What Is Jay Chandrasekhar's Net Worth?
Jay Chandrasekhar is an American actor, director, writer, producer, and comedian with a net worth of $5 million. Known for his role in the Broken Lizard sketch comedy group, Chandrasekhar has made significant contributions to the film and television industry. His notable works include "Super Troopers" (2001), "Club Dread" (2004), and "Beerfest" (2006), as well as directing episodes of popular shows such as "Arrested Development" (2003–2004), "Psych" (2008–2012), and "Community" (2010–2015).
In 2001, Broken Lizard self-funded "Super Troopers" with a budget of $1.5 million. The movie grossed $23.5 million and gained immense popularity on DVD.
Broken Lizard, comprising Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske, is behind other hit films like "Puddle Cruiser" (1996), "The Slammin' Salmon" (2009), and "Super Troopers 2" (2018). The group also produced a comedy special "Broken Lizard Stands Up" (2010). Jay directed and produced several of these films, earning recognition in the industry.
Early Life
Jay Chandrasekhar was born Jayanth Jambulingam Chandrasekhar on April 9, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Hema and Arcot, are doctors from India, and Jay was born in the Cook County Hospital, where they worked. Chandrasekhar has two sisters who are lawyers. He attended Lake Forest Academy, a boarding school, and later enrolled at Colgate University in New York. At Colgate, Jay majored in European History, minored in Philosophy, and was part of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He also founded the sketch comedy group Charred Goosebeak, graduating in 1990. Jay further attended Loyola University in Chicago for a semester.
Career
After college, Jay and the other Charred Goosebeak members moved to New York City and renamed themselves Broken Lizard. They spent years performing at colleges and clubs before venturing into filmed content with the 1994 short "Tinfoil Monkey Agenda." Chandrasekhar made his directorial debut with "Puddle Cruiser" in 1996, which premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. He directed "Super Troopers" in 2001, where he played Arcot "Thorny" Ramathorn, and reprised this role in "Super Troopers 2" (2018).
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In television, Jay directed episodes of "Undeclared," "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," and "Arrested Development." He continued with "Club Dread" (2004), "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005), and "Beerfest" (2006). In 2009, Jay directed "The Slammin' Salmon" and multiple "Psych" episodes. His notable TV work also includes directing over 20 episodes of "The Goldbergs" and its spin-off "Schooled."
In 2018, Jay appeared as himself in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and served as a guest judge on "Nailed It!" He also discussed possible directing opportunities with Marvel Studios. In early 2021, it was announced Jay will be directing the comedy "Easter Sunday," starring Jo Koy, and he will also appear in the film.
Personal Life
Jay married actress Susan Clarke on September 18, 2005, and the couple has twin daughters and a son. In a 2013 interview with "Paste" magazine, Jay discussed the sudden fame after the release of "Super Troopers," highlighting how the film resonated with audiences and led to a 'party culture' that embraced them.
Awards and Nominations
Chandrasekhar has earned acclaim for his directorial work, winning three Online Film & Television Association Awards for Best Direction in a Comedy Series for "Community" and "Happy Endings." He also received a Golden Starfish Award for Best American Independent Film for "Puddle Cruiser" and a Midnight Films Audience Award for "Super Troopers" at the SXSW Film Festival. Additional accolades include a Merit – Honorary Award at the CinEuphoria Awards for "The Goldbergs" and an NAACP Image Award nomination for "Happy Endings."
