Karan Soni

Last updated

Karan Soni
Karan Soni by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Soni in 2025
Born (1989-01-08) January 8, 1989 (age 36)
New Delhi, India
CitizenshipUnited States
Education USC School of Dramatic Arts
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present
Spouse Roshan Sethi

Karan Soni (born January 8, 1989) is an Indian-born American actor. Often appearing in comedic roles, he came to prominence for playing Dopinder in the films Deadpool (2016) and its sequels Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), and voicing Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

Contents

Born in New Delhi, Soni moved to the United States to study business at the University of Southern California before pursuing an acting career. He made his feature film debut in Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), which was followed by lead appearances on the series Betas (2013) and Other Space (2015), and the film A Nice Indian Boy (2024). Soni has also appeared in the films Ghostbusters (2016), Office Christmas Party (2016), and Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019). On television, he has appeared as a series regular on Blunt Talk (2015–2016) and Miracle Workers (2019–2023).

Early life

Soni was born in New Delhi, India, and he attended an international school there. He came to the United States to study at the University of Southern California. [1]

Career

Soni made his film debut in Yusuf Sumer's 2010 comedy film Kaka Nirvana, alongside Rachel Quinn. [2] In 2013, Soni was cast in the Amazon Studios original series Betas . [3] The series was canceled after one season. [4] In 2014, Soni appeared in commercials for AT&T along with Jim Conroy. [5] [6]

In 2015, Soni appeared in Other Space, a series created by Paul Feig for Yahoo! Screen, as Captain Stewart Lipinski. [7] Yahoo! Screen would be shut down later in the year, preventing the series from being renewed for a second season, [8] while the first season would later be picked up by DUST in 2020. Later in 2015, he appeared in episodes of Melissa & Joey , [9] The Goldbergs [10] and 100 Things to Do Before High School [11] [12] and began starring in Blunt Talk , opposite Patrick Stewart, as Martin. [13] The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered in 2016. [14]

Soni appeared in the 2016 Marvel film Deadpool as a taxi driver named Dopinder [15] and reprised the role in its sequels Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). [16] In 2016, Soni also appeared in Ghostbusters as the delivery man Benny [15] and in 2019, he appeared in Pokémon Detective Pikachu . [17] From 2019 to 2023, Soni was a main cast member of the anthology comedy television series Miracle Workers . [18]

In February 2023, Soni was announced as the voice of Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . [19] In August 2024, Soni confirmed that he would reprise his role as Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse . [20]

Soni played the lead role in the romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy which premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 2024. [21] He also starred in Stealing Pulp Fiction. [22] In September 2024, it was announced that Soni had been cast as the lead role in the thriller film Fade to Black. [23] In 2025, he was part of the ensemble cast for the Audible Original audio drama Murder at the Patel Motel. [24]

Personal life

Soni is gay. [25] He is married to writer and director Roshan Sethi, with whom he developed the film 7 Days . [26]

