Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, author, and producer. He gained early recognition as a comedian in the early 2000s and appeared on the MTV reality prank show Punk'd (2003). Novak achieved his breakout role as Ryan Howard on seasons 1–8 of the NBC mockumentary sitcom The Office (2005–2013). For his contributions as an actor, writer, and producer on the show, he received two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Writers Guild of America Award.