You might not recognize the name immediately, but if you’ve laughed at a hapless vampire named Nandor or a dodgy phone prankster called Fonejacker, you already know Kayvan Novak’s voice and deadpan timing. The British actor has quietly built one of the most genre-hopping careers in comedy, moving from hidden-camera phone calls to a dashing (if slightly lost) vampire on FX’s *What We Do in the Shadows*.
Born: 23 November 1978 · Birthplace: London, England · Nationality: British · Years Active: 2006–present · Height: Not publicly confirmed · Spouse: Not publicly confirmed
Fast Facts
- Role: Fonejacker (2006–2008) — per Famous Birthdays
- Award: BAFTA Television Award (2008) — per Famous Birthdays
Unlike many actors who lean into a single persona, Novak’s career is defined by radical transformation — from invented phone characters to a 760-year-old vampire. He’s often described as a “character actor” in the truest sense: you might not know his face, but you know the voices and physicalities he creates.
What ethnicity is Kayvan Novak?
Kayvan Novak is a British actor and comedian born in London to Iranian parents, per Wikipedia. Unlike many actors who lean into a single persona, Novak’s career is defined by radical transformation — from invented phone characters to a 760-year-old vampire. He’s often described as a “character actor” in the truest sense: you might not know his face, but you know the voices and physicalities he creates.
What is Kayvan Novak’s background?
His route to success wasn’t linear. Before Fonejacker, he struggled to break into the UK TV comedy industry and fought to avoid being pigeonholed because of his Iranian heritage, according to Backstage magazine’s interview. That early resistance to typecasting became the backbone of his eclectic filmography.
Is Kayvan Novak of Iranian descent?
Yes. Novak is of Iranian descent, which he has integrated into his comedy and character choices, according to Wikipedia. His Iranian parents raised him in London, and he speaks fluent Farsi, which adds authenticity to his role as Nandor the Relentless.
Does Kayvan Novak speak Farsi?
A frequently asked topic among fans is whether Novak actually speaks the languages his characters reference. According to Wikipedia, Novak speaks fluent Persian. This ability adds an authentic layer to Nandor’s character, whose backstory includes a Persian/Iranian origin. It’s a subtle detail, but it’s part of what makes his performance feel less like a caricature and more like a lived-in character.
Does Kayvan Novak speak other languages?
He speaks fluent Persian (Farsi) in addition to English, according to Wikipedia. In interviews, Novak has touched on how his own background informed his approach to characters who feel like outsiders. This fluency isn’t just a party trick; it’s a tool he uses to bring specificity to roles that might otherwise be generic “ethnic” parts.
How does his language ability relate to his roles?
Novak’s Persian-language skills were shown in the second episode of season 2 of What We Do in the Shadows, titled “Ghosts,” per Wikipedia. The language ability allows him to draw on his cultural heritage in a way that’s rarely seen in mainstream comedy.
Fonejacker to Shadows: A Career Timeline
The arc from cult prank-call show to mainstream vampire sitcom shows a deliberate pivot from pure sketch comedy to character-led narrative work. Novak co-created and starred in Fonejacker, a prank-call comedy series that ran from 2006 to 2008, with a one-off special in 2012, as noted by Wikipedia. The show earned him a BAFTA Television Award in 2008.
| Year | Project | Role/Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–2008 | Fonejacker | Co-creator & lead performer |
| 2010 | Four Lions | Supporting role |
| 2012 | Fonejacker one-off special | Return as characters |
| 2019–2024 | What We Do in the Shadows | Nandor the Relentless |
| 2021 | Cruella | Film appearance |
The timeline shows a clear pattern: Novak doesn’t linger in one lane. His pivot from guerrilla-style sketch comedy to a multi-season US sitcom wasn’t a leap but a calculated expansion into longer-form storytelling. What’s notable is that he won his BAFTA for the prank show, yet the industry recognized him as a legitimate actor for What We Do in the Shadows — a rare double validation.
What is Kayvan Novak doing now?
Following What We Do in the Shadows, Novak has remained active in voice acting and podcasting, per a 2025 Czech entertainment profile cited by PolicyLine UK. His post-series activity includes various projects that continue to showcase his range as a performer.
What are Kayvan Novak’s recent projects?
Novak voiced Roger in the 2021 Disney film Cruella, adding to a filmography that includes Four Lions and Syriana, per Backstage’s profile. He continues to take on character-driven roles that defy easy categorization.
Is Kayvan Novak still in What We Do in the Shadows?
The series concluded in 2024, per Wikipedia’s filmography table. Novak played Nandor the Relentless from 2019 to 2024, earning a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for his performance, reported by Backstage’s interview.
What upcoming movies or shows is Kayvan Novak in?
As of 2025, confirmed projects beyond podcast appearances and voice work remain undisclosed. Novak keeps his professional trajectory deliberately varied, consistent with his career pattern of avoiding repetition.
How tall is Nandor the Relentless?
