Kayvan Novak is a British actor and comedian best known for his BAFTA-winning prank-call series Fonejacker and for playing the lovably clueless vampire Nandor the Relentless in FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. Born in London to Iranian parents, he has built a career that spans experimental comedy, voice work, and mainstream television. Despite his growing fame, many details about his personal life remain private or unconfirmed.
Novak first captured audiences with his multi-character prank calls on Fonejacker, a show that began as a Channel 4 Comedy Lab pilot and later earned a BAFTA Television Award. He went on to star in the sequel Facejacker and took film roles in Four Lions and Paddington. In 2019, he joined the cast of What We Do in the Shadows, which introduced him to a global audience.
Outside of acting, Novak keeps a relatively low profile. He is married to Talitha Stone and has a young son. He has also used his social media platform to speak out on political issues, most notably in a 2024 Instagram post about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Who is Kayvan Novak’s wife?
- Full Name: Kayvan Novak
- Occupation: Actor, Comedian
- Known For: Nandor the Relentless in What We Do in the Shadows; BAFTA-winning series Fonejacker
- Spouse: Talitha Stone
- Kayvan Novak is a BAFTA-winning British comedian and actor of Iranian descent.
- He broke through with the masked prank-call show Fonejacker (2006–2008).
- His most globally recognised role is Nandor the Relentless in FX’s What We Do in the Shadows (2019–present).
- Novak has been open about overcoming typecasting and voice-over pigeonholing.
- In 2024 he publicly used his platform to raise awareness about the Israel-Palestine conflict via an Instagram post about his infant son.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | Listed as 6′1″ (1.85 m) on IMDb, but not independently verified |
| Spouse | Talitha Stone (private individual) |
| Children | One son (born ~2024) |
| Notable Awards | BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy (2008, Fonejacker) |
| Nationality | British (of Iranian descent) |
| Born | 23 November 1978, London, England (per IMDb; Wikipedia omits exact date) |
What is Kayvan Novak’s ethnicity?
Novak is of Iranian descent, with some sources also noting a Persian background. He was born in London to Iranian parents and holds British nationality. His ethnic background has occasionally informed the roles he has been offered, a topic he discussed in a 2025 podcast interview.
How tall is Kayvan Novak?
There is no official confirmation of his height. According to IMDb, Novak is listed as 6′1″ (1.85 m), but that figure is not independently verifiable and should be treated with caution.
What is Kayvan Novak’s religion?
Religious beliefs are not mentioned in any reliable biographical source for Novak. He has not publicly discussed his faith, and no confirmed information is available.
What is Kayvan Novak’s nationality?
He is British, born in London, England. Although his heritage is Iranian, he has not held or claimed Iranian citizenship in public records.
What was Kayvan Novak’s early life like?
Novak attended Highgate School, Fine Arts College, and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Before his breakthrough, he appeared in minor roles on British television series such as Family Affairs, Holby City, and Spooks. Details about his parents and upbringing remain scarce.
No reliable source has ever confirmed Kayvan Novak’s exact birth year or his religion. Most biographical profiles omit these details entirely.
What is Kayvan Novak’s role in What We Do in the Shadows?
Since 2019, Novak has played Nandor the Relentless, a vain and somewhat dimwitted vampire from the Ottoman Empire, in the FX mockumentary series What We Do in the Shadows. The role brought him international recognition and a new wave of fans.
What are Kayvan Novak’s movies and TV shows?
Beyond his signature vampire role, Novak has appeared in a wide range of productions. His filmography includes:
- Syriana – intelligence officer (2005)
- The Blue Tower (2008)
- Fonejacker (2007–2008) – The Fonejacker
- Facejacker (2010–2012) – various characters
- Four Lions (2010) – Waj
- Paddington (2014) – Grant the Animal Supplier
- Prevenge (2016) – Tom
- Men in Black: International (2019) – supporting role
- What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024) – Nandor
Novak won the Best Comedy Performance in a British Film at the British Comedy Awards for his role in Four Lions. The BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy was awarded to the series Fonejacker, not to Novak personally.
