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Sandeep Parikh

Sandeep Parikh (born July 23, 1980) is an , , , , and specializing in web-based . Best known for his portrayal of the obsessive gamer Zaboo in the award-winning The Guild (2007–2013), Parikh has built a around innovative and humor. Raised in , he previously resided in , California. Parikh's breakthrough came with the creation of The Legend of Neil (2008–2010), a satirical web series parodying Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise, which he wrote, directed, starred in, and produced; it was distributed through platforms like Comedy Central and AtomFilms. In 2006, he founded EffinFunny Productions, a digital media company dedicated to alternative stand-up comedy specials and original web series, including projects like Save the Supers (2012). His work often draws on nerd culture and gaming themes, earning him recognition in the online entertainment space. Beyond web series, Parikh has appeared in feature films such as (2017) and contributed to improv comedy through affiliations with The Groundlings theater troupe in Los . In recent years, he has expanded into adaptations, notably co-creating DesiQuest (2022), a South Asian-inspired that diverse in . As of 2025, he is directing a feature film. Parikh's multifaceted underscores his role in pioneering accessible, community-driven comedy in the digital age.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Sandeep Parikh was born on July 23, 1980, in Goffstown, New Hampshire, to Indian immigrant parents. He grew up in Goffstown with two older brothers, Rajiv and Sanjiv, in a family environment influenced by his parents' Indian origins. Parikh attended Goffstown High School before transitioning to Brown University, where he pursued studies in computer science and creative writing.

Academic and Early Interests

Parikh attended Goffstown High School in , where he competed nationally in across all six from of four until his at 18, fostering a strong sense of perseverance that influenced his later creative pursuits. He then enrolled at , earning an A.B. in in 2002, complemented by honors in . During his time at , Parikh balanced his technical coursework with active involvement in the , joining the short-lived comedy troupe The Village Idiots to write and perform sketches. He also participated in theater productions and improv activities, which honed his skills in comedy and storytelling, while experimenting with early short films such as the 2001 project The Courier Dodge, a finalist at the Ivy Film Festival. Additionally, his creative writing efforts earned recognition, including a Capstone award at for his screenplay Chess Wesley.

Career

Breakthrough in Web Series

Sandeep Parikh gained prominence in digital entertainment through his role as Zaboo, an obsessive gamer, in the web series , which aired from 2007 to 2013. The series, created by , followed a group of gamers navigating real-life and virtual challenges, with Parikh's portrayal earning critical acclaim for its humorous depiction of gaming culture and social awkwardness. received multiple Streamy Awards, including Best Comedy Web Series in 2009, highlighting its impact on early web-based storytelling. Building on this success, Parikh created, co-wrote, directed, and produced The Legend of Neil from 2008 to 2010, a Shakespearean parody of the video game The Legend of Zelda distributed via Comedy Central's Atom.com. In the series, Parikh directed episodes featuring crass humor and fantasy tropes, with Tony Janning as the titular Neil, a modern gamer transported into the game's world. The project showcased Parikh's ability to blend gaming references with literary parody, amassing a dedicated online following. Parikh expanded into directing and producing with Save the Supers in 2012, a superhero comedy sketch series for My Damn Channel where he also starred as Merman, leading a team of flawed heroes. The series satirized comic book tropes through short, episodic adventures emphasizing ensemble dynamics and visual gags. Following this, he co-created Code 5 in 2013 and 2014 with Ed Brubaker and Mel Cowan, a sci-fi comedy about two mismatched detectives on an endless stakeout, licensed initially by TBS's The Heckler and later sold to FX. These works solidified Parikh's reputation for innovative, genre-blending web content in the early 2010s. In the later , Parikh pioneered interactive , directing That Moment When in 2017 for Eko and , an choose-your-own-adventure comedy starring as a navigating awkward scenarios with viewer-driven decisions. This fan-engaged allowed audiences to outcomes, emphasizing relatable millennial dilemmas. He continued this approach with Wizard School Dropout in 2019, another Eko interactive series where viewers guided a dropout wizard through real-world magic challenges, blending humor with gameplay elements. These projects marked Parikh's evolution toward participatory digital narratives, drawing from his creative writing background to inspire scripting that integrated user interactivity.

