Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-American comedian and actor known for his roles in "Silicon Valley" and "The Big Sick", the latter of which he co-wrote with his wife, earning an Oscar nomination. He was recognized as one of Time's 100 most influential people and received an Emmy nomination for his work on "The Twilight Zone".
May 2, 1978: Kumail Nanjiani is Born
On May 2, 1978, Kumail Nanjiani was born in Karachi, Pakistan.
2001: Graduation from Grinnell College
Kumail Nanjiani completed his education at Grinnell College in 2001, graduating with a double major in computer science and philosophy.
2007: Debut of Autobiographical Show
In 2007, Kumail Nanjiani wrote and premiered an autobiographical one-man show in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
2007: Marriage to Emily V. Gordon
Kumail Nanjiani married Emily V. Gordon, an author, producer, and former therapist, in 2007 at Chicago City Hall.
2009: Performance at Just for Laughs Festival
Kumail Nanjiani's rising presence in comedy led him to perform at the renowned Just for Laughs comedy festival in 2009.
2011: Launch of "The Indoor Kids" Podcast
Kumail Nanjiani, along with Ali Baker, started the video game-themed podcast "The Indoor Kids" in 2011. Later, his wife, Emily V. Gordon, joined him as a co-host.
June 2013: Comedy Central Picks Up "The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail"
Comedy Central announced the pickup of "The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail," a show hosted by Nanjiani and Jonah Ray, in June 2013.
July 2013: Comedy Central Special "Beta Male" Airs
Kumail Nanjiani's Comedy Central special, "Beta Male," aired in July 2013.
2013: Appearance in "The Kings of Summer"
Kumail Nanjiani took on a role as a delivery man in the 2013 film "The Kings of Summer."
July 2014: Premiere of "The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail"
The first episode of "The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail" premiered in July 2014.
July 30, 2014: Guest Appearance on "TV Guidance Counselor" Podcast
Kumail Nanjiani appeared as a guest on Ken Reid's "TV Guidance Counselor" Podcast on July 30, 2014.
March 22, 2015: Voice Acting in "Halo 5: Guardians"
Kumail Nanjiani lent his voice to the character of Mshak Moradi in the "Hunt the Truth" audio drama, part of the marketing campaign for the video game "Halo 5: Guardians," starting on March 22, 2015.
May 5, 2015: Guest Appearance on "Inside Amy Schumer"
Kumail Nanjiani made a guest appearance on the "Inside Amy Schumer" episode "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" on May 5, 2015.
July 2015: Voice Acting in Animated Shows
Kumail Nanjiani showcased his voice acting skills by contributing to "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" and "Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero" in July 2015.
2017: Critical Acclaim for "The Big Sick"
Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote and starred in the romantic comedy "The Big Sick" in 2017. The film received critical acclaim and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
2017: Release and Success of "The Big Sick"
"The Big Sick," a romantic comedy co-written by and starring Kumail Nanjiani and inspired by his own life, was released in 2017. The film garnered significant acclaim and achieved commercial success.
2018: Invitation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Kumail Nanjiani received an invitation to join the actors and writers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018.
2018: Time 100 Most Influential People
Kumail Nanjiani was recognized for his influence in 2018 when Time magazine included him in their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2019: Eternals Body Transformation
Kumail Nanjiani underwent a significant body transformation for his role in "Eternals" in 2019. The photos of his transformation went viral, garnering significant attention online.
2019: Emmy Nomination for "The Twilight Zone"
Kumail Nanjiani's performance in "The Twilight Zone" in 2019 earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
January 2020: Premiere of "Little America"
The Apple TV+ anthology series "Little America," which Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote and produced, premiered in January 2020.
February 2020: The Independent Casting
Kumail Nanjiani signed on to star in the political thriller "The Independent" in February 2020, directed by Amy Rice. However, he eventually dropped out of the role.
March 2020: Launch of "Staying In with Emily and Kumail" Podcast
During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Kumail Nanjiani and his wife, Emily Gordon, launched a podcast called "Staying In with Emily and Kumail."
May 2020: Release of "The Lovebirds"
Kumail Nanjiani co-starred with Issa Rae in the comedy film "The Lovebirds," which was released on Netflix in May 2020.
March 2021: Obi-Wan Kenobi Casting Announcement
Kumail Nanjiani was announced as a cast member for the Disney+ series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in March 2021.
November 5, 2021: Eternals Release
Kumail Nanjiani starred as Kingo in Marvel's "Eternals," which was released in theaters on November 5, 2021.
2021: Joining the MCU in "Eternals"
Kumail Nanjiani joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021, portraying Kingo in the superhero film "Eternals."
2022: Leading Role in "Welcome to Chippendales"
In 2022, Kumail Nanjiani starred in the lead role of the Hulu miniseries "Welcome to Chippendales."
2022: Welcome to Chippendales Premiere
Kumail Nanjiani starred as Somen Banerjee, the founder of the Chippendales, in the Hulu miniseries "Welcome to Chippendales" which premiered in 2022.
March 24, 2023: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Casting Announcement
It was confirmed on March 24, 2023, that Kumail Nanjiani had joined the cast of "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire."
2023: Emmy Nomination for "Welcome to Chippendales"
Kumail Nanjiani's performance in "Welcome to Chippendales" earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in 2023.