Ike Barinholtz
Ike Barinholtz (born February 18, 1977)[2] is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his starring roles in the comedy series MADtv (2002–2007), Eastbound & Down (2012), The Mindy Project (2012–2017), Bless the Harts (2019–2021), The Afterparty (2022), and History of the World, Part II (2023). In February 2023, he won the inaugural primetime season of Celebrity Jeopardy!, winning US$1,000,000 for charity and placed as a semifinalist in 2024 Tournament of Champions.
Ike Barinholtz
His films include Disaster Movie (2008), Neighbors (2014), Sisters (2015), Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Snatched (2017), Blockers (2018), Late Night (2019), The Hunt (2020), and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). He co-wrote the action comedy film Central Intelligence (2016), and directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the comedy film The Oath (2018).
Early life, family, and education[edit]
Barinholtz grew up in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood,[3] the son of Peggy and Alan Barinholtz, an attorney and actor. His brother Jon Barinholtz is also an actor.[4] Barinholtz has described his parents as "liberal people with great senses of humor," and said that he was raised in a "very funny home."[5] Barinholtz is Jewish.[6]
He attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School and then The Latin School of Chicago for high school. He worked at a telemarketing company and as a busboy before starting a career in comedy.[7]
Barinholtz attended Boston University. After dropping out of college, he worked for the Chicago Transit Authority before starting his comedy career.[3] In a 2013 interview, he said he dropped out of school because he hated it and was doing poorly.[7] In a 2012 phone interview, Barinholtz said he was inspired to pursue a career in comedy after attending a comedy show at The Vic Theatre.[3] Thereafter, he took comedy classes at The Second City, ImprovOlympic and Annoyance Theatre.[7] He had planned on becoming a politician[5] but instead decided to move to Los Angeles to be an actor.