Iqbal Theba
Iqbal Theba (pronounced /ˈɪkbɑːl ˈteɪbə/; born December 20, 1963)[1] is a Pakistani-American actor. Theba is known for his recurring role as Principal Figgins in the show Glee.
Iqbal Theba | |
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Theba in October 2012 | |
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Children | 2 |
Career
Theba experienced an early career break with a role on the NBC television pilot Death and Taxes. While the pilot was not picked up to series, it led to a recurring role for Theba on The George Carlin Show. Theba also had brief recurring roles on Married... with Children and ER. His other credits include appearances on Nip/Tuck, Alias, Two and a Half Men, Bosch, Roseanne, Kitchen Confidential, Chuck, JAG, Arrested Development, Childrens Hospital, The Tick, The West Wing, Friends, Sister Sister, Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, King of the Hill, Weeds, Community, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Theba also appeared alongside Glee co-star Mike O'Malley in an episode of the sitcom Yes, Dear. He had a recurring role in ABC/CBS comedy sitcom Family Matters.
In 2009 and 2010, Theba guest starred in two episodes of NBC's Community as Gobi Nadir, the father of Abed Nadir (played by Danny Pudi). He also guest starred on CBS' NCIS in 2012.
He also was seen on the eighth episode of the eighth Season of Hell's Kitchen, attending the 100th dinner service.
In 2017, Theba voiced Slav in season 2 of Voltron: Legendary Defender. Theba played General Umair Zaman, a Pakistani general who stages a military coup, on the HBO comedy series The Brink.
Glee (2009–15)
Theba's longest-running role has been as Principal Figgins in the Fox television series Glee. Throughout the course of the six seasons, Theba appeared in 58 episodes.
Although Figgins was initially conceived as White, the Pakistani-American Theba was cast in the role. He said playing Figgins entails finding "the right mix of someone who is an authority figure but who is also very insecure about his own strengths as a person."[2]
In 2012, Theba appeared on the first and ninth episodes of the second season of The Glee Project.
Personal life
Theba was born in Karachi, Pakistan.[1] He belongs to the Theba clan, a Gujarati-speaking group originating from Sindh.[3]
Theba attend the University of Oklahoma for civil engineering in 1981, but dropped out to pursue an acting career in New York. He has a BS degree in Construction Engineering Management. Theba returned to the University of Oklahoma to get a degree in acting in 1986. He moved to Los Angeles, California in 1991 after obtaining the acting degree.[2]
He is married and has two teen children: a son[4] and a daughter, Ranya.[5]
Filmography
- Indecent Proposal (1993) as Citizenship Student
- The Innocent (1994 - TV) as Doctor #2
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995 - TV) as Shi Lankan
- Abandoned and Deceived (1995 - TV) as Doctor
- Just Looking (1995) as VeeJee
- Driven (1996) as Landlord
- Sour Grapes (1998) as Dr. Alagappan
- BASEketball (1998) as Factory Manager
- Friends (1998) as Joey's doctor
- Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000) as Clerk
- Birdseye (2002) as Puneet Ristani
- Blind Dating (2006) as Mr. Raja
- Frankenhood (2009) as Mr. Samuels
- Glee (2009) as Principal Figgins
- Community (2009; 2013) as Gobi Nadir
- Ghosts/Aliens (2010 - TV) as Neighbor
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) as UN Secretary General
- Playing for Keeps (2012) as Param
- The Escort (2015) as Richard
- The Tiger Hunter (2016) as General Iqbal
- Green Book (2018) as Amit
- Season and Renee (2018 - TV) as Faraz
- The Illegal (2019) as Babaji
- Never Have I Ever (2020) as Uncle Aaravind
References
- "Iqbal Theba". The Times of India. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- "Interview with Iqbal Theba aka Principal Figgins". Neal B. in NYC. December 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
- Theba, Iqbal [@iqbaltheba] (March 23, 2011). "My forefathers r from Sindh" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via Twitter.
- @iqbaltheba (September 5, 2013). "[Iqbal Theba tweet]" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2015 – via Twitter.
- Theba, Iqbal [@iqbaltheba] (August 28, 2013). "Happy Birthday, Ranya!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2015 – via Twitter.