Mindy Kaling | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kaling in 2020 | |
| Born | Vera Mindy Chokalingam (1979-06-24)June 24, 1979 (age 46) Cambridge,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Children | 3 |
Vera Mindy Chokalingam[1] (born June 24, 1979),[1][2] known professionally asMindy Kaling (/ˈkeɪlɪŋ/ ⓘ), is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer.[3] Known for her work on television, she has received aTony Award and six nominations at thePrimetime Emmy Awards. Among other honors, she has also received theProducers Guild of America'sNorman Lear Achievement in Television Award and was awarded theNational Medal of the Arts, which is the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. Kaling founded the production company Kaling International in 2012.[4]
Kaling first gained recognition for playingKelly Kapoor in theNBCsitcomThe Office (2005–2013), on which she also worked as a writer.[5] Credited with twenty-four episodes, Kaling was the most prolific writer among the staff.[6] For her work on it, she was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. She gained wider attention for creating, producing and playing the title role in theFox/Hulu sitcomThe Mindy Project (2012–2017). She then created other television comedies, includingNever Have I Ever (2020–2023),The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021–2025), andRunning Point (2025–present).
Her film career includes voice roles inDespicable Me (2010),Wreck-It Ralph (2012),Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014), andInside Out (2015) as well as live action roles inNo Strings Attached (2011),The Five-Year Engagement (2012),A Wrinkle in Time (2018),Ocean's 8 (2018), andLate Night (2019), the last of which she also wrote and produced. She wrote two memoirs both reachingThe New York Times Best Seller list.[7] She also received aTony Award for Best Musical as a producer for the musicalA Strange Loop.[8]
Vera Mindy Chokalingam was born June 24, 1979,[2] inCambridge, Massachusetts,[1] to aTamil father, Avudaiappan Chokalingam andBengali mother, Swati Roysircar.[9] Her parents who were then living in Nigeria, immigrated to the United States in 1979 with her elder brother, Vijay Chokalingam.[10][11][5]Her father was an architect, and mother was an obstretrician/gynecologist at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston.[12][13]Her mother died ofpancreatic cancer in 2012.[14][15]
Kaling has said she has never been called Vera, her first name, but has been referred to as Mindy since her mother was pregnant with her while her parents were living inNigeria. They were already planning to move to the United States and wanted, Kaling said, a "cute American name" for their daughter, and liked the name Mindy from the showMork & Mindy.[16]
Kaling graduated fromBuckingham Browne & Nichols School in 1997. The following year, she enteredDartmouth College, where she was a member of improvisational comedy troupe The Dog Day Players anda cappella group The Rockapellas, and wrote for theDartmouth Jack-O-Lantern, the college's humor magazine.[17][18] Kaling graduated from Dartmouth in 2001[19] with a bachelor's degree in playwriting.[20] She lists the comedy seriesDr. Katz,Saturday Night Live,Frasier andCheers as early influences on her comedy.[21]
While a 19-year-old sophomore at Dartmouth, Kaling was an intern onLate Night with Conan O'Brien.[22] She has said that she never saw a family like hers on TV, which gave her a dual perspective she uses in her writing.[23] She thinks the "everyone against me" mentality is what she learned as a child of immigrants.[23] She named herMindy Project characterMindy Lahiri after authorJhumpa Lahiri.[24] After college, she moved toBrooklyn, New York.[5] She said one of her worst job experiences was as a production assistant for three months on theCrossing Over WithJohn Edward psychic show.[16] She described it as "depressing."[25] During this same time, she performedstand-up comedy.[23]
Kaling devised her stage name after discovering while doing stand-up comedy that emcees would have trouble pronouncing her last name, Chokalingam, and sometimes made jokes about it.[23] She toured solo and withCraig Robinson, who was later a fellow cast member ofThe Office.[26] In August 2002, she portrayedBen Affleck in anoff-Broadway play calledMatt & Ben,[27] which she co-wrote with her best friend from college,Brenda Withers, who playedMatt Damon.Time magazine named it one of their "Top Ten Theatrical Events of The Year", and it was "a surprise hit" at the 2002New York International Fringe Festival.[5]
Initially, Withers and Kaling had, "for their own entertainment, mockingly pretended to be the best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck; that pretending spawnedMatt & Ben, the goofy play that reimagined how Damon and Affleck came to write the movieGood Will Hunting."[5] Kaling wrote a blog,Things I've Bought That I Love,[5] which reemerged on her website on September 29, 2011.[28] She wrote it under the name Mindy Ephron, "a name Kaling chose because she was amused by the idea of her 20-something Indian-American self as a long-lostEphron sister."[5]
In 2004, whenThe Office producerGreg Daniels was working to adaptThe Office from theBBC TV series of the same name, he hired Kaling as a writer-performer after reading aspec script she wrote. He said, "She's very original ... If anything feels phony or lazy or passé, she'll pounce on it."[5] When Kaling joinedThe Office, she was 24 years old and was the only woman on a staff of eight.[5] She took on the role ofKelly Kapoor, debuting in the series' second episode, "Diversity Day".[20] Her TV appearances include a 2005 episode ofCurb Your Enthusiasm, playingRichard Lewis's assistant. She is featured on the CDComedy Death-Ray and guest-wrote parts of an episode ofSaturday Night Live in April 2006.[20][25] After her film debut inThe 40-Year-Old Virgin withSteve Carell, Kaling appeared in the filmUnaccompanied Minors as a waitress.
