Kumail Nanjiani | |
|---|---|
 Nanjiani at the 2019San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Kumail Ali Nanjiani (1978-05-02)May 2, 1978 (age 47) |
| Education | Grinnell College (BA) |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Shereen Nanjiani (second cousin) |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Medium | |
Kumail Ali Nanjiani[a] (born May 2, 1978)[3] is a Pakistani-American stand-up comedian and actor. He is known for his role asDinesh in theHBO comedy seriesSilicon Valley (2014–2019) and for co-writing and starring in the romantic comedy filmThe Big Sick (2017). For co-writing the latter, he and his wifeEmily V. Gordon were nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay. In 2018,Time magazine named him one of the100 most influential people in the world.[4] He was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role inThe Twilight Zone executive produced byJordan Peele in 2019.[5]
Nanjiani has also voicedPrismo on the animated seriesAdventure Time and starred in theTNT seriesFranklin & Bash and theAdult Swim seriesNewsreaders. He also co-hosted theComedy Central showThe Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, as well as playing various roles on the comedy seriesPortlandia. He also playedKingo in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) superhero filmEternals andWhat If...? EpisodeWhat If... Agatha Went to Hollywood?, con artistHaja Estree in theDisney+ miniseriesObi-Wan Kenobi and celebrity scientistVik in the television seriesThe Boys Presents: Diabolical andThe Boys. In 2022, he starred inthe lead role of theHulu miniseriesWelcome to Chippendales. In 2023, he was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award in theOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category for his work inWelcome to Chippendales.[5] In 2025, he had a guest role in the second season of the crime mystery seriesPoker Face.
Nanjiani grew up inKarachi, the first of two sons of aSindhiShia Muslim couple Shabana and Aijaz Nanjiani.[6] The BBC radio presenterShereen Nanjiani is his second cousin.[7][8][9] During his childhood, he lived in Karachi and attended St. Michael's Convent School for hisO-Levels and graduated fromKarachi Grammar School to complete hisA-Levels, where he was the class-fellow ofSharmeen Obaid Chinoy. At 18, he moved to the U.S. and enrolled atGrinnell College inGrinnell, Iowa, where he graduated in 2001 with a double major in computer science and philosophy.[10][11][12] He then moved to Chicago and began performing stand-up comedy at open-mic events.[10]
In 2007, Nanjiani wrote and staged an original autobiographical one-man show in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.[10] After moving to New York, he continued to perform stand-up and made occasional appearances on shows includingMichael & Michael Have Issues andThe Colbert Report.[10] In 2009, he performed at theJust for Laughs comedy festival.[10] In 2011, Nanjiani andX-Play staffer Ali Baker began hosting a video game-themed podcast, titledThe Indoor Kids. In late August the same year, Baker left the show and Nanjiani began hosting with his wife,Emily V. Gordon.[13] Until other commitments took over, he appeared regularly onDan Harmon's podcastHarmontown, where he playedDungeons & Dragons with Harmon as a character namedChris de Burgh. He played a delivery man in the 2013 filmThe Kings of Summer.[14] In addition to guest-starring in comedy shows likePortlandia, Nanjiani was featured in a supporting role in theTNT seriesFranklin & Bash. He played the role of Pindar Singh, an agoraphobic fiction nerd working for the title characters.
