Kayvan Novak – British Iranian Actor Behind Nandor

If you’ve watched What We Do in the Shadows, you’ve probably wondered about the actor behind Nandor’s distinctive accent. Kayvan Novak brings a unique blend of British comedy and Iranian heritage to his roles, and his journey from prank calls to vampire satire is anything but straightforward.

Date of Birth: 23 November 1978 ·
Nationality: British ·
Notable Role: Nandor the Relentless in What We Do in the Shadows ·
Award: BAFTA Television Award (Facejacker)

Seven key facts about Kayvan Novak, one pattern: his career is a thread connecting British comedy, Iranian roots, and a beloved vampire character.

The implication: Novak’s Iranian heritage is not just a footnote — it’s woven into the fabric of his most famous character.

What is Kayvan Novak’s ethnicity?

Is Kayvan Novak Iranian?

• Kayvan Novak is of Iranian descent (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• He identifies as Iranian and proud (Instagram (personal account))
• He was born and raised in Britain (Wikipedia)

Novak’s parents moved from Iran to London before he was born. In a 2024 Instagram post, he shared a photo of his son with the caption “IRANIAN AND PROUD” — a rare public statement about his identity. That dual heritage — British upbringing with Iranian family roots — is the engine behind his most distinctive comedy.

What does Kayvan Novak say about his Iranian heritage?

• He has spoken about early typecasting as “Turkish pimp” or “Middle Eastern terrorist” (Daily Mail (British tabloid))
• He has expressed pride in his background (Instagram)

In a 2014 interview with You Magazine, Novak described being offered only stereotypical Middle Eastern roles early in his career. “Comedy is in my bones,” he said, and he deliberately subverted those expectations by creating his own characters. The pattern: he turned a limitation into a creative weapon.

The implication: his heritage became a creative asset rather than a limitation.

Does Kayvan Novak speak Farsi?

How fluent is he in Farsi?

• Novak speaks fluent Persian (Wikipedia)
• He has used Farsi in his comedy sketches and roles (IMDb (film database))
• He has mentioned his Farsi language ability in interviews (Awards Radar (entertainment news))

Farsi (Persian) is Novak’s mother tongue, spoken at home with his Iranian parents. In a 2025 interview with Awards Radar, he casually dropped Farsi phrases while discussing his approach to Nandor’s accent. The language is part of his daily identity, not a stage trick.

Has he used Farsi in his roles?

• He used Farsi in Facejacker sketches (Wikipedia)
• He incorporated Persian phrases into Nandor’s dialogue (FX Networks (official network))

In What We Do in the Shadows, Nandor occasionally mutters what sounds like Persian — it’s not always subtitled, but for Persian-speaking viewers, it’s a wink. The show’s writers let Novak ad-lib in Farsi, adding authenticity to a character who is, after all, a vampire from the Ottoman Empire.

The pattern: language becomes a bridge between heritage and role.

What is Kayvan Novak doing now?

Is he still on What We Do in the Shadows?

• He continued to star in What We Do in the Shadows through its sixth and final season (2024) (Wikipedia)
• The series concluded in December 2024 (Wikipedia)

As of early 2025, Novak is no longer filming new episodes of the show, but his portrayal of Nandor has cemented his place in comedy history. He’s been active on Instagram, sharing family moments and behind-the-scenes memories.

What recent projects has he been involved in?

• He appeared on the Adam Buxton podcast (EP.170) discussing typecasting and career transition (Adam Buxton Podcast (established podcast))
• He has not announced a new major TV role but continues to be in demand for voice work and comedy panels (Famous Birthdays (celebrity database))

The post-Shadows chapter is still unwritten. Novak’s podcast appearances suggest he’s thinking about next steps — and his fans are waiting to see what he does with the freedom of a finished series.

Is Kayvan Novak related to BJ Novak?

Are they brothers?

• They are not related despite sharing the surname Novak (Wikipedia)
• BJ Novak is an American actor, Kayvan Novak is British-Iranian (Wikipedia)
• No known family relation (IMDb)

It’s a common search query, and the answer is a firm no. The surname Novak is common in several cultures — Polish, Czech, Jewish — and the two actors simply happen to share it. Kayvan Novak’s family is Iranian, while BJ Novak (of The Office fame) is Jewish-American. No bloodline, no collaboration (though a team-up would be fun).

Do they share any family connection?

• No evidence of any connection (Wikipedia)
• Both are actors but in different countries and genres (IMDb)

The catch: the internet wants them to be related because it would make a neat story. Reality is less dramatic but more interesting — two talented Novaks, independent of each other, each carving their own path.

Is Nandor Persian or Turkish?

What is Nandor’s fictional background?

• Nandor is a fictional vampire from the Ottoman Empire, described as Persian or Turkish (Wikipedia)
• FX describes him as a “fierce Ottoman warrior” (FX Networks)
• The show’s wiki says he was the bloodthirsty leader of the fictional kingdom of Al-Quolanudar in southern Iran (Wikipedia)

Nandor’s backstory is deliberately vague — he’s from the Ottoman Empire, but the show never pins down a precise ethnicity. The name “Nandor” sounds Hungarian, but the character’s accent and mannerisms draw from Persian and Turkish stereotypes. That ambiguity is the joke.

Why does Nandor speak with an accent?

• Novak based Nandor’s accent on a Polish accent, not a Persian one (PaleyFest (industry event))
• He auditioned with a Polish-accent-like voice (Awards Radar)
• He incorporates his own Iranian heritage into the portrayal (FX Networks)

In a 2024 PaleyFest panel, Novak revealed that Nandor’s accent started as a joke — he tried a Polish accent at the audition, and it stuck. But the character’s Persian-tinged vocabulary and mannerisms are all Novak’s own. The accent is a mashup, and that’s the point: Nandor is a vampire who has been alive for centuries, picking up linguistic debris along the way.

The catch: the character’s authenticity derives from Novak’s own identity, not from a strict historical match.

Clarity check

What this means: the confirmed facts are well-documented, but several personal details remain private.

Quotes

“IRANIAN AND PROUD”

— Kayvan Novak, Instagram post alongside a photo of his son (Instagram)

“I was getting offered roles like ‘Turkish pimp’, ‘Middle Eastern terrorist’ or ‘Asian doctor’. Comedy is in my bones.”

— Kayvan Novak, interview with You Magazine (Daily Mail)

“I just did a Polish accent at the audition and they kept it.”

— Kayvan Novak, PaleyFest 2024, on the origin of Nandor’s accent (YouTube / PaleyFest)

“I’m hoping to do more dramatic work now. I don’t want to be stuck in comedy forever.”

— Kayvan Novak, Adam Buxton Podcast EP.170 (Adam Buxton Podcast)

For Kayvan Novak, the next chapter is a blank page. The choices he makes — whether to lean into comedy, step into drama, or create something entirely new — will define his post-Shadows legacy. For British-Iranian audiences who have watched him turn a Polish accent and a fake kingdom into a career-defining role, the hope is clear: that he continues to use his heritage as a creative fuel, not a cage.

Related reading: Chris Ramsey: Comedian, Podcaster, and Common Confusions Explained · Julian Rhind-Tutt: Biography, Family, and Iconic Roles

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