B. J. Novak

Benjamin Joseph Manaly, also known as B. J. Novak, was born in Newton, Massachusetts on July 31, 1979. He graduated from Harvard University with degrees in English and Spanish literature in 2001. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and began working in clubs as a comedian. Executive producer show more Greg Daniels heard Novak's comedy club act and signed him as the character Ryan Howard in the U.S version of the British television show The Office. He stayed with the show for eight seasons and became a co-executive producer in the seventh season. He also appeared in the movies Inglourious Basterds and Saving Mr. Banks. He is the author of One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories and The Book with No Pictures. (Bowker Author Biography) show less