Avan Jogia

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Avan Tudor Jogia was born on February 9, 1992, in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Wendy and Mike Jogia. His father is of British-Indian heritage, while his mother is of English, German, and Welsh descent. He has an older brother, Ketan, who works as a music producer in London. Jogia attended Killarney Secondary School but left at age 17, during his tenth grade year, to pursue acting full time after having already secured several small television credits. His parents supported his ambition on the condition that he would move to Los Angeles on a trial basis and land a professional role within six months, or else return to his education. Jogia has cited British actors Tim Curry and Sir Ben Kingsley as early and enduring inspirations for his own career in performance. He is a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom and speaks some Gujarati and French in addition to English.

Jogia's professional acting debut came in 2006 with a role in the Lifetime television film A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story, where he portrayed Danny Araujo, the younger brother of the film's subject. This was followed by a recurring role as Sam on the CW sitcom Aliens in America in 2007 and an appearance in the Canadian television movie Devil's Diary. His early work established a pattern of diverse roles, moving from dramatic biographical stories to comedy and horror. In 2008, he appeared in the Nickelodeon original movie Gym Teacher: The Movie opposite Christopher Meloni, and the following year he starred as Tajid in another Nickelodeon film, Spectacular!, alongside Victoria Justice.

Breakthrough with Victorious and Early Film Work

Jogia's career accelerated significantly with two major television roles in quick succession. From 2009 to 2010, he had a recurring role as Ben Stark on the Syfy series Caprica, a prequel to Battlestar Galactica. His true breakthrough, however, came later in 2009 when he was cast in the Nickelodeon series Victorious. Premiering in March 2010, the show starred Victoria Justice, Ariana Grande, and Elizabeth Gillies, with Jogia playing the central role of Beck Oliver, the laid-back and artistic boyfriend of Jade West, played by Gillies. The series ran for four seasons, concluding in 2013, and cemented Jogia's status as a teen idol. During this period, he also appeared in the crossover television film iParty with Victorious and contributed background vocals to several songs on the show's soundtrack.

Concurrently with his work on Victorious, Jogia pursued roles in independent film and made his directorial debut. In 2010, he starred in the lead role of Santos Delgado in the gang-crime drama Finding Hope Now and appeared in the film Triple Dog. The following year, in 2011, he wrote, directed, and starred in his first short film, Alex, which was a significant step in expanding his creative control. He also appeared in the 2012 Nickelodeon television movie Rags, a musical retelling of Cinderella, alongside Keke Palmer and Drake Bell, playing the role of Finn Covington. This period demonstrated his ability to balance a demanding television schedule with film projects that explored different genres and tones.

Leading Roles in Television: Twisted, Tut, and Genre Series

Following the conclusion of Victorious, Jogia transitioned to more mature, dramatic leading roles on television. In October 2012, he was cast as Danny Desai, the central character in the ABC Family mystery-thriller series Twisted. The show, which premiered in June 2013, focused on a teenager returning to his hometown after serving time for a childhood crime, exploring themes of suspicion and social commentary. Jogia received Teen Choice Award nominations in 2013 and 2014 for his performance, though the series was not renewed after its first season of 19 episodes. In 2014, Jogia took on one of his most ambitious roles, portraying the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Spike TV historical miniseries Tut. Filmed in Morocco and co-starring his inspiration Sir Ben Kingsley, the three-part event series aired in July 2015 and reunited him with his Twisted co-star Kylie Bunbury.

Jogia continued to explore genre television with leading roles in paranormal and science fiction series. He starred as Roman Mercer in the Syfy series Ghost Wars, a 13-episode paranormal action drama that premiered in 2017 and was filmed in his hometown of Vancouver. The series was cancelled in early 2018. In 2019, he took on the role of Ulysses Zane in the Starz comedy series Now Apocalypse, created by Gregg Araki. The show followed a group of friends pursuing love and fame in Los Angeles but was cancelled after a single season. More recently, in 2026, Jogia starred opposite Dove Cameron in the Prime Video romantic psychological thriller series 56 Days, playing the character Oliver Kennedy, which reflects his ongoing appeal in leading television roles across different platforms.

• 2013 to 2014: Stars as Danny Desai in ABC Family's Twisted.
• 2015: Plays the title role in the Spike TV historical miniseries Tut.
• 2017 to 2018: Leads the cast as Roman Mercer in Syfy's Ghost Wars.
• 2019: Portrays Ulysses Zane in the Starz series Now Apocalypse.
• 2026: Stars as Oliver Kennedy in the Prime Video series 56 Days.

Film Career and Directorial Projects

Jogia's filmography is marked by a deliberate choice of independent and studio projects that allow for character exploration. After his early direct-to-video and television movie work, he began appearing in notable independent films in the mid-2010s. In 2015, he starred in two Sundance Film Festival selections: Ten Thousand Saints, an adaptation of Eleanor Henderson's novel featuring Asa Butterfield and Ethan Hawke, and I Am Michael, where he played Nico opposite James Franco. He also appeared in the 1970s-set crime drama Shangri-La Suite in 2016. Jogia entered the mainstream studio film sphere with roles in the 2019 action comedy Shaft and a more prominent part as a laid-back musician in the hit sequel Zombieland: Double Tap.

