Danny Pudi
Pudi in July 2013
Born
Daniel Mark Pudi

(1979-03-10) March 10, 1979 (age 44)[1]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationMarquette University
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Spouse
Bridget Showalter
​
(m. 2004)​
Children2

Daniel Mark Pudi (born March 10, 1979)[1] is an American actor. His roles include Abed Nadir on the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015),[2] for which he received three nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and one nomination for the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy. Since 2020 he has starred as Brad Bakshi in the Apple TV+ comedy series Mythic Quest. He was the voice of Huey Duck on the 2017 reboot of DuckTales.

Early life

Daniel Mark Pudi[3] was born in Chicago on March 10, 1979,[1] the son of programmer and analyst Teresa (née Komendant)[4] and Abraham L. Pudi (1955–2018).[5][6] His parents immigrated to the U.S. and became naturalized citizens: his mother came from the village of Pokośno, Poland,[4] and his father came from the village of Poduru, India, and was from a Telugu Christian family.[5][7][8] Pudi grew up speaking Polish with his mother and grandmother.[9]

He grew up on the South Side of Chicago with brother Adam and sister Katherine but attended Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, a northern suburb.[7][10] In 2013, he gave the commencement address at Notre Dame College Prep.[11]

Pudi studied dance in Chicago and attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating with a degree in communication and theatre in 2001.[12] At Marquette, he was the first winner of the Chris Farley Scholarship.[12] Beyond paying for a year of school, the scholarship led to him performing at an improv comedy event featuring Jim Breuer and Dave Chappelle, increasing his interest in studying improv.[7] After Marquette, he performed in summer stock theatre in Wisconsin, studied at The Second City in Chicago,[7] and joined Stir Friday Night!, a sketch comedy ensemble of Asian American performers. Other SFN alumni include Steven Yeun.[13]

Career

Pudi became a recruiter for an executive search firm before moving to Los Angeles in 2005 to seek television and film roles.[7][14] His job, whereby he was a remote worker, permitted him to attend auditions, helping him avoid the "struggling actor thing in terms of waiting tables, temping and so on". He performed in several television pilots before joining the cast of Community,[7] which he starred in for six seasons from 2009 to 2015.

He has appeared in multiple television advertisements for such products as Snickers, Verizon, McDonald's, T-Mobile and Far Cry 4.[7][15][16] In 2012, he appeared as a celebrity contestant on GSN's version of The Pyramid with fellow Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown.

In film, he portrayed Arash in the comedy film Road Trip: Beer Pong,[17] and starred in the comedy horror film Knights of Badassdom,[18] which was one of the highlights of Comic Con 2011, according to HitFix.com.[citation needed] He starred in the Jones Street Station music video for "The Understanding".[19] He has made cameo appearances in many internet videos, including BriTANicK's "A Monologue for Three". Pudi had a cameo appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the live episode of Hot in Cleveland, as well as a cameo in Star Trek Beyond.

In the autumn of 2014, Pudi appeared in the off-Broadway musical FOUND.[20] He played the lead role in The Tiger Hunter, an independent film directed by Lena Khan in 2016 and funded through a Kickstarter campaign.[21] In 2017, Pudi began voicing Huey Duck in the DuckTales reboot.[22] He also appeared as Teddy on the NBC sitcom Powerless in the same year.

Pudi plays Brad Bakshi in the TV series Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet, which premiered in February 2020. His theater performance for En Garde Arts' series Uncommon Voices was made public in August 2020. The work in progress, entitled Running, tackles his attempt to piece together his relationship with his father, which affected his personal identity, cultural background, and his experience with racism throughout his personal life and career.[23]

He reunited with Community co-star Alison Brie in the 2022 film Somebody I Used to Know, written by Brie.[24]

Personal life

Pudi is married to Bridget Showalter.[25] They met while attending Marquette University in their freshman year.[14][7] Their twins, a son and a daughter, were born in January 2012.[8] Pudi is also a runner and has completed several marathons.[7]

