B.J. Novak is a writer, actor, and comedian best known for his work on NBC's Emmy Award winning comedy The Office. In addition to starring as Ryan, Novak is a Co-Executive Producer for the series and has written many of the show's most memorable episodes. First known to television audiences for his performances on the MTV series Punk'd, Novak has appeared in motion pictures such as Reign Over Me and Knocked Up and was most recently seen in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. As a stand up comedian, Novak was named one of Variety's "Ten Comics To Watch" in 2004 and has since performed on Comedy Central, Late Night with Conan O' Brien, and has headlined numerous colleges, theaters, and comedy clubs in recent years including sold-out runs at Caroline’s on Broadway and the Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles. He is also a regular at the Comedy Death Ray stand up show at the UCB Theater in Los Angeles. In November 2008, his show "B.J. Novak & Friends" at Town Hall served as the closing night of the New York Comedy Festival.