NBC Star and Chicago Native to Speak at UIC

WHO/WHAT:
“From Chicago to NBC’s “Community.” The University of Illinois at Chicago will host a talk by Danny Pudi, actor from NBC’s comedy “Community.”

WHEN:
April 11
4 p.m.

WHERE:
Student Center East
750 S. Halsted St.
Illinois Room

DETAILS:
Danny Pudi, who stars as the pop culture-obsessed Abed Nadir in NBC’s Thursday night comedy “Community,” will discuss growing up in Chicago as the son of Indian and Polish immigrants and his career from improv to television.

In the show’s first season, Daily Variety named him one of “TV’s Top 10: News Faces for Fall.” Pudi studied improv at the Second City Conservatory and is a founding member of Siblings of Doctors, a trio of Indian-American comics that perform sketch comedy and improv.

Among Pudi’s television credits are recurring roles on dramas “Greek” and “Gilmore Girls,” as well as guest-starring parts on “The Bill Engvall Show” and “ER.” His recent film credits include “Road Trip 2: Beerpong” and “Thunder Geniuses” from director Michael Clancy. He will appear in the upcoming independent horror comedy “Knights of Badassdom,” with Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn, Ryan Kwanten and Summer Glau.

He graduated from Marquette University, where he received the inaugural Chris Farley Scholarship. Pudi is a graduate of Notre Dame High School, Niles, Ill.

Admission is free. For more information, call (312) 413-9569. The event is part of Asian American Awareness Month at UIC.