Kayvan Novak: Biography, Ethnicity, Career & Updates

You might know him as Nandor the Relentless, the vampire who calls house meetings and struggles with modern technology. But Kayvan Novak’s career stretches far beyond Staten Island — from pioneering prank-call comedy on British television to voicing characters in animated films.

Full Name: Kayvan Novak ·
Birthplace: London, England ·
Known For: Fonejacker, What We Do in the Shadows ·
Awards: BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy

The table below sums up the key biographical details that define Novak’s public profile.

Who is Kayvan Novak?

Early life and background

• Born in London in 1978 to Iranian parents who had migrated to the UK (Wikipedia).
• Grew up in a British environment, though his Persian heritage remained a presence at home. In a 2021 interview with SBS, Novak said: “I was born in London! I’m as Western as you get.”
• Studied acting and began performing in theatre before transitioning to television.

Breakthrough with Fonejacker

Novak co-created Fonejacker with Ed Tracy as part of Channel 4’s Comedy Lab strand in 2005 (Wikipedia). The show featured Novak making prank phone calls using a variety of characters and accents. It ran from 2006 to 2008 and won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series) in 2008 (BAFTA via Wikipedia).

The follow-up series Facejacker aired from 2010 to 2012, blending hidden-camera sketches with the same character-driven approach (Wikipedia).

The implication: Novak’s early work established him as a writer-performer capable of building entire comedy worlds from a single phone line — a foundation that led to broader opportunities.

Is Kayvan Novak a Palestinian?

His ethnic background

No. Kayvan Novak is of Iranian descent, not Palestinian. His parents are from Iran, and he was born in London (Wikipedia). There is no evidence that he holds Palestinian citizenship or has any family ties to Palestine.

Public statements on Palestine

Novak has expressed support for Palestinians on his Instagram account, particularly in 2023–2025. In November 2024, he posted about his son and Palestinian children. These posts do not change his ethnic background but do indicate his political sympathies.

The catch: Public support for Palestine is sometimes misinterpreted as claiming Palestinian identity. In Novak’s case, the evidence clearly points to Iranian heritage, not Palestinian.

What is Kayvan Novak’s ethnicity?

Iranian heritage

• Novak’s parents are Iranian, and he has spoken openly about being of Iranian descent (SBS).
• He has described himself as “as Western as you get” while acknowledging his Persian roots.

British identity

• Novak identifies as British. He was born and raised in London, and his entire career has been based in the UK and US.
• He speaks Farsi to some extent, which he has incorporated into his role as Nandor the Relentless on What We Do in the Shadows (Vulture).

What is Kayvan Novak doing now?

Current acting projects

Novak stars as Nandor the Relentless in the FX comedy series What We Do in the Shadows, which began in 2019 and continues through its sixth season. The show has received critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations (FX Networks).

In a 2024 interview with Vulture, Novak said it was “wonderful to have the opportunity to incorporate Farsi into the character’s dialogue.” He explained that he sprinkled in slang he learned from his father.

Activism and public appearances

• Active on Instagram, where he posts about Palestinian children. His posts have drawn both support and criticism.
• Appeared on the Adam Buxton podcast in November 2025, discussing typecasting and his career trajectory.

The pattern: Novak’s public persona has shifted from pure comedian to someone who uses his platform for political expression — a move that aligns him with a growing number of actors who speak out on humanitarian issues.

Does Kayvan Novak speak Farsi?

Language skills

Novak speaks some Farsi (Persian) due to his Iranian heritage. His proficiency level is not fully documented in public sources, but he has used Farsi in comedy sketches and interviews (Disney Wiki).

Relevance to his roles

Nandor the Relentless, originally a vampire from the Ottoman Empire, speaks in a accent that Novak has described as influenced by his own voice. During auditions, the creators initially considered a Polish accent, but ultimately told him, “You will talk like you talk” (PaleyFest clip).

The trade-off: Novak’s limited public use of Farsi means audiences cannot fully gauge his fluency, but his willingness to include Persian phrases adds authenticity to Nandor’s character.

Timeline

• 1978 – Born in London to Iranian parents (Wikipedia)
• 2005 – Co-created Fonejacker for Channel 4’s Comedy Lab (Wikipedia)
• 2006–2008 – Fonejacker airs; wins BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy in 2008 (BAFTA via Wikipedia)
• 2010–2012 – Follow-up series Facejacker airs (Wikipedia)
• 2014 – Appears in the film Four Lions as Waj (MN2S)
• 2014 – Portrays a role in Taika Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows film (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 2019–present – Stars as Nandor the Relentless in the FX series What We Do in the Shadows (FX Networks)
• 2023–2025 – Publicly posts about Palestinian children on Instagram

The timeline shows how Novak moved from prank‑call innovator to a mainstream TV lead, with activism emerging later.

What’s confirmed versus unclear

Confirmed facts

• Born in London to Iranian parents (Wikipedia)
• British nationality (Wikipedia)
• Won BAFTA for Fonejacker (Wikipedia)
• Plays Nandor in What We Do in the Shadows (FX Networks)
• Has spoken Farsi in interviews (Vulture)

What’s unclear

• Exact date of birth (only year 1978 known)
• Religious affiliation (not publicly specified)
• Full extent of Farsi fluency
• Nature of relationship status (married? children?)
• Exact net worth

These gaps underline that many personal details remain outside the public record, even for a well‑known figure.

Quotes from Kayvan Novak

“I was born in London! I’m as Western as you get.”

— Kayvan Novak, interview with SBS (2021)

“You will talk like you talk.”

— Creators of What We Do in the Shadows, as recounted by Novak in a PaleyFest clip

Novak’s career shows a clear arc: from a prank-call comedian who built a BAFTA-winning show from a phone, to a versatile actor bringing Iranian heritage into a beloved comedy vampire character. For British-Iranian audiences looking for representation in mainstream comedy, the implication is clear: Novak has carved a space where ethnicity is not a gimmick but a creative resource.

Frequently asked questions