Knights of Prosperity

Background:

Iranian-American actor and stand-up comedian Maz Jobrani is probably best recalled by television audiences as Gourishankar 'Gary' Subramaniam in the ABC sitcom “Knights of Prosperity” (2007) and as Mr. Hut in the Fox sitcom “Life on a Stick” (2005). He has also appeared as guest star in a number of popular series, including “Malcolm in the Middle,” “ER,” “Still Standing,” “Law & Order” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” On the wide screen, the former political science scholar at U.C. Berkeley is known for playing Moly in Ice Cube's “Friday After Next” (2002). Additional film credits include Kevin Costner's “Dragonfly“ (2002), “Maryam” (2002), “13 Going on 30” (2004), Sydney Pollack's “The Interpreter “ (2005), “Moonpie” (2006) and the forthcoming “Overnight” (2009).

Jobrani, who credits Eddie Murphy as one of his inspirations to become comedian, has done stand-up in shows like “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “The Colbert Report,” and has performed regularly at top comedy clubs in Los Angeles and New York. He is a member of the “Axis of Evil' comedy group.

Political Science

Childhood and Family:

Maziar Jobrani was born on February 26, 1972, in Tehran, Iran. He was raised in Marin County, California, which is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, after his parents left Iran. Involving in theater productions since kindergarten, Maz studied theater throughout high school, but chose to major in political science at UC Berkeley, from which he earned a B.A. degree. Upon graduating, he pursued the Ph.D. program at UCLA. However, after visiting the university's renowned theater program, he was lured back to acting and left school to chase his childhood ambition.

Maz is married to an Indian-American woman. They now live in California. One of Maz's hobbies is blue sky watching.

The Axis of Evil

Career:

Maz Jobrani dropped out of a Ph.D. program in Political Science from UCLA in favor of career in acting and performing comedy. The U.C. Berkeley alumnus who had been in theater productions since kindergarten caught the acting bug as an eight grader after playing the lead role in production of “Li'l Abner.” He, however, did not have any intention to full fill his childhood love until he left UCLA.

Jobrani made his television acting debut in a 1999 episode of “Chicago Hope” called “White Rabbit,” in which he appeared as security guard. It was followed with similar gigs in “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Martial Law” (both 2000), “V.I.P.” (2001), “ER,” “NYPD Blue,” “Without a Trace,” “Cedric the Entertainer Presents,” “The Agency,” “24” (all 2002), “Still Standing” (2003), “The West Wing,” “Law & Order” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (all 2004). His first TV movie role was as the husband of Camille Alick in 2001's “The Areola.” He then portrayed Ali Faisal in the terrorism-themed “The President's Man: A Line in the Sand” (2002), opposite Chuck Norris and Judson Mills.

The Californian-raised debuted cinematically in a 2001 independent drama about cancer called “The Medicine Show,” which starred Jonathan Silverman and Natasha Gregson Wagne. It was followed by appearances in the Kevin Costner vehicle “Dragonfly“ (2002, as paramedic), the critically-lauded “Maryam” (2002, as Reza) and the award-winning indie comedy “Bug” (2002, starred John Carroll Lynch and Brian Cox). Jobrani's breakout screen role arrived when director Marcus Raboy tapped him to portray Moly in the comedy sequel “Friday After Next” (2002), written by and starring Ice Cube. Subsequent film projects include Adrian Carr's “Mind Games/ Something Borrowed” (2003), the award-winning short “Something for Nothing” (2004), Gary Winick's “13 Going on 30” (2004, as Jennifer Garner's co-worker, Glenn) and the Sydney Pollack-helmed thriller “The Interpreter “ (2005, starred Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn and Catherine Keener).

In 2005, Jobrani made his debut as a regular performer in the Fox sitcom “Life on a Stick,” which also starred Zachary Knighton, Charlie Finn, Rachelle Lefevre, Saige Thompson, Amy Yasbeck and Matthew Glave. He was cast in the memorable role of Mr. Hut, the mad owner of a fast food stand. The series only had a short life. Still on TV, he was also seen playing Mohammed Safid in a 2005 episode of “E-Ring.” The following year saw Jobrani play Eduardo in “Moonpie,” a romantic comedy starring Mad TV's Michael McDonald and Stephnie Weir, and worked with director-writer Katja Esson in “Season of Madness.”

Jobrani revisited series TV as regular in the notable role of Gourishankar 'Gary' Subramaniam, an Indian attorney turned NY taxi driver who participated in the plan to rob Mick Jagger in the ABC sitcom “Knights of Prosperity” (2007). The show lasted a season of 13 episodes.

36-year-old Jobrani will play Amir in the comedy/romance “Overnight” (2009), directed and penned by Valerie Breiman. On the small screen, he is set to portray Dr. Bhamba in the comedy film “Better Off Ted” (2008), along side Portia de Rossi, Andrea Anders, Jay Harrington and Malcolm Barrett.

As stand-up comedian, Jobrani has performed in various TV shows like “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “The Colbert Report,” “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “The Chelsea Handler Show.” He is also a regular performer at such renowned comedy clubs as The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory, both of which in L.A., and New York's The Comedy Cellar. Along with some of the world's top Middle Eastern-American comics like Ahmed Ahmed and Aron Kader, Jobrani became part of “The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour.” “The Axis of Evil Comedy Central Special” debuted in 2007 as the first all Middle Eastern show on American TV.

Awards:
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