B. J. Novak
A sharp-witted writer and performer who moved from the writers' room to the screen, defining the voice of a generation's workplace comedy.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American actor·Birthday: July 31·Generation X
Biography
B.J. Novak emerged from the Harvard comedy scene not as a stand-up chasing laughs, but as a writer with a surgeon's eye for social nuance. His big break was landing a job on the fledgling American version of 'The Office', where he served as both writer and actor, playing the smug temp Ryan Howard. Novak's pen was instrumental in shaping the show's uniquely painful and hilarious tone, capturing the soul-crushing minutiae of corporate life with a startling authenticity. He proved his creative range wasn't confined to Dunder Mifflin, authoring the bestselling short story collection 'One More Thing', which showcased his talent for blending philosophy with punchlines. Whether acting in films like 'Saving Mr. Banks', creating the anthology series 'The Premise', or telling stories for children, his work is united by a clever, inquisitive mind dissecting modern absurdities.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
B. was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When B. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
B.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a writer, executive producer, and actor (Ryan Howard) on the American version of 'The Office' for its entire run.
- Published the bestselling short story collection 'One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories' in 2014.
- Created, wrote, and hosted the NBC philosophical comedy anthology series 'The Premise'.
- Co-wrote the film 'The Smurfs 2' and acted in major films including 'Inglourious Basterds' and 'Saving Mr. Banks'.
Did You Know?
He and fellow 'Office' writer/actor Mindy Kaling were college friends at Harvard.
He is a descendant of physicist Robert Oppenheimer, known as the 'father of the atomic bomb'.
He wrote a popular children's book, 'The Book With No Pictures', which relies entirely on the reader's performance.
He performed stand-up comedy and was briefly a contestant coordinator for 'The Late Show with Conan O'Brien'.
“There's no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.”