His directorial ambitions have run parallel to his acting work. After his debut short Alex in 2011, he directed and appeared in the horror-thriller short Of Dogs and Men in 2015, which featured Sir Ben Kingsley. In 2016, he produced, directed, and starred in the four-part web series Last Teenagers of the Apocalypse. Jogia has spoken about writing a film at age 23 out of frustration with the roles available to him, a project he intends to direct, which highlights his desire to create the complex, energetic characters he grew up admiring. In 2021, he took on the role of Leon S. Kennedy in the film adaptation Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. In 2026, he appeared in the film Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons.

Writing, Music, and Advocacy

Beyond acting and directing, Jogia is an accomplished author and musician with a strong commitment to social advocacy. In 2019, he published his first book, Mixed Feelings, a collection of poems and short stories that explore his experiences and reflections on multiracial identity. He hand-painted all the illustrations for the book. A follow-up volume of poetry, Autopsy (of an Ex-Teen Heartthrob), was released on February 11, 2025. In the musical field, Jogia and his brother Ketan form the band Saint Ivory, which released an album also titled Mixed Feelings to complement the book. Jogia plays guitar, piano, and accordion, and provides vocals for the group.

In 2011, Jogia co-founded the non-profit online organization Straight But Not Narrow alongside Heather Wilk and Andre Pochon, with support from actor Josh Hutcherson. The organization's mission is to educate and shape the attitudes of heterosexual youth and adults regarding the LGBTQ+ community. Jogia has stated that the initiative aimed to address the apathy of bystanders, believing that inaction in the face of bullying is as harmful as the oppression itself. This work highlights a consistent thread in his public life, using his platform to advocate for greater understanding and inclusivity.

Personal Life and Public Identity

Jogia describes his spiritual outlook as eclectic, having spent time exploring Buddhism while also having roots in Hinduism, stating he is curious about various ways of being human. In terms of his personal identity, he has expressed discomfort with labeling his sexuality. In 2020, he publicly announced that he uses both "he/him" and "they/them" pronouns. His relationships have been part of his public record, having dated actress Zoey Deutch from 2012 to 2017 and actress Cleopatra Coleman from 2017 to 2021. Since 2023, he has been in a relationship with American singer Halsey, and in September 2024, Halsey announced their engagement.

Avan Jogia has reflected on his career trajectory, noting his transition from being part of the kids' television program machine on Victorious. He now consciously chooses his own path as an artist by selecting projects that resonate with him. With over two decades in the entertainment industry, he feels empowered to decide what he wants to make. He embraces his roles as a director and creator alongside his work as an actor.

Questions about Avan Jogia

What is Avan Jogia best known for?

Avan Jogia is best known for his role as Beck Oliver on the popular Nickelodeon series Victorious, which aired from 2010 to 2013. This role served as his major breakthrough and made him a recognizable figure to a young audience. He is also widely recognized for leading roles in television series such as Danny Desai in Twisted and the title role in the historical miniseries Tut. More recently, he starred in the 2026 Prime Video series 56 Days and played Leon S. Kennedy in the 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.

Is Avan Jogia Canadian?

Yes, Avan Jogia is Canadian. He was born on February 9, 1992, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended Killarney Secondary School in Vancouver before leaving to pursue acting. Jogia also holds British citizenship through his father, making him a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom. Much of his early career was built on roles in Canadian productions and Vancouver-based filming, including the Syfy series Ghost Wars.

What books has Avan Jogia written?

Avan Jogia has published two books. His first, Mixed Feelings, was released in 2019 and is a collection of poems and short stories exploring themes of multiracial identity, for which he also created the illustrations. His second book, a volume of poetry titled Autopsy (of an Ex-Teen Heartthrob), was published on February 11, 2025. Both works reflect his personal artistic expression and interest in exploring identity beyond his acting career.

What is Straight But Not Narrow?

Straight But Not Narrow is an online public service announcement organization co-founded by Avan Jogia in 2011. It was founded with Heather Wilk and Andre Pochon, with support from actor Josh Hutcherson. The non-profit organization aims to change the attitudes of heterosexual teenagers and adults about the LGBTQIA+ community. Jogia believed it was important to address bystander apathy towards bullying and oppression.

Does Avan Jogia have a band?

Yes, Avan Jogia has a band called Saint Ivory. He formed the band with his brother, music producer Ketan Jogia. The band released an album titled Mixed Feelings to complement Jogia's book of the same name. Jogia sings and plays guitar, piano, and accordion in the band.

Who is Avan Jogia engaged to?

Avan Jogia is engaged to American singer Halsey. He has been in a relationship with Halsey since 2023. The engagement was publicly announced by Halsey in September 2024. This follows previous long term relationships with actress Zoey Deutch from 2012 to 2017 and with Cleopatra Coleman from 2017 to 2021. Jogia has publicly stated he uses both he/him and they/them pronouns.

Sources and further reading

• Avan Jogia (Wikipedia)
• Avan Jogia Wants to Bring You Into His World (hollywoodreporter.com)
• Avan Jogia Movies and Shows (tv.apple.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.