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Dileep A. Rao (born July 29, 1973) is an American actor who has appeared in feature films and television series. He starred in Sam Raimi's horror film Drag Me to Hell (2009), James Cameron's science fiction film series Avatar (2009–present), and Christopher Nolan's thriller Inception (2010).

Early life and education

Rao was born in Los Angeles, California, to a physicist mother and an engineer father, both of Indian descent. He grew up in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia; Denver, Colorado; and Claremont, California. He has one sister, who is a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. He graduated from Claremont High School and the University of California, San Diego, with a B.A., later receiving an M.F.A. from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where his class included Anna Belknap and Elizabeth Banks.

Career

Rao's first role after graduating was in the American premiere of Indian Ink by Tom Stoppard. Rao moved to Los Angeles and began working in regional theater including at the Berkeley Rep, South Coast Repertory, and for the Manhattan Theater Club.

He competed on Jeopardy! on June 7, 2002, and won $34,400. On June 8, 2008, Rao was randomly selected from over 1,600 entrants to play the NPR Weekend Edition Sunday puzzle on air with Will Shortz.

In 2009, he appeared in Avatar and Drag Me to Hell. He was nominated for several awards as part of the ensemble cast in Christopher Nolan's 2010 film Inception, in which he played a pharmacologist.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. "AIA San Diego". AIA San Diego. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
2. "Indian set to fly high". Deccan Herald. India. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
3. Bolinger, Brenda (June 22, 2012). "On to fame and fortune (and prison): CHS alumni in the public spotlight". Retrieved May 7, 2015.
4. "Dileep Rao". J-Archive. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
5. "NPR Weekend Edition, June 8, 2008". Npr.org. June 8, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
6. Anderson, John (July 5, 2010). "'Inception': To Dream, Perchance to Sleep". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 19, 2012.

External links

• Dileep Rao at IMDb
• Interview with Dileep Rao

• Living people
• Male actors from Los Angeles
• American male film actors
• American people of Kannada descent
• American male stage actors
• Contestants on American game shows
• University of California, San Diego alumni
• American Conservatory Theater alumni
• 1973 births
• American male actors of Indian descent
• Claremont High School (California) alumni