Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-American comedian, actor, and writer known for seamlessly blending sharp wit with heartfelt storytelling. Born on May 2, 1978, he rose to prominence with his role as Dinesh in HBO’s tech satire Silicon Valley (2014–2019) and achieved critical acclaim for co-writing and starring in the semi-autobiographical film The Big Sick (2017), which earned him and his wife Emily V. Gordon an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018, recognizing his impact on comedy and representation in Hollywood.
Beyond his comedic roots, Nanjiani has taken on diverse roles across genres. He voiced Prismo in Adventure Time, played Kingo in Marvel’s Eternals, and took on dramatic work in The Twilight Zone, earning an Emmy nomination in 2019. His recent performance as Somen “Steve” Banerjee in Hulu’s Welcome to Chippendales (2022) further showcased his dramatic range and earned him another Emmy nomination. His ability to navigate both comedy and drama has made him one of the most versatile and influential actors working today.