Nanjiani guest-starred on HBO'sVeep as a statistician. He had the recurring roles of Amir Larussa onNewsreaders and Prismo onAdventure Time. HisComedy Central specialBeta Male aired in July 2013.[15] In late June 2013, Comedy Central announced the pickup ofThe Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, hosted byJonah Ray and Nanjiani.[16] The show, featuring Nerd Melt comedy regulars and various comedians, began airing in July 2014.[17] In April 2014, he began playing the character Dinesh in theHBO sitcomSilicon Valley.[12] He voiced Reggie in the video gameThe Walking Dead: Season Two.[18] In July 2014, Nanjiani hosted a weekly podcast titledThe X-Files Files, dedicated to discussion and reminiscences aboutThe X-Files. Each episode features Nanjiani and a guest, including formerThe X-Files writers, producers, actors and directors, in light-hearted banter about one or two episodes of the series.[19][20] On July 30, 2014, Nanjiani appeared onKen Reid'sTV Guidance Counselor Podcast.[21]
In 2015, Nanjiani guest-starred in theBroad City episode "In Heat".[22] Starting on March 22, 2015, he provided his voice for the character of Mshak Moradi in theHunt the Truth audio drama, part of the marketing campaign forHalo 5: Guardians.[23] On May 5, 2015, he appeared on theInside Amy Schumer episode "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer", a parody of12 Angry Men, as one of the jurors.[24] In July 2015, Nanjiani provided guest voices onAqua Teen Hunger Force andPenn Zero: Part-Time Hero.[25]
In 2017, Nanjiani starred in theromantic comedy filmThe Big Sick, which he wrote with Gordon.[26] The film is about their relationship, with Nanjiani playing himself andZoe Kazan playing Gordon (renamed Emily Gardner). The film was one of the most acclaimed of 2017, and was chosen byAmerican Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of the year and nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Original Screenplay.[27][28] The film was also the third-highest-grossingindependent film released in 2017, grossing over $40 million.[29]
In 2018, he was invited to the actors and writers branch of theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[30]
In 2019, Nanjiani headlined the first episode of theCBS All Access revival of the anthology seriesThe Twilight Zone. For his role onThe Twilight Zone, Nanjiani received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. In film, Nanjiani voiced the alien Pawny inMen in Black International, which was released on June 14.[31][32][33] Nanjiani stated, "I play an alien so you won't see my face but you'll hear my voice, I'm a little alien frog/lizard... thing."[34] Nanjiani also stars in theaction comedy filmStuber, released on July 12.[35][36] In 2020, Nanjiani lent his voice to Plimpton, an ostrich, in the adventure comedy filmDolittle.[37] He also wrote for and produced theApple TV+ anthology seriesLittle America, which premiered in January 2020. The series is based on the story collection of the same name fromEpic Magazine which focuses on stories from immigrants. To promote the series, Nanjiani appeared at theApple Event of March 25, 2019.[38][39] Nanjiani starred withIssa Rae in the comedy-chase filmThe Lovebirds, directed byMichael Showalter, produced byParamount Pictures, and released by Netflix in May 2020.[40]
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gordon launched a podcast,Staying In with Emily and Kumail.[41] The series chronicles their experiences as a couple forced to live in isolation during the global pandemic. The podcast has been widely acclaimed in the media, as a welcome respite during a period of high anxiety.[42]GQ described it as "consistently endearing, actually useful, and often hilarious."[43]New York magazine relates that "all advice is shared via cute and charming banter."[44]
He starred in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmEternals, asKingo, which was released on November 5, 2021.[45] Nanjiani received widespread attention andwent viral[46] after sharing pictures of his body transformation for the shooting ofEternals in 2019.[47][48] Speaking withGQ, he noted how he has since become less comfortable speaking about his body due to the intense amount of attention it received online.[49][46] In March 2021, Nanjiani was announced as cast in an upcomingObi-Wan Kenobi series forDisney+.[50] In February 2020, Nanjiani signed on to star inThe Independent, apolitical thriller to be directed byAmy Rice, though he ultimately dropped out of the role.[51]
In 2022, Nanjiani starred in theHulu miniseriesWelcome to Chippendales in the lead role ofSomen "Steve" Banerjee, the hitman-hiring founder of theChippendales dance troupe.[52]
On March 24, 2023, it was confirmed that Nanjiani had joined the cast ofGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.[53] He appeared in the film, released on March 22 of the following year, as the character Nadeem Razmaadi / Firemaster.