Pudi bought a house in Pasadena, California, in 2014.[26]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Cop Show Saffa Short films
2009 Road Trip: Beer Pong Arash
2009 Nilam Auntie: An International Treasure Melvin Short film
2010 Blowout Sale Glen Short film; also writer
2011 Fully Loaded Danny
2011 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil Little Boy Blue Voice[27]
2011 Where the Magic Happens Unknown role Short film; also writer
2012 Leader of the Pack Doug Short film
2012 The Guilt Trip Sanjay Uncredited
2012 Flatland 2: Sphereland Puncto Voice
2013 The Pretty One Dr. Rao
2013 Vijay and I Rad
2013 The Knights of Badassdom Lando
2014 Untucked — Documentary short; also director, producer and writer
2014 Captain America: The Winter Soldier Com Tech #1 Cameo
2015 Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant Nathan Vignes
2016 The Tiger Hunter Sami Malik
2016 Taken to the Cleaner Billy Short film
2016 Star Trek Beyond Fi'Ja Cameo[28]
2016 After the Sun Fell Adam
2017 Smurfs: The Lost Village Brainy Smurf Voice[27]
2018 Lost Wallet — Short film; also director
2018 Good Girls Get High Mr. D
2019 Babysplitters Jeff Penaras
2020 The Argument Brett
2020 Coffee Shop Names Deepak Short film[29]
2021 Flora & Ulysses Miller
2022 Corner Office Rakesh
2022 American Dreamer Craig [30]
2023 Somebody I Used to Know Benny

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 ER Mahir Kardatay Episode: "Lost in America"
2006 Gilmore Girls Raj 4 episodes
2006 The West Wing Santos Aide Episode: "Two Weeks Out"
2007–2008 Greek Sanjay 4 episodes
2008 The Bill Engvall Show Josh Episode: "A Reptile Dysfunction"
2009–2015 Community Abed Nadir Main cast: 110 episodes
TV Guide Award for Favorite Ensemble (2012)[31]
Nominated–TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy (2011)
Nominated–Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2011–2013)[32]
2011 Cougar Town Uncredited cameo
Episode: "Something Good Coming"
2011 Robot Chicken Various voices Episode: "The Core, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover"
2011 Chuck Vali Chandrasekaren Episode: "Chuck Versus the Hack Off"
2012 The Book Club Danny 6 episodes; also producer
2013 Hot in Cleveland Tommy Episode: "It's Alive"
2013 Royal Pains Garrett Episode: "Pregnant Paws"
2014 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Levander Hart Voice, episode: "Unstank My Hart"
2014 30 for 30 Shorts — Documentary short; also director, producer and writer
2015 Newsreaders Ivan Folange Episode: "How the Sausage Is Made; Lottery Winners Lose"
2015 TripTank Luger, Matt, Football Player #2, Navigator Voice, 4 episodes[27]
2016 Dr. Ken Topher Episode: "Dave's Valentine"
2016 Pickle and Peanut Bike Jumper Voice, episode: "Bike Jumper"
2016 Great Minds with Dan Harmon Buddha Episode: "The Buddha"
2016 Angie Tribeca Garth Tweedner Episode: "You've Got Blackmail"
2016 Better Things Danny Episode: "Woman Is the Something of the Something"
2017 Powerless Teddy 12 episodes
2017 The Guest Book Tim 2 episodes
2017 Do You Want to See a Dead Body? Himself Episode: "A Body and an Ex-Con"
2017–2021 DuckTales Huey Duck Voice, main role[27]
2018 Impulse Beanie Episode: "They Know Not What They Do"
2018–2020 Harvey Street Kids Tiny, Super Todd, Vlad Villainski, Cheesy TV Announcer, Little Lad, Joel Voice, 28 episodes[27]
2018 Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters Calvin Reichart Episode: "A Better World"
2018 Alone Together Chris Episode: "Big Bear"
2020–present Mythic Quest Brad Bakshi 26 episodes; also director
2020–2022 Mira, Royal Detective Sanjeev Joshi Voice, recurring role
2021 Calls Dr. Burman Voice, episode: "Leap Year Girl"
2021 Summer Camp Island Cookiesmell Voice, episode: "Shave a Little Off the Wheel"
2022 DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders Numo Voice, episode: "And You Are?"
2022 Home Economics Brian Episode: "Santa Suit Rental, $25 Per Day"
2022–present Transformers: EarthSpark Bumblebee, Dramatic Voice #2, Smart Trainer 5007, Crowd Voice, main role[33][27]
2022 Kiff Nick Namé Voice, episode: "Nicknames"
2023 Clone High Dr. Neelankavil Voice, recurring role
2023 Strange Planet Various characters 9 episodes
2024 Avatar: The Last Airbender The Mechanist Recurring role[34]