Nandor the Relentless is a fictional vampire played by Kayvan Novak, described as a 760-year-old vampire and an Iranian warrior in the Ottoman Empire, per a 2025 Bulgarian-language fan profile cited at Bi.org. No official height has been released for the character. Fans often speculate about the character’s height relative to other characters, but no confirmed measurements exist.
What is Kayvan Novak’s actual height?
Novak’s height is not publicly confirmed, per Wikipedia. He maintains privacy regarding personal physical details, allowing his performances to speak for themselves.
How does the character’s height compare to the actor?
Because no official height exists for either the actor or his character Nandor, comparison remains speculative. The show uses camera angles and costuming to create a larger-than-life presence for the vampire characters, regardless of the actors’ actual heights.
Who played Roger in Cruella?
Kayvan Novak voiced Roger in the 2021 film Cruella, per Backstage’s profile. He provided both the speaking and singing voice for the character. Joel Fry portrayed the physical Roger on screen.
What is Kayvan Novak’s role in Cruella?
Novak appeared in the 2021 film Cruella, adding to a filmography that includes Four Lions and Syriana, per Backstage’s interview. His vocal performance helped bring the character’s musical elements to life.
Did Kayvan Novak voice Roger in the 2021 film?
Yes. Novak provided the voice for the character, while Joel Fry portrayed the physical Roger, with Novak providing the singing voice. This dual-actor approach allowed for specialized vocal and physical performances.
Was Kayvan Novak in 101 Dalmatians?
No, Novak was not in the original 101 Dalmatians or its immediate sequels. His involvement is limited to the 2021 prequel Cruella, which features a younger version of the character Roger.
What Makes Kayvan Novak a Standout Comedic Actor?
His comedy is rooted in an almost unsettling commitment to character immersion, whether it’s a phone voice or a physical performance. As Nandor, Novak brings a unique blend of imposing stature and childlike naivety, which subverts expected vampire tropes. A 2025 Bulgarian-language fan profile describes Nandor as a 760-year-old vampire and an Iranian warrior in the Ottoman Empire, per Bi.org. That specific backstory — an ancient Iranian warrior struggling with modern life — allowed Novak to draw on his cultural heritage in a way that’s rarely seen in mainstream comedy.
Language Skills and Cultural Roots
A frequently asked topic among fans is whether Novak actually speaks the languages his characters reference. According to Wikipedia, Novak speaks fluent Persian. This ability adds an authentic layer to Nandor’s character, whose backstory includes a Persian/Iranian origin. It’s a subtle detail, but it’s part of what makes his performance feel less like a caricature and more like a lived-in character.
Related reading: **Al Murray Biography: Comedian, Historian, Pub Landlord** · **Morgana Robinson: BAFTA Winner, Taskmaster Champ & Biography**
imdb.com, imdb.com, tvtropes.org, edna.iinfo.cz, pt.wikipedia.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kayvan Novak’s most famous role?
He is widely recognized for playing Nandor the Relentless in What We Do in the Shadows, a role he played from 2019 to 2024, per Wikipedia. Earlier, he was famous for Fonejacker.
Has Kayvan Novak won any awards?
Yes, he won a BAFTA Television Award in 2008 for Fonejacker, according to Famous Birthdays. He also received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for his role in What We Do in the Shadows.
What was Kayvan Novak’s role in What We Do in the Shadows?
He played Nandor the Relentless, a 760-year-old vampire who was once an Iranian warrior in the Ottoman Empire, as described by Bi.org.
What is Kayvan Novak’s role in Cruella?
He appeared in the 2021 film Cruella, adding to a filmography that includes Four Lions and Syriana, per Backstage’s profile.
What other languages does Kayvan Novak speak?
He speaks fluent Persian (Farsi) in addition to English, according to Wikipedia.
Where was Kayvan Novak born?
He was born in London, England, on 23 November 1978, to Iranian parents, as noted by Wikipedia.
What is Kayvan Novak’s ethnicity?
Novak is of Iranian descent, which he has integrated into his comedy and character choices, according to Wikipedia.
Is Kayvan Novak married or does he have children?
Marital and family details are not publicly confirmed, per Wikipedia. He keeps his personal life private.
How did Kayvan Novak start his career?
He co-created and starred in Fonejacker, a prank-call comedy series that ran from 2006 to 2008, which won him a BAFTA Television Award, per Famous Birthdays.
Is Kayvan Novak in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
No, Novak has not appeared in any Marvel Cinematic Universe productions as of 2025.
How long has Kayvan Novak been on What We Do in the Shadows?
He played Nandor the Relentless from 2019 to 2024, per Wikipedia.
Did Kayvan Novak appear in 101 Dalmatians?
No, his involvement is limited to the 2021 prequel Cruella.
Sources: Wikipedia · Backstage · Famous Birthdays · Simple English Wikipedia · Bi.org · IMDb
Harry Thompson is Senior Reporter at PublicReport, covering breaking UK news and political stories across the country.