Shelley Malil, a proud Malayalee from the Indian state of Kerala, was destined for a career in comedy, inspired by his idol Bob Hope. Growing up in a small fishing village on the southern tip of India, Malil was exposed to the comedic take on life that is characteristic of the Malayalee people. His dream of becoming a comedic actor like Hope began when he first saw him on a neighbor's TV set, which was the only one in the village.
Malil's big break came when he landed a role as "Chad" in Anheuser-Busch's "Whassup?!" commercial spin-off, which was voted the best Super Bowl commercial by numerous trade publications, magazines, and entertainment commentators. The clever send-up showcased Malil's comedic talents and marked a significant milestone in his career.
Before making it big, Malil had to overcome many challenges. He moved to Hollywood in 1995 with less than $1000 to his name and a phone number of a friend of a friend in his pocket. He slept in his van until he could find room and board, but within three weeks of his arrival, he had landed a manager, a guest-star role on FOX's "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.," his SAG card, and an apartment. Since then, Malil has worked steadily, appearing in numerous commercials, television shows, and films.
Malil's passion for entertaining began on the stages of Big Spring High School, where he earned awards in district competitions in Texas. He was known for his leading turns in classic musicals and as a disc jockey at a local radio station. A group of students even formed "The Animal Fan Club" because of his popularity. After high school, Malil spent a few seasons performing on the Dallas dinner theater circuit before auditioning for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
In his spare time, Malil takes a Zen-like approach to golf, attends approximately five films a week, devours motivational books, and recently joined the Big Brother Program. Despite his success, Malil longs to return to the stage, where his turn as "Bottom" in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Stella Adler Theatre garnered him a Best Featured Actor nomination at the 1997 Los Angeles Ovation Awards.
