Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari (born February 23, 1983) is an American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. He currently stars as Tom Haverford on the NBC show Parks and Recreation.
Ansari began his career performing standup comedy in New York City during the summer of 2001 while attending New York University. In 2007, he created and starred in the critically acclaimed MTV sketch comedy show Human Giant, which ran for two seasons. This led to acting roles in feature films including Funny People, I Love You, Man, and Observe and Report. In addition to his acting work, Ansari has continued to work as a standup comedian. He released his debut CD/DVD, entitled Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening', in January 2010 on Comedy Central Records, and still tours nationally between acting commitments. In June 2010, he hosted the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. His next release is 30 Minutes or Less, co-starring Jesse Eisenberg, Nick Swardson, Danny McBride and Fred Ward.

Aziz Ansari on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 1


Aziz Ansari on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 2


Aziz Ansari on the Late Show with David Letterman (10/13/09)


Aziz Ansari '30 Minutes or Less' Interview


Aziz Ansari - Sheets


Aziz Ansari Teaches Zach Galifianakis (Alan From "The Hangover") About Swag


Early life

Aziz Ansari was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to Indian Muslim parents who immigrated from Tamil Nadu, India.[1] His father is a gastroenterologist. Ansari grew up in Bennettsville, South Carolina, where he attended Marlboro Academy.[2]
[edit]Career

[edit]Early career
Ansari began his career performing stand-up comedy in New York while attending Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University and graduated in 2004 with a degree in marketing[3]. He frequently performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, as well as weekly shows such as Invite Them Up. In 2005, Rolling Stone included him in their annual "Hot List" as their choice for the "Hot Standup",[4] and he won the Jury Award for "Best Standup" at HBO's 2006 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.[5]
[edit]Human Giant


Human Giant's Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, Jason Woliner & Paul Scheer in May 2007
Around the summer of 2005, Ansari began collaborating with fellow comedians Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer (both of the famed improv troupe Respecto Montalban), as well as director Jason Woliner to make short films. The first series created by the group was Shutterbugs, which followed Huebel and Ansari as cutthroat child talent agents. This was followed up by the Illusionators, which starred Ansari and Scheer as Criss Angel–style goth magicians. In mid-2006, MTV greenlit a sketch series from the group which debuted April 5, 2007. The critically acclaimed show completed two seasons. The group was offered a third season, but opted to pass in order to pursue other opportunities.
[edit]Parks and Recreation
In June 2008, Ansari was announced as the first cast hire for NBC's new comedy from producers of The Office.[6] The show, Parks and Recreation, debuted in April 2009 with Ansari portraying government employee Tom Haverford. Ansari's performance has received notable praise from critics, including Entertainment Weekly naming him one of 2009’s “Breakout TV Stars,” TV Guide naming him a “Scene Stealer” and Yahoo! TV placing him in the number one spot on their list of “TV MVPS.”[7]
[edit]MTV Movie Awards
On June 6, 2010, Ansari hosted the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. The show opened with a spoof of the film Precious with Ansari appearing as Aziz "Precious" Ansari. Ansari also created the short film Stunt Kidz which reunited him with his Human Giant castmates. A second short film was also made with actor Zach Galifianakis in which Ansari portrayed Taavon, Galfianakis' "Swagga Coach." He accepted Galifianakis' award for Best Comedic Performance in character as Taavon. Ansari also performed a musical tribute to the film Avatar in the style of singer R. Kelly.
[edit]Other notable television work
In addition to his work on Parks and Recreation, Ansari appeared on the HBO series Flight of the Conchords[6] as a xenophobic fruit vendor. He also had a recurring role in season eight of the ABC sitcom Scrubs as Ed, a new intern to the hospital. Ansari's character was written off the show to allow him to film Parks and Recreation.
In August 2011, Ansari made a cameo appearance in the music video for Otis by Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaborated album, Watch the Throne.
[edit]Film career


Ansari in September 2008
Ansari has made appearances in several films, including Get Him to the Greek, I Love You, Man, and Observe and Report. In the summer of 2009, Ansari appeared in the Judd Apatow film Funny People with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. Apatow liked Ansari's character, "Raaaaaaaandy", and commissioned him and Human Giant collaborator Jason Woliner to create online shorts centered around his character, to promote the film. These shorts proved successful and the character became the subject of one of the film ideas Ansari and Woliner are currently developing for Apatow Productions. Two other ideas in development are Let's Do This, a road movie about two motivational speakers, and an untitled film about two disgraced astronauts who must return to space to clear their names.[8] Ansari is also attached to star in another film with Danny McBride based on an idea from Ansari and 30 Rock writer Matt Hubbard. Parks and Recreation writer Harris Wittels is currently scripting the project.[9] In April 2010, it was announced that Ansari would star in the film 30 Minutes or Less. The film is being directed by Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer and will co-star Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride. The film is scheduled for release on August 12, 2011.
[edit]Stand-up comedy
Even amongst various acting commitments, Ansari has continued performing and touring as a standup comedian. In 2006 and 2007, he toured with the Comedians of Comedy and Flight of the Conchords. In the fall of 2008 and early 2009, Ansari headlined his own comedy tour, the Glow in the Dark Tour. The material on this tour became the basis for a DVD/CD special for Comedy Central. The set, titled Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening, aired January 17, 2010, with a CD/LP/DVD release on January 19.[10]
Ansari's comedy style has always shied away from ethnic humor and more focused on aspects of his personal life. “I like talking about things that are going on in my life, because that’s always going to be different and original,” he says. “No one else is gonna be talking about my personal experiences."[11]
In the summer of 2010, Ansari began a new theatre tour titled the Dangerously Delicious Tour.
[edit]Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Other notes
2006 School for Scoundrels Classmate
2008 The Rocker Aziz
2009 Funny People Randy Springs
Observe and Report Saddamn
I Love You, Man Eugene
2010 Get Him to the Greek Matty Briggs
2011 30 Minutes or Less[12][13][14] Chet
Television
Year Title Role Other notes
2007 Flight of the Conchords Sinjay Episode "Drive By"
Human Giant Cast Member Writer, Co-Creator (2007–2008)
2008 Worst Week Morgue Employee
2009 Reno 911! Insurance Representative (3 episodes)
Scrubs Ed Dhandapani (4 episodes)
Parks and Recreation Tom Haverford Main cast (2009-present)
[edit]Discography

Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening
Raaaaaaaandy Mixtape (with Dave Sitek)

Reference from Wikipedia.com