In an interview withThe A.V. Club, she stated that Kelly is "an exaggerated version of what I think the upper-level writers believe my personality is."[25] Kaling directedThe Office webisodeThe 3rd Floor.[29] She directed theSeason 6 episode "Body Language," which marked her television directorial debut. In 2007, she had a small part inLicense to Wed alongside fellowOffice actorsJohn Krasinski,Angela Kinsey, andBrian Baumgartner. She starred in the 2009 filmNight at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian as aSmithsonianNational Air and Space Museum tour guide.
On September 15, 2011, when her contract was set to expire at the end of Season 7, she signed a new contract to stay with the show for Season 8 and was promoted to full executive producer.[30] HerUniversal Television contract included a development deal for a new show (eventually titledThe Mindy Project), in which she appeared as an actress and contributed as a writer.[5] Kaling leftThe Office after theninth-season episode "New Guys", but returned to guest-star in itsfinal episode. In 2011, Kaling published a memoir,Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), which appeared on theNew York Times Best Seller list.[31] Her second book,Why Not Me?, covers the events that have happened in her life since 2011, and was published on September 15, 2015.[32] She published a third memoir,Nothing Like I Imagined (Except For Sometimes), with Amazon Original Stories in 2020.
Kaling and her fellow writers and producers ofThe Office were nominated five consecutive times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. In 2010, she was nominated with Daniels for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for the episode "Niagara."[33] In a 2019 interview withElle Magazine, Kaling spoke about the sexism she faced with the Television Academy, having had to go to great lengths to prove her contribution as a producer when the academy informed her she would be cut from the producer list because there were too many producers.[34] She said that to receive her rightful producing credit whenThe Office was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, "They made me, not any of the other producers, fill out a whole form and write an essay about all my contributions as a writer and a producer… I had to get letters from all the other male, white producers saying that I had contributed, when my actual record stood for itself."[35] In 2011, she played the role of Shira, a doctor who is a roommate and colleague of the main character Emma (played byNatalie Portman) inNo Strings Attached. Kaling also made an appearance as Vanetha inThe Five-Year Engagement in 2012.
In 2012, Kaling pitched asingle-camera comedy[36] toFox calledThe Mindy Project, which Kaling wrote, produced and starred in.[37] Fox began airing the series in 2012. Also in 2012, Kaling founded the production company, Kaling International.[4]
In 2013,Time magazine named one of the100 most influential people in the world.[38] Fox canceled her seriesThe Mindy Project in May 2015, with it later being picked up byHulu for a 26-episode fourth season and a 16-episode fifth season. In March 2017, Kaling announced that the show's sixth season, which would air starting September 2017, would be the last.[39] The series concluded on November 14, 2017.
