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.Entertainment Weekly: BJ Novak Leaving The Office (November 13, 2008) There was no reference to his return date.

"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 KrasinskiTV.com: B.J. Novak Trivia

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• July 31, 1979: Born

• 2003: Punk'd

• 2005 - Present: The Office

• 2007: Wins WGA Comedy Series Award for The Office

• Amazon.com: B.J. Novak DVDs and Merchandise

• eBay.com: B.J. Novak DVDs and Merchandise

• CafePress: The Office Merchandise

• Entertainment Actors Film Actors Television Actors Film Directors and Producers Screenwriters and Playwrights