Kayvan Novak

Kayvan Novak (born 23 November 1978) is a British actor and comedian. He co-created and starred in the comedy series Fonejacker (2006–2008) and Facejacker (2010–2012), winning the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series) in 2008.

He also portrayed Waj in the comedy film Four Lions (2010), the vampire Nandor the Relentless in the mockumentary series What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024), and Fabian Kingsworth in the animated sitcom Archer (2020–2023).

Early life Novak was born in London to Iranian parents. He was educated at Highgate School and the Fine Arts College in Hampstead, before attending the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career Novak initially appeared on various British shows, including Family Affairs, Holby City, and Spooks. In 2005, he and Ed Tracy created Fonejacker, a prank call show as part of Channel 4's Comedy Lab strand. After the pilot, he was given a Christmas special and a six-part series, which began airing on 5 July 2007 on E4; and 7 September 2007 on Channel 4. In November 2009, he appeared on the Channel 4 show The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, playing a bomb-disposal officer. In April 2010, Novak began appearing in a spin-off of Fonejacker called Facejacker, in which he adopted various disguises, including several characters heard in Fonejacker. Novak announced on BBC Radio 1 in May 2012 that the character Terry Tibbs, a mainstay of both shows, would be getting a spin-off chat show; this aired in August 2012. Novak played Simon in the Channel 4 sitcom pilot Bad Sugar. He also appeared in the 2010 comedy Four Lions, in which he played the dim-witted Waj, a role for which he won the award for Best Comedy Performance in a British Film at the 2010 British Comedy Awards, beating fellow actor Nigel Lindsay, who was nominated for his role in the same film.

Novak appeared as Alok in the first series of BBC Radio 4 comedy Fags, Mags and Bags. He has provided voice work for three video games: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo. He also voiced various characters in the ITV spoof sketch show Headcases, and in the 2012 Channel 4 animated series Full English. He lent his vocals to British band Beady Eye's 2013 song "Flick of the Finger".

In 2013, he appeared as Effy Stonem's boss in the Skins episode "Skins Fire". He voiced a Cyberman head called Handles in the Doctor Who 2013 Christmas special "The Time of the Doctor". He had a starring role in the last episode of the first series of Uncle as Mo, the boss of a fictional record label. In 2014, he played Paul in the second episode ("A Quiet Night In") of Inside No. 9. Also in 2014, he appeared in Episode 1, Series 3 of Rev. as the Imam, Yussef Hasan.

Since 2015, he has voiced the character of Brains in the revived ITV series Thunderbirds Are Go. In 2015, he featured in the sitcom Asylum as "Rafael". In May 2015, he appeared in a new comedy series called SunTrap on BBC1. In May 2017, Novak appeared in Channel 4's Britain Today, Tonight.

In 2019, Novak was cast as the vampire Nandor The Relentless in the mockumentary comedy horror television series What We Do In The Shadows. The show is based on the 2014 film of the same name.

Novak speaks fluent Persian, as seen on the second episode of Season 2 (“Ghosts”) of What We Do in the Shadows.

In 2021, he released eight episodes of "All New Fonejacker Podcast" on Audible and starred as Roger in Disney's Cruella.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 Syriana Arash 2010 A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures Fluffy (voice) Four Lions Waj 2014 Cuban Fury Bejan Captcha Clarence Short film The Last Sparks of Sundown Seven Paddington Grant the Animal Supplier 2016 Prevenge Tom 2018 Early Man Dino, Jurgend (voice) 2019 The Day Shall Come Reza Men in Black: International Vungus, Nasr, Bassam 2021 Cruella Roger Dearly

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 The American Embassy Ahmed Rallah Episode: "China Cup" Judge John Deed Ali Abdul Moncheri Episode: "Political Expediency" Family Affairs Amir Sadati 1 episode 2003 Trial & Retribution Craig Board 2 episodes 2004 Holby City Reza Abbassi 5 episodes Spooks Sevilin Ozal 1 episode (uncredited) A Line in the Sand Vahid TV movie She's Gone Arto Fazouk TV movie 2005 Murphy's Law Masud Episode: "Boy's Night Out" The Government Inspector Qasim Hamdani TV movie 2006 Comedy Lab Fonejacker 1 episode (voice) 2007 Be More Ethnic Ranjit Pradesh TV movie 2007–2008 Fonejacker The Fonejacker Main cast; 13 episodes BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series) in 2008 2008 Headcases Various roles 1 episode (voice) The Big Fat Quiz of the Year The Fonejacker 2009 Comedy Showcase Bomb Disposal Officer 1 episode 2010 The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Bomb Disposal Officer Episode: "In Which Claims Are Made and a Journey Ensues" Channel 4's Comedy Gala Terry Tibbs 2010–2011 PhoneShop Razz Prince 2 episodes 2010–2012Facejacker Terry Tibbs, various characters Main cast; 7 episodes 2011 Sirens Rachid Mansaur Main cast; 6 episodes2012 Hacks Rav TV movie Verry Terry Terry Tibbs (Host) TV movie Bad Sugar Simon TV movie Full English Dusty Johnson, Jason Johnson, Squidge Main cast 2013 10 O'Clock Live Pat Putterson 3 episodes Skins Jake Abbasi Series 7, episodes 1–2, "Fire" Doctor Who Handles Episode: "The Time of the Doctor" Homeboys Sergio TV movie 2014 Inside No. 9 Paul Episode: "A Quiet Night In" Uncle Mo Episode: "Nephew" Rev. Yussef Hasan 1 episode Puppy Love Phil Evans 1 episode Walter DS Mike Minorsky TV movie 2015–2020 Thunderbirds Are Go Brains, Ned Tedford Main cast; 21 episodes 2015–2019 Danger Mouse Dr. Loo-cifer, Isambard King Kong Brunel Recurring role 2015 Asylum Rafael & Creator 3 episodes SunTrap Woody 6 episodes Top Coppers Gerard Cliché 1 episode 2016 Counterfeit Cat Betty, Throckmorton, various characters 2017 Quacks Kapoor Episode: "The Mesmerist" Britain Today, Tonight Various characters 2019–2024 What We Do in the Shadows Nandor the Relentless Main cast 2019 A Christmas Carol Ali Baba Miniseries 2020 Robot Chicken Albus Dumbledore, Native American (voice) Episode: "Max Caenen in: Why Would He Know If His Mother's A Size Queen" 2020–2023 Archer Rex, Fabian Kingsworth (voice) 13 episodes 2021 Mickey Mouse Funhouse Trolland the Troll (voice) 2 episodes 2022 Toast of Tinseltown Des Wigwam Episode: "Anger Man" 2025 StuGo Thurstavius "Thurst" Brinkman Throop (voice) Episode: "Unquenchable Thurst" Krapopolis Man O'Horse (voice) Episode: "Love Week"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2005 Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Lord Victor Quartermaine Kameo Additional voices Perfect Dark Zero Additional voice talent 2008 Haze Additional voice talent