Hari Kondabolu
Indian-American
Stand-up Comedian + Actor
Website: harikondabolu.com
Instagram: @harikondabolu
Born and raised in Queens, New York, Hari kondabolu is the son of parents who emigrated to the U.S. from the city of Tenali in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Before graduating Townsend Harris High School in 2000, Hari discovered Asian-American comedian, Margaret Cho, on the then-new Comedy Central cable network. Not only was it Hari’s first time seeing an Asian-American comedian, but he was in awe of Margaret’s confidence and ability to joke about her mom (using a Korean accent) and complexities of her identity. Hari watched Margaret’s comedy special on repeat and realized that a career in comedy was possible.
Hari went on to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and then Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut his junior year – where he decided to focus his studies on identity and race, globalization and the impact of popular culture on society. It was at Wesleyan, and after the tragic events of 9/11, that Hari became politicized and started to weave politics into his comedic focus. Even off-campus, Hari was in-tune with the political scene through internships at the Queens District Attorney's Office in its ‘Hate Crimes/Anti-bias/Youth Gangs Bureau’ and The Office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (via ‘the Indian American Center for Political Awareness Leadership Program’).
For his senior year in college, Hari returned to Bowdoin College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in ‘comparative politics’ in 2004. He then moved to Seattle, Washington and worked as an ‘immigrant rights organizer’ from 2005-2007. In 2006, Hari performed at the Bumbershoot Annual International Music and Arts Festival in Seattle, which is where an HBO booker saw his name on the website and got in touch with him. Hari considered this as his ‘big break’ because his popularity grew and paved the way for appearances in a variety of national comedy festivals, and even his first notable TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel live! In 2007. Although his stand-up comedy career was gaining traction, Hari made the decision to take a one-year break from comedy in order to continue on a personal and professional endeavor to improve the lives of minorities. So he moved overseas to attend the London School of Economics – earning his masters in human rights in 2008.
Upon Hari’s return to the States, his schedule quickly filled up, allowing for appearances on Comedy Central’s live at gotham (2008), Comedy Central Presents (2011), Conan (2012), John Oliver’s New York Stand-up Show (2010 and 2012), and the Late Show with David Letterman (2014). Hari was also a writer and correspondent for the Chris Rock produced ‘Totally Biased’ with w. Kamau Bell on FX (2012 and 2013). In 2014, Hari released his debut standup album ‘Waiting for 2042’. And in June 2016, his second comedy album ‘Mainstream American Comic’ debuted at #1 on the iTunes U.S. comedy charts and at #2 on the Billboard comedy charts.
Instead of labeling his work ‘political’, Hari prefers that his comedy be known for addressing social issues (i.e. poverty, racism, and rejection of Indian stereotypes in media). This unique style garnered Hari the ‘artist in residence’ position at New York University’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute for the 2014-2015 academic year – making him the first comedian to ever be selected for that honor. Some of his other notable honors include being named as ‘Tumblr’s favorite comedian’ by Flavorwire, and being listed as one of the ‘MIC’ 50 Exemplars of ‘the next generation of impact leaders, cultural influencers, and breakthrough innovators’.
Interesting fact: Townsend Harris High School named their mascot, “Hari the hawk,” after Hari during his senior year.
Sources: NPR, BKLYNR and harikondabolu.com