B.J. Novak Biography: Wife, Age, Movies, Net Worth, Height, Parents, The Office, Books

B.J. Novak is an American actor, writer, comedian, director, and producer, best known for his role as Ryan Howard on the NBC sitcom The Office, where he also served as a writer, director, and executive producer.

His multifaceted career spans television, film, stand-up comedy, and authorship, with notable works including the New York Times bestselling book The Book with No Pictures.

Profile

• Full Name: Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak
• Stage Name: B.J. Novak
• Born: July 31, 1979
• Age: 45 years old
• Birthplace: Newton, Massachusetts, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American Actor, Writer, Comedian, Director, Producer, Author
• Height: 5 feet 8
• Parents: Linda Manaly (mother), and William Novak (father, author)
• Siblings: Jesse Novak (younger brother, composer), and Lev Novak (younger brother)
• Spouse: Not Married
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $10 million to $12 million.

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak was born on July 31, 1979, in Newton, Massachusetts, to Linda Manaly and William Novak, a well-known author and ghostwriter for figures like Nancy Reagan and Magic Johnson.

Raised in a Jewish household with two younger brothers, Jesse (a composer for The Mindy Project) and Lev, Novak grew up in a creative environment. He attended Newton South High School, where he co-edited the school newspaper with future The Office co-star John Krasinski and performed in school plays.

His early comedic influences included Saturday Night Live and stand-up comedy, which he began performing at age 16. After graduating from high school in 1997, Novak enrolled at Harvard University, majoring in English and Spanish literature.

He joined the Harvard Lampoon, the university’s humor magazine, and wrote his senior thesis on the films of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He graduated in 2001 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue comedy and writing, performing stand-up at venues like the Hollywood Improv.

Career

Novak’s career began with stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, leading to a writing job on the sitcom Raising Dad (2001–2002). His big break came in 2005 when he was cast as Ryan Howard, the ambitious temp, in The Office (2005–2013), appearing in 147 episodes.

He also wrote 15 episodes, including fan-favorites like “Diversity Day” and “Local Ad,” directed five episodes, and served as a co-executive producer by season five. His work on The Office earned him multiple Emmy nominations.

Novak appeared in films like Unaccompanied Minors (2006), Knocked Up (2007), Reign Over Me (2007), Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Smurfs (2011), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), and The Founder (2016).

He created, wrote, and starred in The Mindy Project (2012–2017) as Ryan Howard’s love interest, Jamie, and directed episodes. In 2020, he created and directed the anthology series The Premise, addressing social issues through comedy.

Novak wrote and directed Vengeance (2022), a mystery-comedy film in which he starred as Ben Manalowitz, earning praise for its sharp writing. As an author, he published The Book with No Pictures (2014), a New York Times bestseller, followed by One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories (2014) and The Alphabet Book with No Pictures (2024).

He has performed stand-up on Comedy Central specials and guest-starred on shows like The Newsroom (2014) and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2017). Novak also co-founded ChainFest, a gourmet fast-food festival, and serves on the board of the Writers Guild Foundation.

Awards and Nominations

• Primetime Emmy Awards: • Nominated five times (2006–2010) for Outstanding Comedy Series for The Office (as writer/producer).
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: • 2007: Won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Office. • 2008: Won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for The Office. • Nominated five additional times (2009–2013) for The Office ensemble.
• Writers Guild of America Awards: • 2006: Won for The Office (Comedy Series and New Series). • Nominated for episodes like “Diversity Day” (2006) and “Local Ad” (2008).
• Gold Derby Award: • 2007: Won Ensemble of the Year for The Office.
• TV Land Awards: • 2008: Won Future Classic Award for The Office. Note: Awards reflect both individual contributions and The Office’s ensemble achievements.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @picturesoftext
• Twitter Handle: @bjnovak
• Facebook Handle: B.J. Novak

Personal Life

B.J. Novak, resides in Los Angeles, California, and is single. He dated The Office co-star Mindy Kaling on-and-off from 2004 to 2007, remaining close friends and collaborators, with Kaling naming him godfather to her two children.

Novak has never been married and has no children. Of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, he maintains a low-key personal life, focusing on his career and creative projects. He enjoys stand-up comedy, reading, and supporting literacy through his children’s books.

Novak is an advocate for arts education, serving on the Writers Guild Foundation board and participating in events like The Moth storytelling series. He is a fan of the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, reflecting his Massachusetts roots.

Fans on X praise his witty humor in Vengeance and The Office, with some speculating about a potential reunion with Kaling, though no evidence supports this. No major controversies are associated with him, though the Uncle Stan Kickstarter by The Office co-star Leslie David Baker sparked minor fan discussion.

Filmography

• Unaccompanied Minors (2006) – Desk Attendant
• Knocked Up (2007) – Young Doctor
• Reign Over Me (2007) – Mr. Fallon
• Inglourious Basterds (2009) – PFC Smithson Utivich
• The Smurfs (2011) – Baker Smurf (voice)
• The Internship (2013) – Male Interviewer
• Saving Mr. Banks (2013) – Robert Sherman
• The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) – Alistair Smythe
• The Founder (2016) – Harry Sonneborn
• Vengeance (2022) – Ben Manalowitz (also writer, director)
• TV (Selected): • Raising Dad (2001–2002) – Writer • The Office (2005–2013) – Ryan Howard (actor), writer (15 episodes), director, co-executive producer • The Mindy Project (2012–2017) – Jamie (guest role), writer, director • The Newsroom (2014) – Lucas Pruit • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2017) – Guest role • The Premise (2020) – Creator, writer, director, actor

Net Worth

B.J. Novak’s net worth is estimated at $10 million to $12 million. His wealth comes from his multifaceted roles in The Office (acting, writing, producing, directing, reportedly $50,000–$100,000 per episode as a producer), film roles, and royalties from The Mindy Project and The Premise.