Fabien Joseph Frankel, born on April 6, 1994, in London, England, is a British actor of English, French, and Iraqi Jewish descent.
Best known for portraying Ser Criston Cole in HBO’s fantasy drama series House of the Dragon (2022–present), a prequel to Game of Thrones, Frankel has quickly risen to prominence in the entertainment industry.
Born at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to English actor Mark Frankel and Italian-French advertising executive Caroline Besson, Fabien’s diverse heritage includes Jewish roots from his paternal grandmother’s Iraqi and Indian ancestry and his paternal grandfather’s Russian and Polish Jewish lineage.
Tragically, his father passed away in a road accident when Fabien was just two years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his younger brother in London.
His formal training includes a year-long foundation course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), graduating in 2017.
Siblings
Fabien has one sibling, a younger brother named Max Frankel, born in April 1997, making him approximately three years younger than Fabien.
Max was born shortly after their father’s untimely death in 1996, when their mother, Caroline Besson, was pregnant.
Raised together in London by their mother, the brothers share a close bond, nurtured in a bilingual household where they spoke both English and French.
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Career
Frankel’s acting career began on the stage, with his professional debut in 2017 as Chris in The Knowledge at London’s Charing Cross Theatre, directed by Maureen Lipman.
His transition to screen acting came in 2019 with a role in the romantic comedy Last Christmas, where he starred alongside Game of Thrones alum Emilia Clarke, marking his first film appearance.
That same year, he took on the lead role of Theo Sipowicz in a pilot for a potential NYPD Blue spin-off series on ABC, showcasing his ability to carry complex characters.
In 2021, Frankel gained wider recognition for his portrayal of Dominique Renelleau in the BBC One and Netflix true crime drama The Serpent, appearing in four episodes and earning praise for his depiction of a layered character.
His breakout role came in 2022 as Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon, where he plays a knight from the Dornish Marches, a character pivotal to the series’ exploration of the Targaryen dynasty.
This role, set in the Game of Thrones universe and based on George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, has cemented Frankel’s status as a standout talent, with his performance earning critical acclaim for its depth and intensity.
Beyond House of the Dragon, Frankel has appeared in the independent romance film Venice at Dawn opposite Greta Bellamacina and featured in the TV series An Uncandid Portrait.
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