Shelley Malil, an American actor and convicted criminal, gained recognition for his role in the film ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’. With a passion for acting since his childhood, Malil pursued his dreams by studying the craft and eventually making his way to Hollywood. Despite facing numerous challenges, he managed to secure small roles in both films and television shows. However, his career skyrocketed after appearing in a Budweiser commercial, propelling him to overnight fame. Throughout his successful career, Malil has received numerous awards for his memorable performances in popular TV shows and films such as ‘Scrubs’, ‘Seinfeld’, and ‘ER’. Unfortunately, his life took a dark turn when he was convicted and imprisoned for a brutal attack on his girlfriend. After spending a decade behind bars, Malil was recently released on parole.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Shelley Mathew Malil
- Age: 59 Years, 59 Year Old Males
- Born Country: India
- Height: 1.8 m
Career
Shelley Malil’s passion for acting began at a young age when he saw a performance by Bob Hope on a neighbor’s TV set in his small fishing village in India. After moving to the U.S. in 1974, he excelled in high school plays and district-level competitions, earning accolades for his performances. He continued to pursue acting after graduating from high school, performing in musicals at Dallas theaters. He then auditioned and was accepted to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where he honed his skills for two years.
However, Hollywood called to Malil, and in 1994, he arrived in Los Angeles with only a van, his mother’s roll-away mattress, and less than $1000. He landed a small part on the TV series “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” and began to receive steady work in films, commercials, and TV shows throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. He even won the “Los Angeles Ovation Award” for Best Featured Actor in 1997 and received another nomination for his performance in the play “SubUrbia”. Malil’s career continued to thrive, and he gained recognition for his role in a Budweiser beer commercial during the 2001 Super Bowl, which earned him a “Clio Award”. He went on to secure lead roles in TV movies and appeared in various movies and TV shows.
In 2005, Malil gained widespread acclaim for his role as “Haziz” in the movie “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”. His performance earned him numerous accolades, including a mention in the “Top 10 Overlooked Performances of 2005” list released by the “Associated Press”. He continued to deliver successful performances in movies and TV shows until 2008.
Controversies & Scandals
On August 10, 2008, Shelley Malil was accused of stabbing his then-girlfriend, Kendra Beebe, more than 20 times at their home in San Marcos, California. The attack occurred while Beebe’s children were sleeping upstairs. Malil, fueled by anger, jealousy, and alcohol, used a knife and a broken wine glass to slash Beebe and attempted to suffocate her with a pillow. He tried to escape but was apprehended at a train station. Beebe survived the attack but sustained multiple deep wounds.
In 2010, Malil was convicted of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 14 years. During his time in prison, Malil attended AA meetings, participated in self-help courses, and obtained a correspondence college degree. These efforts led to his first parole hearing in early 2018, almost 10 years after the attack. At the hearing, Malil expressed remorse for his actions, emphasized his commitment to rehabilitation, and vowed to never victimize anyone again. The parole panel initially granted him parole, but it was later blocked due to public outrage and the victim’s objections. However, in late 2018, Malil was granted supervised parole for five years due to his exemplary behavior in prison.
Family & Personal Life
Shelley Matthew Malil was born on December 23, 1964, in a small fishing village in Kerala, India. He lived there for 10 years before immigrating to the U.S. with his family. Not much is known about his family, but he has a close-knit relationship with his parents, sister, niece, and children.
In 2007, Malil began dating Kendra Beebe after meeting her on an online dating website. However, their relationship was tumultuous.