Shelly Desai obit

Shelly Desai Dies: ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’, ‘Men of A Certain Age’ Actor Was 90

He was not on the list. 

Shelly Desai, the Bombay-born character actor familiar to TV audiences for his recurring roles on the FX series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia comedy and TNT’s Men of A Certain Age, died Tuesday, February 10, in Los Angeles. He was 90.

His death was announced by family. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Born December 3, 1935, in Bombay, British India, Desai came to the United States in the 1960s to pursue a master’s degree in engineering, but instead chose to pursue the stage. He lived in Chicago, then New York and eventually Los Angeles.

By the early 1970s his career included appearances Off Broadway and on Broadway (he was among the cast members of Gurney Campbell’s very short-lived play Gandhi, directed by José Quintero, a production that opened and closed on the same night in October, 1970). He would return to Broadway in 1981’s A Talent For Murder, starring Claudette Colbert and Ryan’s Hope‘s Nancy Addison.

Screen credits from the era include a small role in Brian De Palma’s 1974 rock and roll cult musical Phantom of the Paradise.

Over the next five decades, Desai would build a consistent, prolific character-acting career with dozens of appearances – many of them single episodes – in such series as St. Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, Sledge Hammer!, Moonlighting, thirtysomething, ER, Friends, NYPD Blue, Ugly Betty, Baskets and History of the World: Part II.

He lent his voice to 10 episodes of the 1990s kids show Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? and played a couple characters on three episodes Curb Your Enthusiasm. In a 1991 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled “Data’s Day,” Desai played a blue-skinned Bolian barber named V’Sal.

Perhaps his best known roles were Carlos, a recurring character on 14 episodes in 2009-11 of Men of a Certain Age starring Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula, and in several episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as Hwang, the menacing landlord forever demanding rent money from the hovel-dwelling roomies Charlie (Charlie Day) and Frank (Danny DeVito).

In films, Desai had roles in Thelma & Louise (1991), Toys (1992), Clifford (1994), Midnight Clear (2006) and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015), among others. A month before his passing, Desai was still on set, filming three AT&T commercial.

Desai is survived by wife Phyllis, stepdaughters April and Dawn and grandchildren Sean, Sofia and Dylan.

Actor

Room 110

The Manager

CompletedShort

 

Shelly Desai, Patrick Lazzara, and Dean Ghaffari in Mike and Stanley (2023)

Mike and Stanley

Short

Doctor

2023

 

Mel Brooks, Ike Barinholtz, Seth Rogen, Pamela Adlon, Wanda Sykes, Josh Gad, Jay Ellis, Nick Kroll, Kumail Nanjiani, Dove Cameron, Ronny Chieng, Hannah Einbinder, and Zazie Beetz in History of the World: Part II (2023)

History of the World: Part II

5.6

TV Mini Series

25 Year Old

2023

1 episode

 

Raven-Symoné, Rondell Sheridan, Emmy Liu-Wang, Felix Avitia, Issac Ryan Brown, and Mykal-Michelle Harris in Raven's Home (2017)

Raven's Home

7.1

TV Series

Old Man

2022

1 episode

 

Big Tony's Ballet (2020)

Big Tony's Ballet

Short

God

2020

 

Baskets (2016)

Baskets

7.6

TV Series

Allen

2019

1 episode

 

Not For Nothin' (2018)

Not For Nothin'

8.7

TV Series

Shelly

2018

1 episode

 

All About Manos (2016)

All About Manos

7.4

TV Series

Mr. Yip

2017

1 episode

 

Le Method (2017)

Le Method

Video

Gobinder Dalwalla

2017

 

Adam Sandler in Sandy Wexler (2017)

Sandy Wexler

5.3

Sandy Client

2017

 

The Cross-Up (2017)

The Cross-Up

7.3

Short

Don DeKova

2017

 

Anya Profumo and Reese Mishler in Candyland (2017)

Candyland

Short

Kabal

2017

 

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

8.8

TV Series

Hwang

2005–2016

3 episodes

 

Jimmy DellaValle, Jerry Hauck, and Tim Homayoon in Not for Nothin' (2015)

Not for Nothin'

7.6

TV Series

Shelly

2015

 

Ana Flavia Gavlak in Bikini Inception (2015)

Bikini Inception

4.4

John Makshanoff

2015

 

Kevin James in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

4.5

Khan Mubi

2015

 

John Cho and Karen Gillan in Selfie (2014)

