Modi Rosenfeld (born April 29, 1970, as Mordechi Rosenfeld), known professionally as Modi[1] (stylized as MODI) is a stand-up comedian and actor.[2]
Modi Rosenfeld | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mordechi Rosenfeld April 29, 1970 Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Stand-up comedian, actor, cantor |
| Spouse | Leo Veiga |
Early years
editModi was born in Tel Aviv and moved to Woodmere, New York, with his family when he was seven years old.[1] He graduated from George W. Hewlett High School in 1988 and Boston University in 1992, majoring in psychology and minoring in voice.
Modi studied cantorial music at Yeshiva University's Belz School of Music and continues to sing as a hobby at the synagogue where he prays.[1][3] He was a Wall Street international banker for Merrill Lynch before entering comedy.[1][4]
Career
editModi is an established headliner at comedy clubs across the United States and is a regular fixture on the comedy scene in both New York and Los Angeles.[5] His home club is the Comedy Cellar. Modi's background and ability to adapt to a variety of audiences has allowed him to create a niche within the Jewish community, performing for both Orthodox and non-Orthodox audiences around the world.[6] He performed at the launch party of the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon in Houston before takeoff.[1]
Modi has contributed to US Weekly as a member of the fashion police[7][8] and was also semi-finalist on the fourth season of Last Comic Standing.[9] He is the host of his own podcast called And Here's Modi.[10]
According to Modi, his comedic inspirations are Don Rickles, Jackie Mason, George Carlin, and Louis CK.[5] He attributes his comedic timing to Alan King.[3]
He was honored by the City of New York through a proclamation declaring June 26, 2018 "Mordechi 'Modi' Rosenfeld Day."[11]
Modi is the co-founder and producer of the Chosen Comedy Festival, along with comedians Elon Gold and Dani Zoldan.[3][12]
Modi has also been a guest on a few podcasts, such as the Kiddush Club Podcast.[citation needed]
Personal life
editModi is Jewish and is a member of the Sixth Street Community Synagogue, Modern Orthodox congregation in Manhattan, where comedian Sandra Bernhard is also a member.[3][12]
He is gay and is legally married to Leo Veiga, who is also his manager.[12]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film/Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Friday Night | Modi | TV series; episode: "Sunset Beach - Behind the Scenes" |
| 2002 | The Sopranos | Etan | TV series; episode: "Mergers and Acquisitions" |
| 2003 | Connecting Dots | Tom | |
| 2004 | Waiting for Woody Allen | Mendel | Short film |
| Der Kosh | Rabbi | ||
| Our Italian Husband | Pasquale | ||
| 2006 | Ira & Abby | Marvin the Limo Driver | |
| Agent Emes 5: Agent Emes and the Happy Chanukah | Rocky Rabinowitz | Video | |
| 2007 | Stand Up | Avi | |
| A Perfect Holiday | Father in Line | ||
| 2008 | One, Two, Many | Jermaine | |
| 2009 | CSI: NY | David Klein | TV series; episode: "Yahrzeit" |
| 2010 | Horrorween | Shlomo | |
| 2014–2015 | Deadbeat | Menachem Mendel | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | Madam Secretary | Oded Dahan | TV series; episode: "The Essentials" |
| 2019 | Crashing | Himself | TV series; episode: "The Temple Gig" |
Video games
edit| Year | Game | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV | Issac Roth | |
| 2009 | Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned | Archive footage | |
| Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Husband: Leo Veiga Comedy is Calling, Jewlarious.com
- ^ Modi Rosenfeld at IMDb
- ^ a b c d "Interview with Modi Rosenfeld". Interviews with Max Raskin. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ Backstage Show me the Funny: Making Money in Stand-up Comedy Archived 2005-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, May 21, 1999
- ^ a b Baltimore Jewish Times Something to Laugh About, March 27, 2014
- ^ Laugh Factory.com
- ^ US Weekly Fashion police Archived 2005-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, 2001
- ^ US Weekly Fashion police Archived 2005-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, 2003
- ^ Hollywood Reporter Lynch part of the family for CBS Pilot[permanent dead link], September 26, 2006
- ^ "AND HERE'S MODI". Buzzsprout. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ "Jewish Heritage Reception 2018". NYC Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Community Events. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- ^ a b c Saval, Malina (2023-01-13). "Modi Rosenfeld, Gay Jewish Comedian, Talks 'Moshiach' Energy, Celebrating Shabbat and Comparisons to Robin Williams and Richard Pryor". Variety. Retrieved 2023-01-13.