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

(1970-04-29) April 29, 1970 (age 54)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Occupation(s)Stand-up comedian, actor, cantor
SpouseLeo Veiga

Early years

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Modi 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

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Modi 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

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Modi 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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Husband: Leo Veiga Comedy is Calling, Jewlarious.com
  2. ^ Modi Rosenfeld at IMDb
  3. ^ a b c d "Interview with Modi Rosenfeld". Interviews with Max Raskin. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  4. ^ Backstage Show me the Funny: Making Money in Stand-up Comedy Archived 2005-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, May 21, 1999
  5. ^ a b Baltimore Jewish Times Something to Laugh About, March 27, 2014
  6. ^ Laugh Factory.com
  7. ^ US Weekly Fashion police Archived 2005-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, 2001
  8. ^ US Weekly Fashion police Archived 2005-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, 2003
  9. ^ Hollywood Reporter Lynch part of the family for CBS Pilot[permanent dead link], September 26, 2006
  10. ^ "AND HERE'S MODI". Buzzsprout. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  11. ^ "Jewish Heritage Reception 2018". NYC Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Community Events. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  12. ^ 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.
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