Selfie

7.2

TV Series

Janitor (uncredited)

2014

1 episode

 

Late Bloomers

TV Series

Khan

2013

 

Redneck Weddings (2012)

Redneck Weddings

7.9

TV Series

Jack Dingle

2012–2013

2 episodes

 

Kevin James in Here Comes the Boom (2012)

Here Comes the Boom

6.4

Miguel

2012

 

Ray Romano and Andre Braugher in Men of a Certain Age (2009)

Men of a Certain Age

8.0

TV Series

Carlos

2009–2011

14 episodes

 

Archer (2009)

Archer: Archersaurus

7.1

Video

Krenshaw (voice)

2010

 

Big Red

TV Movie

Limo Driver

2009

 

H. Jon Benjamin in Archer (2009)

Archer

8.6

TV Series

Crenshaw (voice)

2009

1 episode

 

Hung (2009)

Hung

7.2

TV Series

Hardware Store Owner

2009

1 episode

 

Rachael Leigh Cook, Michael Leydon Campbell, Amy Ryan, and Grace Zabriskie in Bob Funk (2009)

Bob Funk

5.0

Sanjay

2009

 

Giovanni Pizarro in Ernesto (2008)

Ernesto

5.8

TV Movie

Taxi Driver

2008

 

Starting Under

8.8

TV Movie

Ernesto

2008

 

The Seekers (2008)

The Seekers

7.5

Hari Chande

2008

 

How to Be a Serial Killer (2008)

How to Be a Serial Killer

5.4

Detective #1

2008

 

Tony

5.7

Short

Cab Driver

2008

 

No Man's Land: The Rise of Reeker (2008)

No Man's Land: The Rise of Reeker

4.8

Ravi

2008

 

The Museum

8.5

Short

Museum Guard

2008

 

You're So Dead (2007)

You're So Dead

5.2

Boris

2007

 

Delta Farce (2007)

Delta Farce

3.7

Farmer

2007

 

America Ferrera in Ugly Betty (2006)

Ugly Betty

6.8

TV Series

Jorge

2007

1 episode

 

Midnight Clear (2006)

Midnight Clear

6.0

Janitor

2006

 

Jason Bateman, Nikki Cox, and Greg Grunberg in The Jake Effect (2003)

The Jake Effect

7.0

TV Series

Mr. Chowdari

2006

1 episode

 

Benjamín Benítez, Gary Cole, Ryan Hurst, Rashida Jones, Lee Tergesen, and Josey Scott in Wanted (2005)

Wanted

7.5

TV Series

Owner

2005

1 episode

 

Tom Sizemore, Tamara Hope, and Reiley McClendon in The Nickel Children (2005)

The Nickel Children

5.4

Clerk

2005

 

Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Persia White in Girlfriends (2000)

Girlfriends

7.4

TV Series

Cab Driver

2004

1 episode

 

The Mexican Dream (2003)

The Mexican Dream

6.7

Short

Ilegales Driver

2003

 

NYPD Blue (1993)

NYPD Blue

7.8

TV Series

Isakov

2003

1 episode

 

Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)

Curb Your Enthusiasm

8.8

TV Series

ChuckJanitor

2001–2002

3 episodes

 

The District (2000)

The District

7.2

TV Series

Salid

2002

1 episode

 

The Blood of Success

Sahid

2001

 

Night at the Golden Eagle (2001)

Night at the Golden Eagle

5.8

John #2

2001

 

Viktor Bychkov, Andrey Fedortsov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Sergey Koshonin, and Aleksandr Tyutryumov in Uboynaya sila (2000)

Uboynaya sila

6.6

TV Series

Auto Service Owner

2001

2 episodes

 

Vanessa Zima in Zoe (2001)

Zoe

6.9

Hotel Clerk

2001

 

Everything Put Together (2000)

Everything Put Together

6.1

Storage Man

2000

 

For Love of the Game (1999)

For Love of the Game

6.6

Taxi Driver

1999

 

Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck in Forces of Nature (1999)

Forces of Nature

5.5

Cabbie

1999

 

Denial (1998)

Denial

5.3

Azar

1998

 

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer in Friends (1994)

Friends

8.9

TV Series

Man at Airport (uncredited)

1998

1 episode

 

Martin Lawrence, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Carl Anthony Payne II in Martin (1992)

Martin

7.5

TV Series

Habib

1997

1 episode

 

Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

CabbieCabby

1994–1996

2 episodes

 

Tom Lister Jr. and Marc Singer in Street Corner Justice (1996)

Street Corner Justice

4.8

Rasool Hadifar

1996

 

Richard III (1996)

Richard III

Buckingham

1996

 

Vincent Perez in The Crow: City of Angels (1996)

The Crow: City of Angels

4.6

Hindu

1996

 

Kurt Russell in Escape from L.A. (1996)

Escape from L.A.

