Career
Theba is known for his recurring role as Principal Figgins in the show Glee. Theba became a familiar face in the 1990s when he appeared in various television shows and commercials in the United States. Theba"s big break was a role on the National Broadcasting Company pilot Death and Taxes.
The pilot was not picked up, but it led to a recurring role for Theba on The George Carlin Show.
Theba also had brief recurring roles on Married.. with Children and Emergency. Theba also appeared alongside Glee co-star Mike O"Malley in an episode of the sitcom Yes, Dear. He had a recurring role in American Broadcasting Company/Columbia Broadcasting System comedy sitcom Family Matters.
In 2009 and 2010, Theba guest starred in two episodes of National Broadcasting Company"s Community - Introduction to Film and Basic Genealogy - as Gobi Nadir, the father of Abed Nadir (played by Danny Pudi). He also guest starred on Columbia Broadcasting System"s NCIS in 2012.
Glee (2009-2015)
Theba"s longest-running role has been as Principal Figgins in the Fox television series Glee.
Throughout the course of the six seasons, Theba appeared in 58 episodes. Although Figgins was initially conceived as White, Pakistani American Theba was cast in the role. He finds Figgins a challenging character to play, as it 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.
The Brink (2015)
Theba played General Umair Zaman, a Pakistani general who stages a military coup on the new Home Box Office comedy series The Brink created by brothers Roberto Benabib and Kim Benabib.