Filmography

Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Kaka NirvanaKemalShort film
2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Arnau
Bit by BitChanderShort film
2014 Supremacy Store Clerk
Obedient ArtistsJaxton
2015 Goosebumps Mr. Rooney
2016 Deadpool Dopinder
Chee and T Roger Raval
The Sweet Life Convenience Store Clerk
MonoAmit Chowdury
Ghostbusters Benny
Office Christmas Party Nate Winetoss
2017 Rough Night Raviv
And Then There Was Eve Zain
Unicorn Store Kevin
Creep 2 Dave
2018 Little Bitches Hall Monitor Andy
Deadpool 2 Dopinder
Better Start Running Nelson
Office Uprising Mourad
2019 Corporate Animals Freddie
Pokémon Detective Pikachu Jack
Always Be My Maybe Tony
2020 Like a Boss Josh Tinker
Trolls World Tour RiffVoice
Superintelligence Ahmed
Coffee Shop NamesSathya/ScottShort film [27]
2021 7 Days RaviAlso writer
Coming Out with the Help of a Time MachineSidShort film [28]
2022 Not Okay Kelvin
The People We Hate at the Wedding Dominic
Four Samosas Sanjay
Strange World CaspianVoice
2023 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India
World's Best Calming Voice
2024 A Nice Indian Boy Naveen Gavaskar
Paper FlowersMilan Mehta
Deadpool & Wolverine Dopinder
Stealing Pulp Fiction Steve
2027 Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man IndiaVoice; In production
TBAFade to BlackAmitPost-production [23]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 The Protector KennyEpisode: "Safe"
Worst. Prom. Ever.GlennTelevision film
2012 Touch RaviEpisode: "1+1=3"
Linked OutKeithEpisode: "Facebook Intervention"
1600 Penn MisfitEpisode: "Putting Out Fires"
Bite MeTeacher's AssistantEpisode: "Continue!"
Are You There, Chelsea? StanEpisode: "Sloane's Ex"
2012–2013 The Neighbors Indian Allen2 episodes
Geo's PizzaAsheed8 episodes
2013Little HorriblesUnknownEpisode: "Road Rage"
Trophy Wife Graduate No. 2Episode: "Pilot"
Aim HighMingesha DuttaEpisode 2.2
The Middle VijalEpisode: "Life Skills"
2013–2014 Mighty Med Benny3 episodes
Betas Avinash "Nash" DagaviMain role
2014 Growing Up Fisher OwenEpisode: "Secret Lives of Fishers"
2015 Melissa & Joey FlashEpisode: "Failure to Communicate"
Other Space Stewart LipinskiMain role
100 Things to Do Before High School Caltech DudeEpisode: "Be a Mad Scientist Thing!"
Any Tom, Dick, or HarryErnie DassaniTelevision film
2015–2016 Blunt Talk Martin BassiRecurring (season 1)
Main role (season 2)
2015–2017 The Goldbergs Randy Mescunda, Srinivas Bollimpalli6 episodes
2016 The Grinder CooperEpisode: "From the Ashes"; uncredited
2017 I Live with Models Marshall5 episodes
What Would Diplo Do? Bellboy1 episode
Silicon Valley TenleyEpisode: "Hooli-Con"
Room 104 AnishEpisode: "The Internet"; also director
2018 Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters RaviEpisode: "Mermaid"
Wrecked Keith2 episodes
2019 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Gordon LundtEpisode: "The Honeypot"
Miracle Workers Sanjay PrinceMain role
Will & Grace MikeEpisode: "With Enemies Like These"
2020 Miracle Workers: Dark Ages Lord Chris VexlerMain role
Cake HimselfEpisode: "Auditions: No Reader"
Dream Corp LLC Patient 27Episode: "Fear of Heights"
Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun Jerry Seinfeld Episode: "Housemates"
Big Mouth Voice, episode: "Four Stories About Hand Stuff"
2020–2021 Mira, Royal Detective ManjeetVoice, 10 episodes
2021 Special [29] Dev Laghari2 episodes
Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail The GunslingerMain role
Trolls: Holiday in Harmony RiffVoice, television film
2021–2022 Karma's World Mr. Rishi SingalVoice, 11 episodes
2022 The Great North GavinVoice, episode: "Woodfellas Adventure"
Home Economics TodEpisode: "Novel Signed by Author, $22.19"
2022–2023 The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib PipVoice, 25 episodes
2023 Miracle Workers: End Times TI-90, TaiMain role, 10 episodes
Strange Planet Being No. 1 / BestieVoice, episode: "Adolescent Limbshake"
2024 Abbott Elementary Avi3 episodes; also directed episode: "Librarian"
Nobody Wants This ValiEpisode: "Obliterated"
2025 American Dad! Indian AnchorVoice, episode: "Guardian"
Mickey Mouse Funhouse Naatu BandarVoice, episode: "The Golden Mango"

Podcasts

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2021The Coldest CaseEdgar3 episodes
BridgewaterVipin Kharana8 episodes [30]
Dark Air with Terry CarnationJeet Batra18 episodes [31]
2025Murder at the Patel Motel [24]

