Rasika Mathur

Rasika Mathur is an American actress/comedian best known for her recurring role on the original version of Wild 'n Out.

Early life Mathur was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Hindu immigrant parents from India, but grew up in Houston, Texas and attended Albright Middle School in Alief, Texas and Elsik High School. She discovered her comedic side in seventh grade, after a teacher asked her to feed her dog while she was away: "That teacher soon said to me, 'Take my acting class' and I did, and it was amazing. I got to free up my inner weirdo. Once we got to draw masks, and everyone loved the lion I drew. Something was always in me, roaring quietly, ready to be unleashed. (Ha, that was a cool metaphor.) Soon, out poured all the funny voices, silly characters, and hilarious wit that had built up inside me."

After moving to LA to film a pilot that did not get picked up, Mathur faced difficulty: Now I was living out of the trunk of my car. Mooching. Being broke. I mean broke like, you want to go out to eat late night with friends and you’re holding back tears reading the menu, having to make sure the side of eggs is really $1.49 and not $2.49, ’cause otherwise you just won’t eat. The vine I was trying to swing to wasn’t quite in front of me yet, so sometimes I had to grab a hold of air. To make ends meet I had to cater waitering. Being a children’s party clown or Dora the Explorer with a football-shaped head. Serving whiny, bandaid-on-their-forehead customers at Starbucks at 5 a.m. Graveyard shifts at Dr. Phil’s studios. It was a nightmare. But I also realized that I needed to keep my eyes open to the comedy in all those situations, and back-pocket it to use on stage, like during shows at IO-West, or in improv classes at the Groundlings. That kept me going. Her influences are Christopher Guest, Chevy Chase, Three Amigos, Saturday Night Live (the David Spade years) In Living Color, Adam Sandler, The Count, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Woody Allen and Diane Keaton.

"The Sari (W)rap" Mathur's debut musical comedy album, "The Sari (W)rap", was released in November 2010 on Rukus Avenue Records.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 Next! Various TV movie 2003 Melvin Goes to Dinner Extra Comedy Central Laughs for Life Telethon 2003 Adopted Girl TV movie 2004 Missing Sock The Guru Short 2005 Don't Fear the Reaper Hooker with a Heart of Gold Short 2006 Totally Real TV Susan Short BBQ Bill Rasika Video short 2007 Deserted: The Webseries Sanjina 2008 Cloverfield Party Goer An Inconvenient Penguin Dr. Sumi Video short 2009 Nilam Auntie: An International Treasure Nilam Auntie / Laxmi Harjoshi Short 2010 The Taqwacores Fatima Blowout Sale Customer Short 2011 The King's Speech Parody LOL Herself Short Crazy, Stupid, Love Emily's Assistant Doctors Without Boundaries Dr. Hari Pasi Short 2012 Just for You Girl With Flowers Short 2013 Shotgun Wedding Violet 2014 Rubberhead Bride #3 TV movieTBAConcert Heroes

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 3 Non-Blondes Herself Series Regular 2005 Stacked Sally Episode: "Beat the Candidate" 2005-2007; 2013; 2020 Wild 'n Out Cast Member Season 1-5, 15 2006 Free Ride Deeta the Waitress Episode: "Up the Aunty" 2007 The L Word Student #1 Episode: "Livin' La Vida Loca" My Name Is Earl Female Indian Friend Episode: "Kept a Guy Locked in a Truck" Carpoolers Barista Episode: "Down for the Count" Weeds Bank Teller Episode: "Protection" 2011 Childrens Hospital Nidhi Episode: "Frankfurters. Allman Brothers. Death. Frankfurters" 2015 The McCarthys Barista Episode: "Cutting the Cord" & "End Games" 2018 Will & Grace Trish Episode: "Sweatshop Annie & The Annoying Baby Shower" 2019 Abby's Customer #2 Episode: "Backup" The Dead Sullivan Show Guest/Poet Episode: "Tim Tipton's "Rhyme Without Reason" 003"