Ike Barinholtz

Ike Barinholtz is an American actor and comedian born on February 18, 1977. He gained widespread recognition for starring in television comedy series such as MADtv, Eastbound & Down, The Mindy Project, Bless the Harts, The Afterparty, History of the World, Part II, and The Studio. His work on television has earned him several honors, including a Critics' Choice Award, an Actor Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Raised in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, Barinholtz grew up in a Jewish family with a humor-filled household. His father worked as a lawyer and actor, his mother was named Peggy, and his brother also pursued acting. He attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School and The Latin School of Chicago, competing on a state-championship Scholastic Bowl team in 1994 as well as the Texaco Star National Academic Championship at Rice University. Prior to entering comedy, he worked in telemarketing and as a restaurant busboy.

Although he initially planned to pursue a career in politics and attended Boston University, Barinholtz dropped out after performing poorly. He subsequently worked for the Chicago Transit Authority before deciding to study comedy following an inspiring show at The Vic Theatre. He took classes at ImprovOlympic, the Annoyance Theatre, and The Second City, joined Del Close's improv group The Lindbergh Babies, and relocated to Los Angeles. He also lived in Amsterdam for two years performing with the troupe Boom Chicago.

Barinholtz joined the sketch show MADtv in 2002 during its eighth season, eventually being promoted to repertory status. Over five years on the series, he created characters such as Dutch and Principal Lankenstein, and performed celebrity impressions of figures including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ashton Kutcher, and Mark Wahlberg. He frequently teamed up with cast members Josh Meyers and Bobby Lee before leaving the show in 2007.

Following his sketch television work, Barinholtz built a broad film and television career. His feature film credits include comedies such as Disaster Movie, Neighbors, Sisters, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Snatched, Blockers, Late Night, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, alongside the action film Suicide Squad and the thriller The Hunt. He also frequently collaborated with writer Dave Stassen, co-writing Central Intelligence and a pilot titled Mega Winner, and he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the 2018 film The Oath.

On television, Barinholtz portrayed Morgan Tookers on The Mindy Project, where he also served as a writer and story editor. His other television roles include appearances in Eastbound & Down, Friends from College, and The Afterparty. In 2025, he began starring as Sal Saperstein in The Studio, a role that won him a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Barinholtz has also achieved notable success on game shows, becoming the eleventh highest-earning contestant of all time with $1,835,000 in winnings. He won $125,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2020 and later claimed the $1,000,000 top prize alongside his father in 2024. He also won the inaugural primetime season of Celebrity Jeopardy!, earning $1,000,000 for charity and reaching the semifinals of the 2024 Tournament of Champions. In his personal life, Barinholtz is married with three daughters. His upcoming projects include portraying Elon Musk in the film Artificial and appearing in CoComelon: The Movie.