References

  1. Jha, Neha (February 22, 2016). "Meet Deadpool's Dopinder: Indian-American Karan Soni shares his experience". Deccan Chronicle . Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. "Deadpool actor Karan Soni: A white guy voicing an Indian character in 2018 is not okay". Hindustan Times. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (October 18, 2013). "Amazon Studios Comedy Pilot 'Betas' Assembles Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  4. Kimball, Trevor (April 3, 2014). "Betas: Amazon Series Cancelled, No Season Two". TVSeriesFinale.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  5. Ramachandran, Vignesh (April 21, 2015). "Karan Soni, That Guy From The AT&T Commercials Takes The Silver Screen". Ozy.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  6. Rohwedder, Kristie (February 13, 2015). "Who Are The Actors Who Play The Network Experts In the AT&T Commercials? These Guys Are Good". Bustle.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  7. Donnelly, Matt (April 15, 2015). "Why Paul Feig Chose Streaming for His New Comedy 'Other Space'". TheWrap.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  8. Brouwer, Bree (October 21, 2015). "Yahoo Lost $42 Million On 'Community' and Two Other Originals". TubeFilter. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  9. "Joey Lawrence, Karan Soni, Melissa Joan Hart". TeenInfonet.com. February 3, 2015. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  10. "Scoop: The Goldbergs on ABC - Tonight, October 21, 2015". BroadwayWorld.com. October 21, 2015. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  11. "Mad Scientists - "100 Things to Do Before High School"". Nickalive.blogspot.com. November 21, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  12. Wariach, Sonia (November 9, 2015). "Catch Karan Soni's Blink-and-Miss Role as Mr. Rooney in 'Goosebumps'". Indiawest.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  13. Baron, Steve (February 24, 2015). "Starz Announces Recurring and Guest Cast for 'Blunt Talk' Starring Patrick Stewart". Zap2it. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  14. Goldberg, Lesley (April 29, 2014). "Starz Orders Two Seasons of Seth MacFarlane Comedy 'Blunt Talk'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Exclusive: Karan Soni Talks Deadpool, Improvising with Ryan Reynolds". ComicBook.com. October 30, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  16. Coman, Monica; Drake, Grae (April 1, 2025). "'Completed My Violent Arc': Karan Soni Shares His Only Deadpool Franchise Request". CBR. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  17. "Watch Pokemon Detective Pikachu (Movie)". HBO. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  18. Chavez, Danette (June 11, 2025). "Karan Soni still feels bad about giving Daniel Radcliffe the cold shoulder". AV Club. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  19. "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' Casts Karan Soni As Spider-Man India". Deadline. February 23, 2023.
  20. Pereira, Karen (August 9, 2024). "Karan Soni: Deadpool and Spider-Man have a special relationship in the comics; it will be used at some point – Exclusive". The Times of India . ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  21. Spilde, Coleman (March 12, 2024). "'A Nice Indian Boy' Isn't Afraid to Admit the Truth About Love: It's a Mess". The Daily Beast . Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  22. Frater, Patrick (November 4, 2024). "Jason Alexander Heist Comedy 'Stealing Pulp Fiction' Picked Up by Odin's Eye Entertainment Ahead of AFM (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  23. 1 2 Dunn, Jack (September 24, 2024). "'Deadpool' Actor Karan Soni Lands Lead Role in Andrew Sandler's Thriller 'Fade to Black' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Hullender, Tatiana (June 4, 2025). "An Ozempic Pen Sparks Suspicion In New Excerpt From Audible's Murder at the Patel Motel". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  25. @funnyindian; (July 17, 2022). "Actor @itskaransoni Karan Soni's Coming Out Story" via Instagram.
  26. Chapman, Wilson (April 4, 2022). "The Cast and Crew of '7 Days' on Reliving Quarantine as a Romantic Comedy". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  27. Vuocolo, Alex; O'Driscoll, Keara; Dangor, Graison; Ross, Dina (May 25, 2023). "What to Stream: Vanderpump Reunion, Sorority Rush, Sketch Comedy Fav & Coffee Shop Names". Cheddar News. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  28. Bijolia, Disha (November 3, 2022). "'Coming Out With The Help Of A Time Machine' Gives LGBTQIA+ Narratives A Sci-Fi Twist". Homegrown. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  29. Petski, Denise (March 29, 2021). "'Special': Charlie Barnett, Max Jenkins, Ana Ortiz Among Nine Set To Recur In Season 2 Of Netflix Series". Deadline. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  30. "Misha Collins, Nathan Fillion, Hilarie Burton Morgan and More Join New Podcast Drama 'Bridgewater'". Nerds and Beyond. July 24, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  31. "Audioboom Original Podcast 'Dark Air with Terry Carnation' Starring Rainn Wilson Officially Launched". Nerds and Beyond. April 2, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2025.