Iqbal Theba, who was Born and raised in Karachi, came to the United States to study at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. During his first year in college, Iqbal was a dishwasher at The Street Restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma.
Iqbal Theba
Iqbal Theba, who was Born and raised in Karachi, came to the United States to study at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. During his first year in college, Iqbal was a dishwasher at The Street Restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma. He was promoted to be a cook after a couple of months of washing dishes. Iqbal studied Civil Engineering and eventually obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering Management University of Oklahoma.
After realizing his true passion was acting, Iqbal returned to the University of Oklahoma to study Acting. After leaving college in 1989, Iqbal decided to move to New York City to pursue his love of acting. Iqbal struggled in New York for over two years, before deciding to move to Los Angeles in hopes of more acting work. He arrived in Los Angeles with 37 dollars in his pocket. He stayed with his friend Mujahid Bashir for three months in San Bernardino until he earned enough money from waiting tables and found a place to live in Los Angeles.
Things started to turn around for Iqbal in Los Angeles. He soon found a niche, acting in television commercials. His first big commercial was for the Wherehouse Music Chain, where he sang the Chris Isaak song Wicked Game. This was followed by commercials for MacDonalds, Burger King, Subway, AT&T, Sprint, American Express, Capital One, Holiday Inn, Kelloggs Cereal, Tostitos, Got Milk and many others.
Iqbal was the first South Asian to have appeared in dozens of mainstream national commercials in the 90's. It was through these television commercials that he was able to get his SAG Card, which opened the door to more mainstream Television and Film opportunities.
The big Television break came for Iqbal, after booking a role on the NBC pilot Death and Taxes. Although the pilot wasn't picked up, this led to numerous co-starring and guest-starring roles in Television and Film, including working on TV in shows such as LA Law, Living Single, Mad About You and Seinfeld. Over the next 10 years, Iqbal continued to hone his craft and work on more television shows such guest starring on television shows such as Ellen, Caroline in the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, King of the Hill, The West Wing, Judging Amy, Alias, Arrested Development, and Weeds as well as recurring roles on The George Carlin Show, Sister, Sister, Rosanne, Married With Children, Family Matters, ER, JAG and Life With Bonnie. Some of his film work includes Indecent Proposal, Driven, Basketball, Dancing at the Blue Iguana, Dark of the Moon and Playing for Keeps.
After successfully establishing himself as being one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood, Iqbal's big break came his being cast as Principle Figgins in the hugely successful FOX television series Glee. Although originally written for a Caucasian, Iqbal won the role and has in the process brought his own unique perspective to the character. As the beleaguered Principle of William McKinley High School, Principle Figgins tries to walk the tightrope between being fair with teacher Will Schuster (Matthew Morrison) while being constantly blackmailed and harassed by Coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). In addition to Glee, Iqbal is also simultaneously starring on the NBC series Community playing Danny's Dad on the series.
In addition to his acting career Iqbal enjoys spending time with his wife Humera and their two children aged 7 and 4 and traveling. His favorite writer is Anton Chekov favourite movie is 2001 A Space Odyssey and works with his favourite charity Edhi Foundation.