Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari is an actor, comedian, writer and director best known for starring in Parks and Recreation and creating Master of None. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Ansari grew up in nearby Bennettsville. He attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics before graduating from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Ansari began performing stand-up comedy while in college, quickly building a reputation in New York’s comedy scene. He cocreated and starred in the MTV sketch series Human Giant from 2007 to 2008, which helped him land the role of Tom Haverford on NBC’s Parks and Recreation in 2009. His portrayal on the hit series ran for seven seasons and cemented his status in television comedy.

Beyond Parks and Recreation, Ansari has released several stand-up specials including Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive, Live at Madison Square Garden and Right Now. He cocreated, wrote and starred in Netflix’s Master of None, earning multiple Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy. His film credits include I Love You, Man (2009), Get Him to the Greek (2010) and 30 Minutes or Less (2011). In 2019, he published the book Modern Romance.

Ansari married forensic data scientist Serena Skov Campbell in 2022.