Theba experienced an early career break with a role on the NBCtelevision pilotDeath 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 '. 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. 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 '. 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 Foxtelevision seriesGlee. 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." 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. He belongs to the Theba clan, a Gujarati-speaking group originating from Sindh. 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. He is married and has two teen children: a son and a daughter, Ranya.