BJ Novak could best be known for his acting but has repeatedly proven to be a man of diverse talents. He started out as a standup comedian before delving into acting and over the years, he has equally explored the behind-the-scenes aspect of the business as a writer, producer, and director.
Novak is well known for his work on the US television sitcom The Office in which he had a starring role as Ryan Howard and also served as an executive producer, writer, and occasional director. His brilliant work during the 9-season run of The Office earned him much critical acclaim including two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
BJ Novak – Bio
Professionally, he is known as BJ Novak, an abridged version of his birth name Benjamin Joseph Novak and he was born on July 31, 1979, in Newton, Massachusetts. His mother is Linda (née Manaly) and his father William Novak is a renowned writer. He is a Jew and was raised alongside 2 younger siblings; brothers Jesse and Lev. He had his early education at Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston and later schooled at Newton South High School.
After graduating from high school in 1997, Novak proceeded to Harvard University for his college education. He bagged a degree in English and Spanish literature and he also belonged to the Hasty Pudding social club as well as the Harvard Lampoon, the school’s undergraduate students’ publication.
BJ Novak relocated to Los Angeles, California, after graduating from Harvard in 2001 and there, he swiftly launched his career as a standup comedian and got to perform on some of the top comedy shows on television at that time. Novak also delved into the world of television writing as he was hired to write 2 episodes of the short-lived sitcom Raising Dad (2001–02).
The multitalented star marked his acting debut on season 2 of the MTV reality comedy series Punk’d (2003), starring alongside Ashton Kutcher and Usher. Soon afterward, he landed a spot on the main cast of the sitcom The Office (2005-13), starring Ryan Howard. In addition to his starring role on The Office, Novak equally wrote several episodes, served as an executive producer, starting from season 7, and also had occasional directorial duties.
Undoubtedly, BJ Novak had a breakout performance on The Office as his multiple duties on the show helped showcase the numerous talents which he possesses. He has since garnered other notable credits both on the small and big screens. He has appeared in comedy films like Knocked Up (2007), Reign Over Me (2007), and Inglourious Basterds (2009). Novak also had voice roles in the animated comedy film The Smurfs (2011), its sequel The Smurfs 2 (2013), and featured in the biographical films Saving Mr. Banks (2013) and The Founder (2016).
Net Worth
BJ Novak has had a pretty busy time in his long-running career in film and television as his numerous talents have effectively kept him relevant over the years. He has several notable television credits to his name and has also had roles in a number of blockbuster movies. With a thriving showbiz career and other profitable ventures, Novak has amassed an impressive net worth of $8 million.
Wife or Girlfriend
BJ Novak does not have a wife as he is yet to be married. This fact may change sometime in the future but until that happens, he remains in the league of Hollywood’s eligible bachelors.
Though unmarried, Novak is known to have a very close relationship with actress, comedian, and writer Mindy Kaling. The duo got together in 2004 while working on The Office. In addition to playing the recurring role of Kelly Kapoor, Mindy Kaling also served as an executive producer, writer, and director on the sitcom, just like Novak.
Novak and Kaling dated on-and-off throughout the duration of the show but it is widely believed that their relationship has indeed come to an end even though they remained best friends. In 2016, BJ Novak was linked to being romantically involved with Instagram model Ceilidh Garten. However, the fate of that relationship remains uncertain.
Other Interesting Facts About BJ Novak
BJ Novak received much critical acclaim for his work on The Office, including 3 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and 3 Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. The Office received the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Novak and his former costar on The Office John Krasinski were both schoolmates when they were much younger as they both studied at Newton South High School in Newton Massachusetts.
Undoubtedly a man of diverse talents, BJ Novak has also explored the world of technology startups. In October 2015, he co-founded ‘The List App’, a list-making mobile application, in collaboration with Devin Flaherty. The startup company equally launched a social media application ‘Kiyo’ in January 2018.