In June 2025, it was announced that Nanjiani would perform at Belly Laughs, a new comedy and food festival inLos Angeles.[54]
On July 16, it was announced that Nanjiani would play Mary's Husband in the Broadway playOh, Mary!. His run began on August 4, 2025.[55]
In 2007, Nanjiani married writer-producerEmily V. Gordon atChicago City Hall.[56] She was the producer ofThe Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail (2014–2016).[6] As of 2022, they resided inLarchmont, Los Angeles.[57]
Nanjiani was raised in a fundamentalist Shiite family and now identifies as anatheist.[58] Nanjiani is an avid video gamer.[59][60]
Nanjiani is aDemocrat. In 2023, Nanjiani donated proceeds of the LA Largo show in October 2023 to help fundDoctors Without Borders during theIsrael-Gaza war.[61]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Life as We Know It | Simon | |
| 2012 | The Five-Year Engagement | Pakistani Chef | |
| 2013 | The Kings of Summer | Gary the Delivery Guy | |
| Hell Baby | Cable Guy | ||
| Bad Milo | Bobbi | ||
| 2014 | The Last of the Great Romantics | George the Counter Guy | |
| Sex Tape | Punit | ||
| 2015 | Loaded | Reza | |
| Hot Tub Time Machine 2 | Brad | ||
| Addicted to Fresno | Damon | ||
| Hello, My Name Is Doris | Nasir | ||
| Hell and Back | Dave the Demon | Voice role[62] | |
| Goosebumps | Foreman | ||
| 2016 | Central Intelligence | Jared the Airport Security Guard | Cameo[63] |
| Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates | Keanu | ||
| Brother Nature | Riggleman | [64] | |
| Flock of Dudes | Ro | ||
| The Late Bloomer | Rich | [65] | |
| 2017 | The Big Sick | Kumail Nanjiani | Also writer and executive producer[66] |
| Fist Fight | Officer Mehar | ||
| A Happening of Monumental Proportions | HR Rep Perry | ||
| Funny: The Documentary | Himself | ||
| The Lego Ninjago Movie | Jay | Voice role[62] | |
| 2018 | Duck Butter | Jake | |
| 2019 | Stuber | Stu Prasad | [67] |
| Men in Black: International | Pawny | Voice role[68][62] | |
| 2020 | Dolittle | Plimpton | Voice role[69][62] |
| The Lovebirds | Jibran | Also executive producer[70] | |
| 2021 | Eternals | Kingo | [71] |
| 2023 | Migration | Mack | Voice role[72][62] |
| 2024 | Destroy All Neighbors | Smelting Refinery Guard | |
| Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Nadeem Razmaadi | [73] | |
| 2025 | Animal Farm | Marth | |
| Driver's Ed† | Mr. Rivers | Completed[74] | |
| Ella McCay† | Trooper Nash | Post-production[75] | |
| 2026 | The Breadwinner† | TBA | Post-production[76] |
| TBA | The Wrong Girls† | TBA | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Saturday Night Live | Indian Reporter | Episode: "James Franco/Kings of Leon"; uncredited[77] |
| 2009 | The Colbert Report | Various characters | 2 episodes |
| Michael & Michael Have Issues | Kumail | Main role | |
| 100 Most Shocking Music Moments | Panelist | 5 episodes | |
| 2010 | Ugly Americans | Neilando Patel | Voice role; episode: "Treegasm" |
| 2011 | Traffic Light | Paul | Episode: "Where the Heart Is" |
| CollegeHumor Originals | Vendor | Episode: "Batman Chooses His Voice" | |
| Googy | Dwayne | Main role | |
| 2011–2014 | Franklin & Bash | Pindar Singh | Main role (seasons 1–3), guest role (season 4) |
| 2011–2018 | Portlandia | Various characters | Recurring role; 13 episodes |
| 2012–2016 | Adventure Time | Prismo | Recurring voice role; 7 episodes[62] |
| 2013–2015 | Newsreaders | Amir Larussa | Correspondent; 11 episodes |
| 2013 | Burning Love | Zakir | Main role (seasons 2–3) |
| Veep | Statistician | Episode: "Midterms" | |
| Drunk History | Lakota Chief | Episode: "Nashville" | |
| Ghost Ghirls | Mr. Mattoo | Episode: "I Believe in Mira-ghouls" | |
| Kumail Nanjiani: Beta Male | Himself | Stand-up special | |
| 2014 | Math Bites | Showoff Guy | Episode: "Math Heads: Do Math in Your Head" |
| The Pete Holmes Show | Dhalsim | Episode: "Erin Hamlin and Kate Hansen" | |
| TripTank | Dick Genie | Voice role; 4 episodes[62] | |
| Garfunkel and Oates | Jordan | Episode: "Hair Swap" | |
