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B. J. Novak

B. J. Novak
B.J. Novak, Actor.jpg
Novak at SF Sketch Fest 2008
Born Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak
(1979-07-31) July 31, 1979 (age 37)
Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater Harvard University
Occupation Actor, comedian, screenwriter, author, director, producer
Years active 2001–present
External video
Joey Fatone interviews Novak at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008)

Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak (born July 31, 1979), credited professionally as B. J. Novak, is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, author, and director. He is most widely known for being a writer and executive producer of The Office, in which he also played Ryan Howard.

Novak was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, the son of Linda (née Manaly) and author William Novak. Novak's family is Jewish. His father co-edited The Big Book of Jewish Humor, and has ghostwritten memoirs for Nancy Reagan, Lee Iacocca, Magic Johnson, and others; his parents also established a Jewish matchmaking service. Novak has two younger brothers, Jesse, a composer, and Lev. He attended Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston for elementary school and middle school.

He attended Newton South High School with future Office costar John Krasinski, and they graduated in 1997. Novak graduated from Harvard University, where he was a member of the Harvard Lampoon and the Hasty Pudding Club. He majored in English and Spanish literature, and wrote his honors thesis on the films of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Aside from the Lampoon, he occasionally staged and performed in a variety show called The B.J. Show with fellow Harvard student B. J. Averell.

Novak graduated from Harvard University in 2001. Afterward he moved to Los Angeles, California and began working in clubs as a comedian. His first live stand-up performance took place at the Hollywood Youth Hostel on October 10, 2001. He was named one of Variety's "Ten Comedians To Watch" in 2003.


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