Salt Lake Community College played host to comedian, improviser, and actor Asif Ali on Thursday, Feb. 24th in the Student Event Center of the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
Friends of Ali call him “terrorist” because he is afraid of confrontation. Ali admitted he would not ask his friends to stop calling him this.
Ali was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Grand Canyon, the Phoenix Suns and politicians and people who hate “Mexicans”. He said that it was fun for him to grow up in Phoenix because he was a skinny Indian that looked Mexican. Ali is currently 23-years old living in Hollywood, California.
“So by Hollywood’s standards I’m already dead, but did you know that Will Smith’s daughter is nine and she is more famous than either of us will ever be,” Ali joked.
Apart from being a comedian, Ali does improv and acting. He started improvising when he lived in Chicago and has done it ever since. Acting has been something he always wanted to do. He has acted in a lot of films and commercials and he is also working on some web shows, which he is both writing and acting in.
“Luckily, I’ve been able to be a part of some cool projects in Los Angeles,” he said.
The thought of becoming a comedian came to Ali when he was around the age of 13. He had always loved comedy and when first exposed to stand- up, he immediately dropped all other career ideas and immersed himself in its world.
This was Ali’s first time in Salt Lake City. He said he was very excited to visit and get to know the city. Ali had hopes that SLCC students would be nice to him.
“I think it’s going to be great. Through my research of the school website, there are still over 5 links I have not had time to click on,” Ali said regarding his research of SLCC.
Ali was very excited and pumped to perform at Salt Lake Community College. He expected a lot of kids and some “creepy adults” from the surrounding area, but said he was most interested in meeting students.
“It depends on how many people add me on Facebook and Twitter. Just kidding. But seriously, add me at facebook.com/alicomedy and twitter.com/alicomedy,” Ali said, when asked about the potential of returning to SLCC in the future.
Ali’s advice for young comedians just starting out is to keep getting up and performing as much as possible. He said the more you write and perform, the better you will get – simple as that.
“Also, be a nice person. Nobody wants to work with an annoying jerk,” Ali joked.
“Also, I am very depressed and lonely. Just kidding, people like to think that’s how all comedians feel. I actually am super excited about doing shows and getting the opportunity to try new jokes out every night,” he said.
Ali started performing comedy routines in high school at the age of 16. His brother Amjad Ali, 26, inspired him to be a comedian.
“He wants me to be famous so he can be the Charlie Murphy to my Eddie Murphy,” Ali joked of his brother.
Ali said he loves his job. He also enjoys interviews, calling them “a nice added bonus.” His plan for the future is to get a one-man show based on Outsourced, where he could play all the characters, as seen in the movie The Nutty Professor.
He also hopes for some female companionship in the future.
“I really hope that this article can get enough single women to read it so I can maybe get a date.” Ali said, calling his comedy tour a ” humanitarian effort.”