Jason Mantzoukas

Jason Mantzoukas (born December 18, 1972) is an American comedic actor best known for his recurring role as Rafi in the FX comedy series The League and his role in The Dictator.

Mantzoukas has appeared in such films as Sleeping with Other People, They Came Together, and Conception. He also co-hosts the popular film discussion podcast How Did This Get Made? alongside Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael.

Early life

Mantzoukas was born in Nahant, Massachusetts. He was an accomplished drummer in high school, anchoring a band named Slygoul. He has described himself as being of "100 percent Greek" descent.^[1][2]

Career

He began performing improvisational comedy while attending Middlebury College in Vermont as a part of the Otter Nonsense Players. After college, Mantzoukas studied music and lived abroad for several years, traveling to North Africa and the Middle East. After moving to New York in 1998, he began performing comedy regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCBT) where he was a member of the improv team "Mother", one of the UCBT's earliest house teams. He continues to perform in the weekly show "Soundtrack", an improvised show based on iPod playlists from audience members.^[3] Mantzoukas continues to perform and teach at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. Mantzoukas has appeared in movies such as Baby Mama and I Hate Valentine's Day and The Dictator and has made guest appearances in comedy programs such as The Life & Times of Tim, Parks and Recreation, Enlightened, Broad City, Kroll Show, and Modern Family. He currently co-hosts the Earwolf podcast How Did This Get Made? along with Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael. Although he is often cast as characters of Middle Eastern ethnicity, Mantzoukas is of Greek descent.^[4] Mantzoukas and comedian Ed Herbstman performed as comedy duo "The Mantzoukas Brothers" for a number of years, and they were named "Best Improv Duo" by Time Out New York magazine in 2006.^[5]

Mantzoukas at a live recording of the Gilmore Guys podcast.

Mantzoukas appears in the recurring roles of Rafi on the FX comedy The League and Eagle Wing in the "Gigolo House" sketches on Comedy Central's sketch series Kroll Show.

Mantzoukas co-wrote the screenplay for the 2014 Ice Cube and Kevin Hart comedy Ride Along. He has also served as a consulting writer and producer on comedy programs such as Childrens Hospital and Portlandia.^[6]

Personal life

During his May 2012 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mantzoukas revealed that he is severely allergic to eggs.

Filmography

Film

Television

Podcasts

References

External links

• Jason Mantzoukas at the Internet Movie Database