A graduate of Yale Drama School, character actor Maulik Pancholy became a familiar face on sitcoms and prime-time dramas during the mid- to late 2000s -- nearly always in a recurring or guest acting capacity -- and ushered in occasional bit parts in features. He netted particularly substantial recognition for his ongoing turn as Jack Donaghy's (Alec Baldwin) loyal and slightly high-strung personal assistant, Jonathan, on the Tina Fey/Lorne Michaels-produced NBC sitcom 30 Rock, and for his portrayal of pot dealer Sanjay on Weeds. Cinemagoers might also associate Pancholy with his appearance as Will Smith's overeager doorman in the romantic comedy Hitch. In 2008, Pancholy appeared as Trent opposite Katherine Heigl and James Marsden in the Anne Fletcher-directed romantic comedy 27 Dresses, and he picked up still more fans through his role on the sticom Whitney.
Maulik Pancholy
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- Parents immigrated to the U.S.
- Wanted to become an actor since he was 5.
- Involved with South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow; the American India Foundation; and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
- Speaks to student groups about media stereotypes.
- Admits that when he was an undergrad at Northwestern, he "shied away" from his cultural identity ("the Indian part of me.")
- Has provided the voice for the character of an Indian boy, Baljeet, on the animated series Phineas and Ferb.