Isaac Barinholtz (born February 18, 1977) is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer. He is best known for his starring roles in the comedy series MADtv (2002–2007), Eastbound & Down (2012), The Mindy Project (2012–2017), Bless the Harts (2019–2021), and The Afterparty (2022).

Barinholtz also appeared in films, such as Disaster Movie (2008), Neighbors (2014), Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), Suicide Squad (2016), Snatched (2017), Blockers (2018), Late Night (2019), The Hunt (2020), and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). He co-wrote the action comedy film Central Intelligence (2016), and directed, wrote, produced, and starred in the comedy film The Oath (2018).

Early life, family and education
Barinholtz was born in the Rogers Park area of Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in its Lakeview neighborhood, the son of Peggy and Alan Barinholtz, an attorney. His brother Jon is also an actor, playing the recurring character Marcus on Superstore, and acted together with his brother in The Mindy Project. Barinholtz has described his parents as "liberal people with great senses of humor," and has said that he was raised in a "very funny home." Barinholtz is Jewish.

He attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, then The Latin School of Chicago for high school.

He worked at a telemarketing company and as a busboy before starting a career in comedy.

Barinholtz attended Boston University. After dropping out of college, he worked for the Chicago Transit Authority before starting his comedy career. In a 2013 interview, he said he dropped out of school because he hated it and was doing poorly.

In a 2012 phone interview, Barinholtz said he was inspired to pursue a career in comedy after attending a comedy show at The Vic Theatre. Thereafter, he took comedy classes at The Second City, ImprovOlympic and Annoyance Theatre. He had planned on becoming a politician but decided to move to Los Angeles, California, to be an actor instead.