Kunal Nayyar is a British-Indian actor born in Hammersmith, London, on April 30, 1981. His family moved to India when he was three, and he grew up in New Delhi. At 18, he relocated to the United States to attend the University of Portland, earning a business degree in 2003 while discovering a passion for acting through classes and college productions.
Nayyar strengthened his craft at Temple University, where he completed an MFA in acting in 2006. His early stage work included Huck and Holden in Los Angeles and Love’s Labour’s Lost with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His career changed dramatically in 2007 when he was cast as astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory. He remained a beloved member of the ensemble throughout the sitcom’s 12-season run, which concluded in 2019.
Beyond Raj, Nayyar has displayed his versatility across theater, television, film, and animation. His credits include The Spoils, NCIS, Sanjay and Craig, Ice Age: Continental Drift, Trolls, and Cars 3. He published the autobiographical book Yes, My Accent Is Real in 2015. His dramatic performance in Criminal: UK later earned him a Supporting Actor nomination at the 2021 BAFTA Television Awards, highlighting an impressive range that continues to delight longtime fans.