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Jay Harik was born in Beirut, Lebanon [as Jihad Elias Harik] on May 17, 1960. In 1975, with the firm support of his family, he fled his homeland due to the rapidly developing Civil War. Thinking he was only leaving for a few weeks to wait out the rising violence, the reality that there would be no quick resolution soon set in. Exploring options, Jay found an opportunity to move to America as a foreign exchange student.
Leaving his life, family, and friends in Lebanon, Jay bravely traveled to America looking for a new way of life. As a non-English speaking high school kid, he found it tough to assimilate into the lively, and sometimes cruel, American culture. After finishing his last two years of high school, he was accepted to Kalamazoo College, a small liberal arts school. Here, he concentrated his studies on Sculpture and Physics. Realizing he needed to be challenged further, he transferred to the University of Wisconsin where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees (specialty in Architecture).
In 1985, he moved to Chicago to start working for the architectural firm, SOM. He soon discovered his new career was not as fulfilling as he had thought. He found relief from his workdays at improv clubs. Finding out he had comedic talent, he got involved in the city's improv scene. His friends, also seeing his gift, encouraged him to audition for the Second City Training Center. After a grueling process he was accepted and Harik was hooked on showbiz. Harik decided to give up his architectural practice and fully concentrate on acting. As one thing often leads to the next, he found himself hooking up with veteran personal manager, Betty McCormick Aggas. She was encouraging and supportive to Harik and asked him, "What are you doing in Chicago?"
Following Second City, he went on to train at the Steven Ivich Studio, the Center Theater, the Actor Center, Improv Olympia and the Annoyance Theater. His theater credits [following his training] include: "Away", "The Conduct of Life", "A Man with Connections", "Joined at the Head", "Lapin Lapin", "Moon Under Miami", "Machiavelli Slept Here", "Still Life with Watermelon", "Penguin Blues", "The Adventures of Rex Danger", "The Caretaker", "New Wave", "Enter Laughing", "Catching Hell", "Making Lunch", "Slasky & Woolf", and many others.
So, on July 4, 1997, he packed his car and headed to Hollywood. His latest television work includes: "ER", "Malcolm in the Middle", "Two and a Half Men", "24", "Alias", "Dragnet", "Line of Fire", "Providence", "JAG", "Off Centre", "Leap of Faith", "The Agency", "Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue", "Frasier", and "Nash Bridges". His latest film work includes: "Little Athens", "What's New, Jersey", "Death and Taxis", "Mixing Karma", "Live From Baghdad", "The Sum of All Fears", "A Light in the Darkness", "The Real Deal", "Legion of the Dead", and "Ghost Recon".
Harik was part of the 2005 theatrical production of "Stuff Happens," by Sir David Hare. His character ensemble includes 10 different characters - featuring French, British, and American personas. He has the final speech in this production and closes the show with the final monologue.