| Key & Peele | College Kid #1 | Episode: "Scariest Movie Ever" | |
| 2014–2015 | Community | Custodian Lapari | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail | Himself | Host; also executive producer |
| 2014–2019 | Silicon Valley | Dinesh Chugtai | Main role |
| 2014–2025 | Bob's Burgers | Skip Marooch | Voice role; 3 episodes[62] |
| 2015 | Broad City | Benny Calitri | Episode: "In Heat" |
| Archer | Farooq Ashkani | Voice role; episode: "Sitting" | |
| Inside Amy Schumer | Juror #11 | Episode: "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" | |
| Scheer-RL | Mariah Carey | Episode: "Mariah Carey" | |
| Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Cuteling Mayor | Voice role; episode: "The Ripple Effect"[62] | |
| Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Frylock's bees | Voice role; episode: "Sweet C" | |
| The Grinder | Prosecutor Leonard | 2 episodes | |
| 2016 | The X-Files | Pasha | Episode: "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" |
| Animals | Rusty | Voice role; episode: "Dogs."[62] | |
| 31st Independent Spirit Awards | Himself (host) | Television special | |
| 2016–2017 | HarmonQuest | Eddie Lizard | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2022 | Bee and PuppyCat: Lazy In Space | Howell | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Kumail Nanjiani/Pink" |
| 2019 | The Twilight Zone | Samir Wassan | Episode: "The Comedian"[78] |
| 2019–2021 | Bless the Harts | Jesus Christ | Main voice role |
| 2020–2022 | Little America | — | Executive producer and writer |
| 2020 | Death to 2020 | Bark Multiverse | Television special |
| 2021 | Big Mouth | Himself | Voice role; episode: "No Nut November" |
| 2022 | Murderville | Episode: "Most Likely to Commit Murder"[79] | |
| The Simpsons | Theo | Voice role; episode: "You Won't Believe What This Episode Is About..." | |
| The Boys Presents: Diabolical | Vik | Voice role; episode: "Boyd in 3D"[62] | |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi | Haja Estree | Miniseries; 3 episodes | |
| Bee and PuppyCat | Howell Wizard | Voice role; 3 episodes | |
| The Boys | Vik | Episode: "Herogasm" | |
| 2022–2023 | Welcome to Chippendales | Somen "Steve" Banerjee | Miniseries; main cast; also executive producer[80] |
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | Vātsyāyana | Episode: "I" |
| The Eric Andre Show | Himself | Episode: "Anti-Weed" | |
| 2024 | Krapopolis | Spartan Army Leader | Voice role; episode: "Contagion" |
| Only Murders in the Building | Rudy "Christmas Guy" Thurber | 7 episodes[81] | |
| What If...? | Kingo | Voice role; episode: "What If... Agatha Went to Hollywood?" | |
| 2025 | Poker Face | Joseph "Gator Joe" Pilson | Episode: "The Taste of Human Blood"[82] |
| Haunted Hotel | Leader Todd | Voice role; episode: “The Acolytes of Abaddon” | |
| Fallout | TBA | Season 2 |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Walking Dead: Season Two | Reggie | [62] |
| 2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Jarun Tann | [62][83] |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of War | Nemesis Orcs | [62] | |
| 2018 | Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion | Prismo, Gnome, Marauder | |
| TBA | Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet | Colin Graves | [84] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Jake and Amir | Kumail | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Hunt the Truth | Mshak Moradi | [85] |
| 2013–2017 | Harmontown | Himself | |
| 2017 | Game Grumps | 1 episode; on the same episode asThomas Middleditch | |
| Movie Fights | 1 episode; on the same episode asPaul Scheer | ||
| 2019 | Achievement Hunter | 1 episode | |
| Gay of Thrones | 1 episode; "Gay Of Thrones S8 E4 Recap" | ||
| Hot Ones | 1 episode | ||
| 2020 | Reunited Apart | 1 episode; "Ghostbusters" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Oh, Mary! | Mary's Husband | [55] |
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