You probably saw the face first and then the name. Or maybe you saw the memes. Back when Beau Is Afraid dropped, the internet was convinced Armen Nahapetian wasn't even a real person. People swore up and down that Ari Aster had just used some high-end CGI to mash Joaquin Phoenix’s face onto a kid’s body. It was a whole thing. But Nahapetian is very real, very talented, and honestly, has a much deeper resume than most people realize.
He isn't just "Young Beau."
If you're looking into Armen Nahapetian movies and tv shows, you'll find a kid who started out doing "creepy walks" for Lady Gaga and ended up becoming one of the most interesting young actors to watch in the 2020s. He’s got this specific energy—part anxious, part deeply observant—that directors seem to love.
The Breakout: Beau Is Afraid and the "AI" Controversy
Let’s get the big one out of the way. In 2023, Nahapetian played the teenage version of Beau Wassermann in Ari Aster’s surrealist epic Beau Is Afraid. He shared the role with Joaquin Phoenix.
The resemblance was so striking it actually caused a bit of a PR headache. Everyone thought he was an AI-generated deepfake. He had to go on a mini-press tour just to prove he had a pulse.
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Working with Aster isn't exactly "Acting 101." It’s intense. Nahapetian has talked about how he tapped into his own real-life anxieties—specifically being a bit of a germaphobe during the pandemic—to find the character. He wasn't just mimicking Phoenix; he was building the foundation of a broken man. That scene with the chocolate pudding? Pure, awkward teenage dread. It’s the kind of performance that sticks with you because it feels too uncomfortable to be fake.
Early TV Work: From The Orville to NCIS
Before he was navigating the nightmare landscapes of A24, Nahapetian was putting in the work on network television. He actually started quite young.
His first real gig was a commercial/promo for American Horror Story: Hotel. He played one of the "vampire" kids. He’s mentioned in interviews that he actually got the part because, unlike the other eight-year-olds in the room, he had actually watched Children of the Corn and knew how to do the "look." That tells you a lot about his vibe even as a kid.
Here is a quick look at where you might have spotted him on the small screen:
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- The Orville (2017): This was his official entry into the industry.
- Here and Now (2018): He played Eight-Year-Old Shokrani in this HBO series. This was a heavy show, dealing with a multi-racial family and a lot of psychological layers.
- NCIS (2020): In the episode "Schooled," he played a character named Allen. It was a standard procedural guest spot, but it showed he could handle the "normal" stuff too.
- AJ and the Queen (2020): He played Brick. This was a big departure for him—singing and dancing alongside RuPaul.
- Daybreak: Another Netflix credit where he got to flex his comedy muscles.
aTypical Wednesday and Independent Film
If you want to see him play something other than a nervous wreck, check out aTypical Wednesday (2020). He plays Jason, and by his own admission, the character is kind of a jerk.
It’s a complete 180 from the "Young Beau" persona.
He’s also appeared in The Last Silence (2018). These smaller indie projects are where he really refined that "observant" style of acting. He isn't an actor who chews the scenery. He’s very internal. He watches. He reacts. It’s a very "French New Wave" style of acting, which makes sense considering he’s a massive fan of that era of filmmaking.
What’s Next for Armen?
As of 2026, Nahapetian is branching out. He’s been very vocal about his Armenian heritage and his desire to avoid being typecast in the "Middle Eastern kid" tropes that he faced early in his career. He actually almost changed his name because agents told him it was "too Armenian." He didn't, obviously.
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He’s been working on a passion project lately: a skateboarding film.
He skates constantly—it’s basically his entire personality outside of acting. He’s been filming a project with his brother and friends, inspired by movies like Jonah Hill’s Mid90s. He’s also expressed a massive interest in working with Wes Anderson. Honestly, with his look and that specific, deadpan timing he showed in Beau, it’s a match made in heaven.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Casting Directors
If you're following his career, keep an eye on the indie circuit rather than just the big blockbusters. Nahapetian seems to gravitate toward "weird" scripts. He’s said he likes roles that let him make "interesting choices" rather than safe ones.
- Watch for his name in credits: He’s increasingly moving toward behind-the-camera work, specifically in the skate culture niche.
- The A24 Connection: Given his relationship with Ari Aster, don't be surprised if he pops up in another Square Peg production.
- Heritage-driven projects: He is passionate about raising awareness for the Armenian Genocide and has hinted at wanting to do more work that explores his roots.
If you've only seen him as a meme or a digital curiosity, go back and watch Here and Now or aTypical Wednesday. You'll see an actor who is surprisingly grounded for someone who spent his formative years being directed to look like a "child of the corn." He’s a real person, he’s got a real career, and he’s just getting started.