Piyali Syam is a New York-based actor and writer. Born in Wales to immigrant parents from Kolkata, India, Piyali was raised in upstate New York and graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Philosophy and dual minors in Religious Studies and Creative Writing. 

Her most recent film which she co-wrote, co-starred in, and co-directed, Checking Out, a dark comedy about suicide, was an official selection at eight national and international film festivals, including the prestigious Asian American International Film Festival, New York Indian Film Festival, and Katra Film Series. She also co-wrote the film 7 PM, a tribute to healthcare workers during the pandemic. The viral social media success of the film caught the attention of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to invite her and co-creator Vick Krishna to speak at a panel on creating content in quarantine.