Manish Dayal

Manish Dayal, born Manish Sudhir Patel on June 17, 1983 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is a versatile American actor whose career has spanned over a decade and a half. Raised in a Gujarati household by parents Hema and Sudhir Patel, who immigrated from Gujarat, India, Dayal grew up alongside three sisters, one of whom, Neisha Patel, pursued a distinguished medical career as a vascular neurology fellow at Columbia University Medical Center. From an early age he exhibited a flair for performance, starring in school plays at Marshall Elementary and later at Heathwood Hall, before earning a degree in International Business from George Washington University in 2005. The same year, he relocated to New York City to chase his acting ambitions, and five years later moved to Los Angeles, where his career truly began to flourish. Dayal first gained visibility through national commercials for brands such as McDonald’s, Windows, Nintendo, and Domino’s Pizza, showcasing a charismatic screen presence that would become his trademark. His stage breakthrough arrived in 2008 when he headlined the off‑Broadway production Rafta, Rafta, a role that earned critical praise and demonstrated his comedic timing. Transitioning to screen, he appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV as the voice of Mohammed, a taxi driver, adding voice‑acting to his repertoire. Subsequent television work included guest spots on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and a recurring role as Hal, a code‑breaking analyst on the AMC series Rubicon. He achieved broader recognition as Ravi on NBC’s Outsourced and as Raj Kher on The CW’s teen drama 90210, where his nuanced portrayal of a cancer‑surviving college student resonated with audiences. Film highlights feature his leading turn as Hassan Kadam in The Hundred Foot Journey (2014) and a pivotal role in Viceroy’s House (2017). From 2018 to 2023, Dayal was a main cast member of Fox’s medical drama The Resident, solidifying his status as a reliable leading man in both film and television. Throughout his career, he has balanced commercial appeal with artistic depth, earning a reputation as a dedicated performer who brings authenticity and heart to every character he embodies.