Film, Television, and Voice Work

Sandeep Parikh began his on-screen career with early forays into film, marking his acting debut in the independent short The Courier Dodge in 2001, a comedic project he also wrote and produced. His film roles expanded into supporting parts in indie comedies, including a appearance as Groom 3 in the anthology Rubberhead (2014), a surreal comedy special hosted by Sarah Silverman featuring various sketch segments. These early and mid-career film credits highlighted Parikh's comedic timing in ensemble settings, often portraying quirky or ensemble characters in low-budget productions. Parikh's television work primarily consists of guest appearances on live-action sitcoms, leveraging his web series background as a launchpad for mainstream opportunities. In 2009, he played in the web series The Community College Chronicles, a promotional series for the comedy . He later guest-starred as a focus group participant in The Crazy Ones (Season 1, Episode 14: "Simon Roberts Was Here," 2014), sharing the screen with Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar in the CBS workplace comedy. In 2016, Parikh appeared as the eccentric Leather Newsboy Hat, a minor but memorable oddball character, in New Girl (Season 5, Episode 11: "The Apartment") on Fox. Transitioning to voice acting, Parikh provided the voice for Haneesh Jyoshi, a pro-gamer turned in Netflix's Glitch Techs (), while also contributing as a writing on nine episodes and for two, infusing the show with themes drawn from gaming culture and South Asian influences. More recently, he has embraced roles in fantasy-themed projects that blend cultural elements with . In the actual-play series DesiQuest (), Parikh portrayed Ash, a cleric character in a South Asian mythological universe, performing both on-camera and vocally across 12 episodes. In May 2025, a Kickstarter campaign for DesiQuest successfully raised funds for further production. In 2024, he voiced and acted as Terengo in four episodes of the tabletop RPG series Dungeon Call, further exploring fantasy narratives with diverse ensemble casts.

Production and Directorial Projects

Sandeep Parikh founded Effin Funny Productions, where he serves as , with the company specializing in the and production of content across digital platforms and . In 2013, Parikh executive produced and directed the web series The Real Housewives of Horror, a satirical horror-comedy that parodied tropes. The series received an of Web () for Best Series in 2015, tying with Honest Trailers. Parikh made his directorial debut with Vidhya's Guide to the Afterlife, an sci-fi comedy written by and starring Shankar, which explores themes of and through a Hindu premise. The was crowdfunded via in early 2025, raising over $256,000 toward its , bolstered by $20,000 in from . In 2023, Parikh co-hosted and produced the American Chatty s, a live-streamed series that redefines the "" ( Confused ) by humorously examining Asian cultural , , and . That same year, he released his debut stand-up Namaste Means Sup, a self-produced delving into his upbringing as a brown kid in a white suburb. Parikh has extended his production work into live events, including convention panels and themed cruises that highlight interactive comedy formats from his projects. In 2025, he was announced as a featured guest for JoCo Cruise 2026, where he promotes experiential storytelling drawn from series like DesiQuest. Throughout these ventures, Parikh occasionally incorporated acting roles into his produced works, such as his portrayal of Zaboo in the The Guild.

Personal Life

Family and Residence

Sandeep Parikh has resided in the Silver Lake neighborhood of , , since relocating there following his . He is married to a whose name has not been publicly disclosed, and the welcomed their in 2019. Parikh integrates his responsibilities with his demands, periodically weaving elements of dynamics and immigrant heritage into his comedy sketches. His upbringing informs the family values he imparts to his child.

Public Persona and Interests

Sandeep Parikh is recognized for his of greater Asian representation in , particularly through his Effin Funny Productions, which emphasizes in and behind-the-scenes roles. He has highlighted the need for authentic storytelling that allows minority creators to portray their communities as heroes, stating, "My goal is for younger generations of brown kids to grow up with the that comes from seeing happy, funny, successful superheroes and with , accents, and non-European names—who are written from an authentic minority ." Effin Funny operates as a diversity-focused house, producing projects like an all-South Asian cast Dungeons & Dragons series to foster inclusive narratives. Parikh stresses that true progress requires minority involvement in directing, writing, and producing, beyond on-screen visibility alone. Parikh's personal interests include , , and , which he actively pursues at public events. A longtime video game enthusiast, he favors narrative-driven titles such as the Zelda series, Portal, and BioShock Infinite, while expressing a preference for games with defined endings over endless MMOs; he also enjoys tabletop games like Dominion. His passion for improv stems from its spontaneous, audience-connected nature, which he describes as "ethereal" and uniquely ephemeral. These hobbies manifest in live performances, including appearances at PAX Unplugged 2024 in Philadelphia and DreamHack Atlanta 2024, where he engaged with fans through panels and interactive sessions. Parikh often incorporates improv elements into his stand-up routines, drawing from gaming inspirations like his childhood obsession with Zelda to create humorous, relatable content. His portrayal of Zaboo, a character grappling with social awkwardness and emotional dependency in a high-pressure online gaming world, allowed him to explore themes of vulnerability and resilience that resonate with creators facing industry instability. This role, rooted in improv collaborations, highlighted these themes. He has shared personal experiences of overcoming trauma through art, using projects to process challenges like displacement from the 2024 LA wildfires. In a 2025 interview, Parikh defined his measure of success by the depth of audience connection and the amplification of diverse voices, rather than traditional metrics like viewership numbers. He prioritizes crowdfunded initiatives that deliver culturally authentic stories, such as those centering South Asian experiences, to build and . Based in , Parikh uses the city for these public engagements and community-driven efforts.

References

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