 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 |
| 2020–2021 | American Dad! | Knight / Towel Swan (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Atypical | Vice Principal Patrick | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Peacemaker | Jamil | Recurring role |
| 2022 | Roar | Third Husband (Raoul) | Episode: "The Woman Who Returned Her Husband" |
| 2022 | Zarqa | Yusuf | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Family Guy | Giraffe (voice) | Episode: "Happy Holo-ween" |
| 2022 | Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration | Le Fou | Live TV special |
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.
- ""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.
- 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. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- 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
- "Host The Brighter Side Of News". Rukus Avenue Radio. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- "Rizwan Manji Welcomes Son Aariq". People. Retrieved September 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. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
External links
- Rizwan Manji at IMDb