Kaling voiced Taffyta Muttonfudge in Disney's animated comedy filmWreck-It Ralph and Disgust inPixar's 2015 filmInside Out. In 2017,NBC createdChampions, where Kaling is a co-creator, writer, and producer.[40] She had a recurring guest role on the show, which premiered March 8, 2018, onNBC.[41] It was cancelled after one season. In 2018, she played Mrs. Who inA Wrinkle in Time, the live-action Disney adaptation ofthe novel, and starred alongsideHelena Bonham Carter,Sandra Bullock,Cate Blanchett,Anne Hathaway,Awkwafina andRihanna inOcean's 8, the all-female version ofOcean's Eleven.[42] In 2020, Kaling created theNetflix seriesNever Have I Ever withLang Fisher, a comedy partially based on Kaling's childhood story growing up in the Boston area.[43] It premiered on Netflix on April 27, 2020, and is about an Indian American high school student, played byMaitreyi Ramakrishnan, dealing with the death of her father.[44] The series received positive reviews.[45]CNN andTeen Vogue have described the series as a watershed moment for South Asian representation in Hollywood, and praised Kaling for breaking South Asian stereotypes.[46][47]
In February 2021,HBO Max announced they had ordered the adult-orientedScooby-Doo spin-off seriesVelma, with Kaling as executive producer as well as voicing thetitular character.[48][49][50] The series premiered on January 12, 2023, to mixed to negative reviews from critics.[51][52][53]Velma's fan reception was even more polarizing and got overwhelming negative reviews due to the humor and criticized itsmeta storytelling, characterization, writing, and departures from the traditionalScooby-Doo format.[54][55][56][51][52][57]Velma was later ranked by several publications as one of the worst television series of 2023.[58][59][60] That year, she was appointed as a board member along with historian June Li andYoung Yang Chung for the Smithsonian'sNational Museum of Asian Art.[61]
In 2024, she joined the short filmAnuja, as a producer.[62] The film was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the97th Academy Awards.[63]
Kaling co-created theNetflix sports comedyRunning Point, which premiered in 2025. The series starsKate Hudson as the new owner of a Los Angeles-based basketball team, and was inspired by the story ofJeanie Buss.[64]
Kaling has three children: a daughter, Katherine Swati, born in December 2017, a son, Spencer, born in September 2020 and a daughter, Anne, born in February 2024.[65] She has kept the paternity of her children private.[66] Kaling has expressed her desire to give her children a Hindu upbringing.[67][68]
Kaling has a close friendship withB. J. Novak, who she met through writing forThe Office, with Novak calling Kaling "the most important person in my life" (onFresh Air withTerry Gross). They dated on and off while writing and acting on the show.[69] Novak is the godfather of Kaling's first two children.[70][71]
In 2012, Kaling was included in theTime 100 list of the world's most influential people.[72] In 2014, she was named one ofGlamour's Women of the Year.[73] On June 10, 2018, she received anhonorary degree ofDoctor of Humane Letters fromDartmouth College inHanover, New Hampshire.[74] In October 2023, Kaling took to social media to stand alongside Israel.[75] In June 2024, theLos Angeles Times featured Kaling in its "L.A. Influential" series as a "creator who is leaving their mark" in Los Angeles.[76]
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The 40-Year-Old Virgin | Amy |
| 2006 | Unaccompanied Minors | Restaurant Hostess |
| 2007 | License to Wed | Shelly |
| 2009 | Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian | The Docent |
| 2010 | Despicable Me | The Tourist Mom (voice) |
| 2011 | No Strings Attached | Shira |
| 2012 | The Five-Year Engagement | Vaneetha |
| Wreck-It Ralph | Taffyta Muttonfudge (voice) | |
| 2013 | This Is the End | Herself |
| 2014 | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Helen of Troy (voice) |
| 2015 | Inside Out | Disgust (voice) |
| Riley's First Date? | ||
| The Night Before | Sarah | |
| 2018 | A Wrinkle in Time | Mrs. Who |
| Ocean's 8 | Amita | |
| 2019 | Late Night | Molly Patel |
| 2021 | Locked Down | Kate |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Richard Lewis' Assistant | Episode: "Lewis Needs a Kidney" |
| 2005–2013 | The Office | Kelly Kapoor | Main role |
| 2012–2017 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Mindy Lahiri | Main role |
| 2014 | Sesame Street | Herself | Episode: "The Enthusiastic Penelope Penguin" |
| 2015 | The Muppets | Episode: "Single All the Way"[77] | |
| 2017 | Animals | Sandy (voice) | Episode: "Squirrels" |
| 2018 | Future-Worm! | Additional voices | Episode: "Megan Muck Wars" |
| Champions | Priya Patel | Also co-creator, writer, and producer 5 episodes[78] | |
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Cindy | Episode: "The Gang Makes Paddy's Great Again" | |
