DEV PATEL BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, MOVIES & FACTS

Dev Patel is a British actor and filmmaker of Gujarati Indian descent who has built one of the most distinctive careers of his generation. Born in London on 23 April 1990, he moved from a breakout television role to the global stage with Slumdog Millionaire (2008), earned a BAFTA for Lion (2016), and stepped behind the camera for his directorial debut Monkey Man (2024).

Patel began acting as a teenager, landing the role of Anwar Kharral in the E4 teen drama Skins in 2007. A year later, Danny Boyle cast him as Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire, a performance that carried the film to eight Academy Awards and earned Patel a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. He has since balanced intimate dramas with large-scale productions, and in 2024 he co-wrote, directed and starred in the action thriller Monkey Man, produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw and released by Universal Pictures.

Dev Patel — Quick Facts

Full Name: Dev Patel

Born: 23 April 1990

Age: 36 (as of 2026)

Birthplace: Harrow, London, England

Nationality: British

Occupation: Actor, filmmaker

Partner: Tilda Cobham-Hervey (2017–present)

Career Highlights

Patel's professional career began in 2007 when he was cast as Anwar Kharral in the E4 teen drama Skins. His life changed the following year when Danny Boyle chose him to play Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire (2008). The film won eight Academy Awards, and Patel's soulful lead performance earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor.

He followed the breakthrough with the ensemble comedies The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), and played a young programmer in Neill Blomkamp's Chappie (2015). His portrayal of Saroo Brierley in Lion (2016) won him the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor along with an Academy Award nomination in the same category.

Later starring roles included Hotel Mumbai (2018), the title role in The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019), and the medieval epic The Green Knight (2021). In 2024, Patel made his directorial debut with Monkey Man, which he co-wrote, directed and starred in; the action thriller was produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw and released by Universal Pictures on 5 April 2024.

Awards & Recognition

Patel won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lion (2016) and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the same role. He had earlier been nominated for the BAFTA for Best Actor for Slumdog Millionaire. In 2024, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.

Watch the Official Trailer

Watch the official Universal Pictures trailer for Monkey Man (2024) below:

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Dev Patel?

Dev Patel was born on 23 April 1990 in Harrow, London, which makes him 36 years old in 2026.

What is Dev Patel's most famous movie?

His most famous movie is Slumdog Millionaire (2008), in which he played Jamal Malik; the film won eight Academy Awards and made him a global star. He is also widely acclaimed for Lion (2016).

Did Dev Patel win an Oscar?

No. Patel was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Lion (2016), but he did not win the Oscar. He did win the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for the same performance.

What is Monkey Man about?

Monkey Man (2024) is an action thriller that marks Patel's directorial debut. He co-wrote, directed and stars in the film as a young man who takes revenge on the corrupt leaders who wronged him. It was produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw and released by Universal Pictures.

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