On The Mindy Project, Ike Barinholtz plays Morgan Tookers, a nurse who has dressed as a urinal, blurts out inappropriate remarks and has a tattoo on his stomach as a gentle reminder: “No More Stealing Cars.”
“I’m super fortunate to be working on a show that I really like,” the actor says of the comedy, now moving to Hulu after three seasons on Fox.
He’s also thankful that Mindy Kaling, the show’s star and creator, hasn’t tried to quell his gift for improvisation. “I get to play with the character and explore some improv stuff.”
Seemingly, it was both nature and nurture that led the outgoing and quick-witted Chicago native into comedy, first as a sketch and improv comedian.
He spent five seasons as a cast member on Fox’s sketch-comedy series MADtv before moving on to projects like HBO’s Eastbound & Down and an upcoming feature film, Sisters, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Unlike his attorney father — a onetime theater major who abandoned a career as a performer — Barinholtz knew his calling was in entertainment. Likely it stemmed, in part, from fond memories of growing up in a household full of humor, laughs and family evenings watching beloved comedies on TV.
While he was initially hired as a writer on Mindy, his role with the series eventually expanded to include playing Morgan, the rogue nurse. Now Barinholtz wears many hats, as an actor, coproducer and writer.
“It’s a lot of work,” he admits. “But it’s really fun. On your worst day, you’re just tired. There’s a cure for that: it’s called sleeping, which you can do another time.”
There’s another big plus: “Mindy kind of lets me go crazy. I’m so lucky that I get some say in what comes out of my mouth on camera.”