5.7

Cloaked Figure

1996

 

Pamela Anderson in Barb Wire (1996)

Barb Wire

3.6

Sharif

1996

 

Mary McCormack, Daniel Benzali, Michael Hayden, J.C. MacKenzie, and Grace Phillips in Murder One (1995)

Murder One

8.2

TV Series

Motel Operator

1995

1 episode

 

Rita Moreno in Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (1994)

Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?

7.2

TV Series

(voice)

1994

10 episodes

 

Paula Trickey in A Kiss Goodnight (1994)

A Kiss Goodnight

5.2

TV Movie

Mr. Bagdasarian

1994

 

Charles Grodin and Martin Short in Clifford (1994)

Clifford

5.6

Mini-Mart Clerk

1994

 

Dom DeLuise in The Silence of the Hams (1994)

The Silence of the Hams

4.7

Trick

1994

 

Robin Williams in Toys (1992)

Toys

5.1

Shimera

1992

 

Eddie Presley (1992)

Eddie Presley

5.4

Walley

1992

 

Before the Storm (1991)

Before the Storm

6.6

TV Movie

Fasir

1991

 

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in Thelma & Louise (1991)

Thelma & Louise

7.6

East Indian Motel Clerk (as Shelly De Sai)

1991

 

The Antagonists (1991)

The Antagonists

5.7

TV Series

Dry Cleaner

1991

1 episode

 

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

8.7

TV Series

V'Sal

1991

1 episode

 

Demon Cop (1990)

Demon Cop

2.3

Police in Warehouse

1990

 

The New Adam-12 (1990)

The New Adam-12

6.1

TV Series

Diabetic Man

1990

1 episode

 

Robert Davi and Robert Z'Dar in Maniac Cop 2 (1990)

Maniac Cop 2

5.9

Convict

1990

 

Thirtysomething (1987)

Thirtysomething

7.5

TV Series

Igor

1990

1 episode

 

A Sinful Life (1989)

A Sinful Life

6.7

Bagdasarisa

1989

 

Catherine Keener, Pat Morita, Kevin Conroy, Jack Wallace, and Richard Yniguez in Ohara (1987)

Ohara

6.9

TV Series

Mr. Rashnafari

1988

1 episode

 

Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in Moonlighting (1985)

Moonlighting

7.6

TV Series

Customer #3 (as Shelly DeSai)

1988

1 episode

 

Project X (1987)

Project X

6.2

Mr. Verrous

1987

 

Anne-Marie Martin, Harrison Page, and David Rasche in Sledge Hammer! (1986)

Sledge Hammer!

8.1

TV Series

Ernesto Gomez

1986

1 episode

 

George Peppard, Mr. T, Dirk Benedict, and Dwight Schultz in The A-Team (1983)

The A-Team

7.5

TV Series

Rajiv

1986

1 episode

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

6.9

TV Series

Clerk

1985

1 episode

 

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

Hill Street Blues

8.2

TV Series

Shopkeeper

1985

1 episode

 

Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Howie Mandel, Cynthia Sikes Yorkin, Ellen Bry, William Daniels, and Ed Flanders in St. Elsewhere (1982)

St. Elsewhere

8.0

TV Series

Ahjai Sihkan

1985

1 episode

 

Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

Q: The Winged Serpent

6.0

Kahsa

1982

 

Impostors (1979)

Impostors

6.6

1979

 

Contract on Cherry Street (1977)

Contract on Cherry Street

6.4

TV Movie

Orderly (uncredited)

1977

 

Short Eyes (1977)

Short Eyes

7.0

Other Inmate

1977

 

William Finley in Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Phantom of the Paradise

7.3

Dental Health Volunteer #1 (uncredited)

1974

 

Cheri Caffaro in Ginger (1971)

Ginger

4.0

Jean's Companion at the Club

1971

 

Item 72-D: The Adventures of Spa and Fon

7.1

Short

Gang Leader

1970

 

Self

John Matuszak in Hollywood Beat (1993)

Hollywood Beat

TV Series

Self

1993–2005