Jason Mantzoukas (born December 18, 1972) is a Greek American comedic
actor, writer, and podcaster. He is best known for his recurring role
as Rafi in the FX comedy series The League, and as one of the three
co-hosts of the podcast How Did This Get Made? alongside Paul Scheer
and June Diane Raphael. Mantzoukas has also appeared in the films The
Dictator, Sleeping with Other People, They Came Together, Conception,
and John Wick: Chapter 3. He has had recurring roles on three TV shows
created by Michael Schur: Parks and Recreation (as Dennis Feinstein);
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (as Adrian Pimento); and The Good Place (as Derek
Hostedtler). He also voices the character Jay Bilzerian in the Netflix
animated series Big Mouth, and Alex Dorpenberger in the HBO Max
animated series Close Enough. He is known for often playing "crazy,
funny weirdos."Mantzoukas was born in Nahant, Massachusetts, and is
the eldest child of Cynthia (née Mourousas) and William Mantzoukas.
He has one younger sister, Melissa. He has described himself as "100
percent Greek."He began taking drum lessons at age 10 and studied
under Steve Barrett for over 8 years. In interviews, he has cited
Stewart Copeland, Stephen Perkins from Jane's Addiction, and Jimmy
Chamberlin from The Smashing Pumpkins as his biggest influences as a
young musician. He participated in jazz and marching bands in high
school, as well as playing in a cover band called Slygoul. He
continued with jazz drumming in college and also played for a bebop
group.Mantzoukas attended Swampscott High School, graduating in 1991.
While attending, he was named captain of Swampscott's boys' soccer and
track teams and was also president of the marching band. He then
attended Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont; majoring in
religion. He attempted to defend a "terribly written" honors thesis on
religious iconography (which he admits to starting a week prior to his
defense date) but was not given credit to graduate with honors.
actor, writer, and podcaster. He is best known for his recurring role
as Rafi in the FX comedy series The League, and as one of the three
co-hosts of the podcast How Did This Get Made? alongside Paul Scheer
and June Diane Raphael. Mantzoukas has also appeared in the films The
Dictator, Sleeping with Other People, They Came Together, Conception,
and John Wick: Chapter 3. He has had recurring roles on three TV shows
created by Michael Schur: Parks and Recreation (as Dennis Feinstein);
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (as Adrian Pimento); and The Good Place (as Derek
Hostedtler). He also voices the character Jay Bilzerian in the Netflix
animated series Big Mouth, and Alex Dorpenberger in the HBO Max
animated series Close Enough. He is known for often playing "crazy,
funny weirdos."Mantzoukas was born in Nahant, Massachusetts, and is
the eldest child of Cynthia (née Mourousas) and William Mantzoukas.
He has one younger sister, Melissa. He has described himself as "100
percent Greek."He began taking drum lessons at age 10 and studied
under Steve Barrett for over 8 years. In interviews, he has cited
Stewart Copeland, Stephen Perkins from Jane's Addiction, and Jimmy
Chamberlin from The Smashing Pumpkins as his biggest influences as a
young musician. He participated in jazz and marching bands in high
school, as well as playing in a cover band called Slygoul. He
continued with jazz drumming in college and also played for a bebop
group.Mantzoukas attended Swampscott High School, graduating in 1991.
While attending, he was named captain of Swampscott's boys' soccer and
track teams and was also president of the marching band. He then
attended Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont; majoring in
religion. He attempted to defend a "terribly written" honors thesis on
religious iconography (which he admits to starting a week prior to his
defense date) but was not given credit to graduate with honors.
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