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Naveen Andrews Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 12, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth17 January 1969

Age54 Years

BirthplaceLambeth, London

ProfessionActor

NationalityAmerican and Britisher

FamilyTwo sons: Jaisal (born 1992) and Joshua (born 2005)

Naveen Andrews Biography

British-American actor Naveen Andrews is best known for his Emmy-winning turn as Sayid Jarrah on Lost. Trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he’s

Early life and background

Naveen William Sidney Andrews was born on 17 January 1969 in Lambeth, London. He grew up in a family of Indian heritage; his parents, Stanley Andrews and Nirmala, were immigrants from Kerala. Andrews attended primary and secondary schools in London and later trained in acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Career

Andrews began working in film and television in the early 1990s. His screen debut came in the 1991 film London Kills Me, followed by a television appearance in The Buddha of Suburbia in 1993. Over the next decades he built a diverse body of work in both film and television, with notable movie credits including The English Patient, Bride and Prejudice, Mighty Joe Young, Planet Terror, and the biographical drama Diana. He has also voiced a character in the video game Far Cry 4.

His most prominent television role was Sayid Jarrah on the ABC drama Lost, a performance that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2005. His work on Lost also brought a Golden Globe nomination and recognition from ensemble awards. After Lost concluded in 2010, Andrews continued to appear on television in series such as Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Sense8, Instinct, and in 2022 he portrayed Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani in the limited series The Dropout, a role that led to a Hollywood Critics Association nomination.

Public profile

Andrews has been open about difficult periods in his personal life. In his twenties he struggled with alcohol and drug use; he credits moving to the United States and encountering sober role models with helping him stop. He has described Los Angeles as the place he considers home. He has also spoken about parenting and about breaking cycles he experienced in his own upbringing, saying that being a good parent is an important achievement for him.

Personal life

Andrews holds both British and American nationality, having become a U.S. citizen in 2010. He is Methodist by religion. He has two sons: Jaisal, born in 1992, and Joshua, born in 2005. Andrews won full custody of his younger son after a custody dispute. Earlier relationships in his life include a long association with Geraldine Feakins during his late teens and early twenties, and a later partnership with actress Barbara Hershey.

Style and interests

Andrews is approximately 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall and around 75 kg (165 lbs). He has brown eyes and black hair. Hobbies listed for him include playing guitar, singing, and tap dancing. He is a fan of Chelsea Football Club and is regularly seen attending matches.

Latest updates

In recent years Andrews has remained active on screen, with roles spanning genre television and streaming productions. His portrayal in the 2022 mini-series The Dropout brought a critics’ nomination and continues his pattern of taking varied supporting and ensemble parts across film and television.
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Recent Work

The Dropout

Portrayed Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani in the 2022 American biographical drama limited series

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2005) for Lost
  2. Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Television (2006) for Lost
  3. Appeared in films including The English Patient, Bride and Prejudice, Mighty Joe Young, Planet Terror, and Diana
  4. Television roles include The Buddha of Suburbia, Lost, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Sense8, and Instinct
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Naveen Andrews born?

17 January 1969

What is Naveen Andrews known for?

Actor