What is Kayvan Novak’s career timeline?
- – Born in London, England, to Iranian parents
- – Co-creates and stars in Fonejacker, winning a BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy
- – Stars in sequel series Facejacker
- – Appears in films such as Paddington and Four Lions
- – Cast as Nandor in What We Do in the Shadows on FX
- – Becomes father to a son; posts a political statement on Instagram about the Israel-Palestine conflict
- – Continues starring in What We Do in the Shadows; appears on the Adam Buxton podcast to discuss career transition and typecasting
What is confirmed and what remains uncertain about Kayvan Novak?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Full name: Kayvan Novak | Height: not officially confirmed (IMDb says 6′1″) |
| Occupation: actor and comedian | Religion: never publicly discussed |
| Ethnicity: Iranian descent | Exact birth date: Wikipedia omits it |
| Nationality: British (born in England) | Early life details: limited information about parents and education |
| Spouse: Talitha Stone (name confirmed via public records) | Marriage date: not publicly known |
| Child: one son (born ~2024, confirmed via Instagram) | – |
| Major roles: Fonejacker, Facejacker, What We Do in the Shadows | – |
| Award: BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy (for Fonejacker) | – |
What does Kayvan Novak’s career reveal about his background?
Novak’s career reflects a British-Iranian comedic talent who moved from experimental audio comedy to a mainstream TV vampire series. In a 2025 podcast with Adam Buxton, he described how he overcame typecasting and the tendency of casting directors to see him only as a voice artist. That willingness to pivot and take risks – from prank calls to feature films – is a defining thread in his professional story.
His personal life remains intentionally guarded. The lack of official data on height, religion, and exact birth date is consistent with actors who keep their private lives separate from their public personas. Even so, a rare 2024 Instagram post offered a glimpse into his family and political views.
What do the sources say about Kayvan Novak?
“He co-created and starred in the comedy series Fonejacker (2006–2008) and Facejacker (2010–2012), winning the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy.”
— Wikipedia
“Kayvan Novak is a British actor and comedian of Iranian descent, best known for playing the clueless vampire Nandor the Relentless in What We Do in the Shadows.”
— IMDb
“Adam talks with British actor and comedian Kayvan Novak about how he made the transition from being a jobbing actor dealing with his share of typecasting.”
— Adam Buxton Podcast (2025)
“This is my son. He just turned 1. From the time of his conception until now Israel has massacred… THOUSANDS of Palestinian children.”
— Instagram post by @kayvan_novak (2024)
What is the key takeaway about Kayvan Novak?
Kayvan Novak is a versatile British actor and comedian who rose from a low-budget prank-call show to a starring role in one of television’s most beloved comedies. His career highlights include a BAFTA-winning series, a critically acclaimed film role in Four Lions, and a growing global fan base. While his personal details are often guarded, what is known paints the picture of a private, family-oriented performer who uses his platform selectively. Other British comedians with similar career arcs include Peter Serafinowicz and Joe Gilgun.
How tall is Kayvan Novak?
IMDb lists Novak as 6′1″ (1.85 m), but the figure is not independently verified and should be considered unconfirmed.
Does Kayvan Novak have children?
Yes. He has a son, born around 2024, as indicated by his Instagram profile.
What is Kayvan Novak’s nationality?
He is British, born in London. His heritage is Iranian, but his nationality is British.
What awards has Kayvan Novak won?
He won the British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Performance in a British Film for Four Lions. The series Fonejacker won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy in 2008.
What was Kayvan Novak’s early education?
He attended Highgate School, Fine Arts College, and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
Oliver Bennett is Managing Editor at ShowbizUK.co.uk, responsible for daily editorial planning, the publishing schedule, newsroom workflow, article commissioning and final editorial preparation.