Actor

B.J. Novak

July 31, 1979 · Newton, Massachusetts, USA

Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak (born July 31, 1979) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, author, and producer. He gained traction as a comedian during the early 2000s before becoming a field agent for the MTV reality prank show Punk'd (2003). Novak had his breakout with a leading role as Ryan Howard on seasons 1–8 of the NBC mockumentary sitcom The Office (2005–2013). His acting, writing and producing for the show earned him two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Writers Guild of America Award, alongside five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. In the late 2000s, Novak had supporting roles in the films Reign Over Me (2007) and Inglourious Basterds (2009). In the 2010s, he portrayed musician Robert B. Sherman in Saving Mr.

Notable work

8.2
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
as PFC. Smithson Utivich
6.6
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
as Allistar Smythe
6.2
The Dictator (2012)
as (uncredited)
7.2
The Founder (2016)
as Harry J. Sonneborn
8.6
The Office (2005)
as Ryan Howard and Writer and Director
6.2
The Internship (2013)
as Male Interviewer
6.3
Knocked Up (2007)
as Young Doctor
5.8
The Smurfs (2011)
as Baker Smurf (voice)
7.3
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
as Robert Sherman
5.8
The Smurfs 2 (2013)
as Baker Smurf (voice)
8
Community (2009)
as Mr. Egypt
7.1
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)
as Jay

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