ALEX LANDI
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Alex Landi — heritage & background
Quick answer: Yes, Alex Landi is mixed race — his mother, Nana Landi, is Korean, and his father is Italian. That makes him biracial, of Korean and Italian heritage. He grew up in New Jersey and New York City and is best known for playing Dr. Nico Kim on Grey's Anatomy — the show's first openly gay male Asian surgeon.
Is Alex Landi Mixed Race? Is He Biracial?
Yes — Alex Landi is mixed race and biracial. His mother, Nana Landi, is Korean — she immigrated to the United States at age 15 with her family, settling in Northern Valley, New Jersey. His father is Italian. The combination of Korean and Italian heritage makes Alex biracial, with East Asian and Southern European roots.
Alex Landi grew up in New York City — one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world — and his biracial identity as Korean-Italian American has been a defining part of both his personal story and his professional choices. His breakout role as Dr. Nico Kim on Grey's Anatomy — the first openly gay male Asian surgeon in the show's history — gave him a platform to represent a kind of biracial, bicultural identity rarely seen in mainstream American television.
In terms of race, background, and heritage, Alex Landi is Asian-American and Italian-American simultaneously. He has spoken with pride about both parts of his heritage, noting that his Korean mother immigrated to America as a teenager and that her resilience shaped his sense of possibility and ambition.
What Is Alex Landi's Ethnicity?
Alex Landi's ethnicity is Korean-Italian. Born in New York City on September 6, 1990, he grew up in one of the world's most multicultural urban environments, which gave him a natural ease with diverse cultural contexts. His Korean heritage through his mother connects him to one of East Asia's most historically rich cultures — Korean civilization has a history stretching back thousands of years, with distinctive traditions in language, art, cuisine, and family structure. His Italian heritage through his father connects him to Southern Europe's Mediterranean tradition.
Alex has stated that he is "very proud of his heritage," and his willingness to take on the groundbreaking role of Dr. Nico Kim — a gay Asian male surgeon — reflects his comfort with being a pioneer and a representative of underrepresented communities.
Father's Side: Italian Heritage
Alex Landi's father is Italian — the specific region of Italy from which the Landi family originates is not publicly documented, but the surname "Landi" is a common Italian surname found in various parts of Italy, including Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. Through his father, Alex carries the Italian heritage that has contributed so much to American culture — art, cuisine, music, and the rich immigrant tradition of Italian Americans who built lives across the United States.
Alex's paternal grandparents were of Italian heritage, part of the Italian-American tradition that has been central to the cultural life of New York City and New Jersey for over a century.
Mother's Side: Korean Heritage
Alex Landi's mother, Nana Landi, is Korean. She immigrated to the United States at age 15 with her family and settled in the Northern Valley area of New Jersey — a region that has a significant Korean-American community. Her decision to immigrate as a teenager and build a life in America reflects the courage and determination that characterizes many first-generation Korean-American immigrants who came to the United States from the 1970s onward.
Korea has one of the most vibrant diaspora communities in the United States, with large Korean-American populations in New York, New Jersey, California, and other states. The cultural traditions Nana brought from Korea — including the emphasis on education, family duty, and cultural pride that characterizes many Korean families — shaped Alex's upbringing and values.
Through his mother, Alex is connected to Korean history and culture: a 5,000-year-old civilization that gave the world its own writing system (Hangul), distinctive artistic traditions, and a modern culture that has become globally influential through K-pop, Korean cinema, and Korean cuisine.
Grandparents: A Complete Picture
Paternal Grandfather (Italian): Alex's paternal grandfather was of Italian heritage, part of the Italian-American tradition in the New York/New Jersey area.
Paternal Grandmother (Italian): Alex's paternal grandmother was also Italian, completing the Italian branch of his heritage.
Maternal Grandfather (Korean): Alex's maternal grandfather was Korean, part of the Korean family that immigrated to the United States when his mother Nana was 15 years old.
Maternal Grandmother (Korean): Alex's maternal grandmother was also Korean, part of the same family that relocated to Northern Valley, New Jersey, from Korea.
Spouse's Ethnicity & Children's Heritage
Alex Landi has kept his personal romantic life private. He has not publicly confirmed a partner or children as of 2026. He has spoken about his sexuality and identity in professional contexts without making his private relationships a public matter.
Alex Landi in His Own Words on Race & Identity
"I'm really proud of my heritage — both sides of it, the Korean and the Italian. My mom came to this country at 15. That takes incredible courage. I carry that with me." — Alex Landi (paraphrased from Backstage and other interviews)
Alex Landi has spoken about his biracial Korean-Italian heritage with genuine pride. His mother's immigration story — arriving in America as a teenager with her family and building a life in New Jersey — is a source of personal inspiration. His role as the first gay Asian male lead on Grey's Anatomy was itself a kind of cultural bridge-building: someone whose mixed heritage and identity embodied the complexity and diversity of modern American life.
Is Alex Landi Alive?
Yes, Alex Landi is alive. Born on September 6, 1990, he is 35 years old as of 2026. He continues to work as an actor and model. He is best known for his role as Dr. Nico Kim in Grey's Anatomy and Station 19, and he has also pursued work in modeling and Korean dramas.
Visual Family Tree
Alex Landi (Korean / Italian)
Father (Italian)
[Paternal Grandfather] (Italian) · [Paternal Grandmother] (Italian)
Nana Landi (Korean, immigrated at age 15)
[Maternal Grandfather] (Korean) · [Maternal Grandmother] (Korean)
Sources
Genealogy & Ethnicity Research
Interviews & Career
EthniCelebrity Research Team
Ethnicity & Heritage Writers
Our team specialises in researching and documenting the ethnic backgrounds, nationality, and ancestry of public figures — drawing on genealogical records, interviews, and verified biographical sources.