| 2019 | Four Weddings and a Funeral | N/a | Creator |
| 2019–2023 | The Morning Show | Audra Khatri | 5 episodes |
| 2020–2023 | Never Have I Ever | N/a | Creator |
| 2021–2024 | Monsters at Work | Val Little (voice) | 20 episodes |
| 2021–2025 | The Sex Lives of College Girls | N/a | Creator |
| 2023–2024 | Velma | Velma Dinkley (voice) | Main role, also executive producer |
| 2025–present | Running Point | N/a | Creator |
| Year | Series | Season | Episode | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Office | Season 1 | Episode 6 | "Hot Girl" |
| Season 2 | Episode 1 | "The Dundies" | ||
| 2006 | Episode 12 | "The Injury" | ||
| Episode 18 | "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" | |||
| Season 3 | Episode 6 | "Diwali" | ||
| 2007 | Episode 15 | "Ben Franklin" | ||
| Season 4 | Episode 10 | "Branch Wars" | ||
| 2008 | Episode 15 | "Night Out" | ||
| Season 5 | Episode 9 | "Frame Toby" | ||
| 2009 | Episode 16 | "Lecture Circuit: Part 1" | ||
| Episode 17 | "Lecture Circuit: Part 2" | |||
| Episode 19 | "Golden Ticket" | |||
| Season 6 | Episode 4 & 5 | "Niagara" | ||
| Episode 13 | "Secret Santa" | |||
| 2010 | Episode 16 | "The Manager and the Salesman" | ||
| Episode 22 | "Secretary's Day" | |||
| Season 7 | Episode 5 | "The Sting" | ||
| Episode 11 & 12 | "Classy Christmas" | |||
| 2011 | Episode 21 | "Michael's Last Dundies" | ||
| Season 8 | Episode 10 | "Christmas Wishes" | ||
| 2012 | Episode 17 | "Test the Store" | ||
| The Mindy Project | Season 1 | Episode 1 | "Pilot" | |
| Episode 2 | "Hiring and Firing" | |||
| Episode 5 | "Danny Castellano Is My Gynecologist" | |||
| Episode 8 | "Two is One" | |||
| 2013 | Episode 12 | "Hooking Up Is Hard" | ||
| Episode 13 | "Harry & Sally" | |||
| Episode 16 | "The One That Got Away" | |||
| Episode 24 | "Take Me With You" | |||
| Season 2 | Episode 1 | "All My Problems Solved Forever..." | ||
| Episode 8 | "You've Got Sext" | |||
| 2014 | Episode 13 | "L.A." | ||
| Episode 14 | "The Desert" | |||
| Episode 22 | "Danny and Mindy" | |||
| Season 3 | Episode 1 | "We're a Couple Now, Haters!" | ||
| Episode 6 | "Caramel Princess Time" | |||
| 2015 | Episode 15 | "Danny Castellano Is My Nutritionist" | ||
| Episode 21 | "Best Man" | |||
| Season 4 | Episode 1 | "While I Was Sleeping" | ||
| Episode 13 | "When Mindy Met Danny" | |||
| 2016 | Episode 14 | "Will They or Won't They" | ||
| Episode 18 | "Bernardo & Anita" | |||
| Season 5 | Episode 1 | "Decision 2016" | ||
| 2017 | Season 6 | Episode 1 | "Is That All There Is?" | |
| Episode 9 | "Danny in Real Life" | |||
| Episode 10 | "It Had To Be You" | |||
| 2018 | Champions | Season 1 | Episode 1 | "Pilot" |
| Episode 2 | "I Think I'm Gonna Tolerate It Here" | |||
| Episode 4 | "My Fair Uncle" | |||
| 2019 | Four Weddings and a Funeral | Season 1 | Episode 1 | "Kash With a K" |
| Episode 2 | "Hounslow" | |||
| 2020 | Never Have I Ever | Season 1 | Episode 1 | "Pilot" |
| Episode 4 | "...felt super Indian" | |||
| 2021 | Season 2 | Episode 1 | "...been a playa" | |
| The Sex Lives of College Girls | Season 1 | Episode 1 | "Welcome to Essex" | |
| Episode 6 | "Parents Weekend" | |||
| 2022 | Never Have I Ever | Season 3 | Episode 1 | "...been slut-shamed |
| 2023 | Season 4 | Episode 1 | "...lost my virginity" | |
| Episode 10 | "...said goodbye" |
| Year | Title | Season | Episode | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Office: Subtle Sexuality | Episode 1 | "Creative Differences" | |
| Episode 2 | "The Replacement" | |||
| Episode 3 | "The Music Video" | |||
| 2010 | The Office | Season 6 | Episode 23 | "Body Language" |
| The Office: The 3rd Floor | Episode 1 | "Moving On" | ||
| Episode 2 | "Lights, Camera, Action!" | |||
| Episode 3 | "The Final Product" | |||
| 2011 | The Office | Season 7 | Episode 21 | "Michael's Last Dundies" |
| The Office: The Girl Next Door | Episode 1 | "The Story of Subtle Sexuality" | ||
| Episode 2 | "The Girl Next Door" |
Over her career she has received twoScreen Actors Guild Awards and theTony Award, and sixPrimetime Emmy Awards nominations. She was recognized byTime magazine asone of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. A decade later she received theProducers Guild of America'sNorman Lear Achievement in Television Award, and was awarded theNational Medal of the Arts from PresidentJoe Biden.[79]
In 2013,Entertainment Weekly identified Kaling as one of the "50 Coolest and Most Creative Entertainers" in Hollywood.[80] In the same year, Kaling was recognized byTime magazine asone of the 100 most influential people in the world.[38] In March 2023, Kaling was awarded the 2021National Medal of Arts from the US presidentJoe Biden in theWhite House.[81]
Kaling may be an A-list actor and television producer, but her genuineness and vulnerability make her struggle to balance being at the top of her career with being a single working mom ...
As "Vera Chokalingam"
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