Video games

Year Title Role
2017 Hearthstone Professor George Herbert Doyle IV

References

  1. ^ a b c "Danny Pudi Biography". Fancast. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Danny Pudi: Community cast - NBC.com". NBC. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  3. ^ "J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication Award Recipients Young Alumnus of the Year Award: DANIEL M. PUDI, COMM '01". Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Teresa K. Pudi (Komendant)". Poles.org. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Abraham Pudi: Obituary". Legacy.com. July 24, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Obituary for Abraham L. Pudi | Simkins Funeral Home".
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Souri, Ranjit (November 2009). "Desis on Cable: Reshma Shetty and Danny Pudi". India Currents. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Wagner, Curt (January 23, 2012). "'Community' star Danny Pudi, wife have twins". Show Patrol. Chicago: RedEye. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  9. ^ "10 things you don't know about Danny Pudi". Marquette Magazine. Marquette University. Spring 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  10. ^ The Bonnie Hunt Show, October 9, 2009.
  11. ^ "Danny Pudi of 'Community' Speaking At Notre Dame Graduation". Niles-Morton Grove, IL Patch. May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Etter, Nicole Sweeney. "Breakout star Danny Pudi was a hit at Marquette first". Marquette Magazine. Marquette University. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  13. ^ Lee, Traci G. (December 21, 2016). "If You Can't Beat Them, Laugh at Them: How Asian America Responded to Hollywood in 2016". NBC News.
  14. ^ a b Halverson, Steve. "'Community' star has ties to Dyersville[permanent dead link]" Dyersville Commercial, September 16, 2009.
  15. ^ "Escape with Melanie Light's Latest Short Film - Dread Central". September 29, 2012.
  16. ^ Hughes, William (November 19, 2014). "Danny Pudi and Donald Glover reunite for a video game commercial". The A.V. Club. G/O Media Inc. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Preston Jones & Michael Trotter on Road Trip: Beer Pong, archived from the original on December 20, 2021, retrieved May 10, 2020
  18. ^ Miska, Brad (June 9, 2010). "'Community' Funnyman Grabs His Sword for 'Knights of Badassdom'!". Bloody Disgusting.
  19. ^ "Jones Street Station "The Understanding"". YouTube. August 11, 2011. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "Community Star Danny Pudi and More Cast in New Musical Found". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  21. ^ Rocha, Kelsey (February 4, 2013). "UCLA alumna Lena Khan fundraises for 'The Tiger Hunter'". Daily Bruin.
  22. ^ Petski, Denise (December 16, 2016). "'DuckTales': David Tennant, Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz Among Voice Cast For Disney XD Reboot". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  23. ^ S1 E12: Running | En Garde Arts Presents Uncommon Voices, retrieved August 25, 2020
  24. ^ Williams, Mary Elizabeth (August 31, 2022). "Alison Brie on filmmaking, "back to old antics" with Danny Pudi and a possible "Community" reunion". Salon. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  25. ^ "Weddings; Showalter-Pudi". Telegraph - Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. October 8, 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  26. ^ Beale, Lauren (March 25, 2014). "Danny Pudi buys Pasadena home from Olympic swimmer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Danny Pudi (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 30, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  28. ^ Lin, Justin (April 6, 2016). "Who were the STAR TREK BEYOND aliens?". Yomyomf.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  29. ^ Vuocolo, Alex; O'Driscoll, Keara; Dangor, Graison; Ross, Dina. "What to Stream: Vanderpump Reunion, Sorority Rush, Sketch Comedy Fav & Coffee Shop Names". Cheddar News. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  30. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 22, 2021). "Dark Comedy 'American Dreamer' Adds Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Danny Pudi, Michelle Mylett". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  31. ^ "TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites Awards Winners Revealed!". tvguide. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  32. ^ Harp, Justin (June 5, 2012). "Critics' Choice Awards 2012: The nominees in full". Digital Spy.
  33. ^ Petski, Denise (July 22, 2022). "'Transformers: EarthSpark': Paramount+ Series Sets Voice Cast, Teaser Trailer — Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  34. ^ "Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender Reportedly Adds Danny Pudi to Cast".

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