CELEBRITIES

Mindy Kaling

BIO

Born June 24, 1979 in Cambridge, Mass., Mindy Kaling knew she destined to work in television when she learned her parents named her after Pam Dawber's character from the TV show Mork and Mindy.

Kaling attended Dartmouth University where she showed off her comedic talents by joining an improvisational group, and wrote skits for an a capella group. She also drew her own comic strip for the student newspaper.

After college, Kaling and her former roommate wrote a satirical play entitled Matt & Ben, with Kaling playing the part of Ben Affleck. As luck would have it, Greg Daniels (producer of The Office) was in the audience and was impressed with Kaling. He hired her to join the writing staff of the NBC comedy. In addition to being a writer, Kaling was thrust in front of the camera and soon became a show regular.

Kaling has also appeared in movies such as The 40 Year Old Virgin, Unaccompanied by Minors, License to Wed and No Strings Attached. She currently stars in the Fox series The Mindy Project, which she also created and co-produces.