B.J. Novak

B.J. Novak is an actor, comedian, and writer who got his first big break as a "Field Agent" in MTV's popular prank show Punk'd where he took a lead role in tricking celebrities.

Novak plays Dunder Mifflin employee Ryan Howard, on NBC's award-winning comedy The Office. Novak has also performed stand up on the shows Premium Blend and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. In a November 2008 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Novak said that he will be taking a leave of absence from the cast to film the Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Basterds.¹ There was no reference to his return date.

Fast Facts

1. Birth name: Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak
2. Birth date: July 31, 1979
3. Birth place: Newton, Massachusetts
4. Notable Role: "Ryan Howard" on The Office
5. Attended high school with co-star John Krasinski
6. Education: Harvard University
7. Appeared as a doctor in Knocked Up
8. Also writer and supervising producer on The Office

Quotes

"Total coincidence. I mean, whenever I really stop and think about it, it's just so crazy I stop thinking. But no, we were friends for, I don't even know how long. And our first collaboration was actually eerily similar to this: our senior year in high school, I wrote, with a few other people, the senior class show, and cast John in the lead, and so John was the star of our show, and I was the writer who had a small comic part. And now eight years later,nine years later, and it's the exact same thing." -B.J. Novak on working with former high school friend John Krasinski²

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