Ben Schwartz
| Ben Schwartz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
September 15, 1981 The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Medium | Film, television, internet |
| Website | RejectedJokes.com |
Ben Schwartz (born September 15, 1981)[1] is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for portraying Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on the sitcom Parks and Recreation. In 2012, he joined Showtime's comedy House of Lies as the ambitious, brash, and insecure management consultant Clyde Oberholt.
His feature film credits include Peep World,[2] Everybody's Fine, The Other Guys, The Walk and This Is Where I Leave You.
Career
On television, Schwartz guest-starred as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on NBC's Parks and Recreation[3] and is a lead in the Showtime show House of Lies with Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell and Josh Lawson. In 2010, Schwartz played series regular Bill Hoyt on J. J. Abrams' one-hour spy drama Undercovers for NBC.
Schwartz has been writing, directing and acting in his own short films for some time. He had his own segment on HBO’s Funny or Die Presents called Terrible Decisions with Ben Schwartz and has appeared in multiple CollegeHumor[4] sketches including the popular web series Jake and Amir. Schwartz has been nominated for two Emmys and won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special for coauthoring Hugh Jackman's opening number for the 81st Academy Awards.[5][6]
He was recently hired by Paramount Pictures to re-make the 1991 classic comedy Soapdish,[6] retitled El Fuego Caliente and reworking the original's American soap opera into a Latin telenovela,[7] with producers Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman, and he sold an original pitch to Universal Studios based on an idea by Brian Grazer with Imagine Entertainment attached to produce. He was a staff writer for the third season of Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken and served as a freelance writer for the Weekend Update segment of Saturday Night Live as well as the monologues for the Late Show with David Letterman.[3]
Schwartz is an alumnus of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCBT)[3] and continues to perform there regularly. He is a member of the improv group "Hot Sauce" with Adam Pally and Gil Ozeri, the group performs their long-form improv show "Something Fresh" at UCBT every month.
He and Bill Hader served as vocal consultants for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.[8]
Personal life
Schwartz grew up in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the Bronx in New York City.[9] In an interview with Kevin Pollak, he stated, "When I told people I was from the Bronx, it was like 'Oh, do you have bullet wounds?' And I'm like 'No, it's just me and, like, Jewish people.'"[9]
Schwartz went to Edgemont High School growing up. He was surrounded by many teachers who helped his career to advance, and whom he still keeps in contact with today.
Schwartz grew up in a family of social workers and Bronx school teachers,[9] including his mother, a music teacher.[10] He graduated from Union College in 2003 with a double major in psychology and anthropology.[11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | New York City Serenade | Russ | |
| 2009 | Mystery Team | Dougie's Buddy | |
| 2009 | I Hate Valentine's Day | Tammy's Date | |
| 2009 | Everybody's Fine | Writer | |
| 2010 | The Other Guys | Beaman's Assistant | |
| 2010 | Peep World | Nathan Meyerwitz | |
| 2013 | Turbo | Skidmark | Voice |
| 2013 | Coffee Town | Gino | |
| 2013 | Better Living Through Chemistry | Noah | |
| 2013 | Runner Runner | Craig | |
| 2014 | This Is Where I Leave You | Rabbi Charles "Boner" Grodner | |
| 2014 | Happy Christmas | Party Guest | |
| 2014 | The Interview | Eminem's Publicist | |
| 2015 | The Walk | Albert | |
| 2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | BB-8 | Voice consultant[12] |
| 2016 | The Intervention | Jack | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Starveillance | Glenn | Voice 3 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Bronx World Travelers | Ben | 5 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | Mayne Street | Evan Mintz | 10 episodes |
| 2009 | Intercourse With A Vampire | Waiter | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Accidentally On Purpose | Max | Episode: "Working Girl" |
| 2009 | Happiness Isn't Everything | Jacky Hamburger | Television film |
| 2009–2015 | Jake and Amir | Sulu Candles, Carot Slat, himself, others | 22 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Undercovers | Bill Hoyt | 13 episodes |
| 2010–2015 | Parks and Recreation | Jean-Ralphio Saperstein | 21 episodes |
| 2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Ben | Segment "Terrible Decisions" |
| 2011 | Mad | Various Characters | Voice Episode: "Ribbitless/The Clawface" |
| 2012 | Tron: Uprising | Rilo | Episode: "The Renegade: Part 1" |
| 2012–present | House of Lies | Clyde Oberholt | 48 episodes |
| 2012–2015 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Randy Cunningham | Voice 100 episodes |
| 2012–present | Doc McStuffins | Stuffy | |
| 2013 | Arrested Development | John Beard Jr. | Episode: "Colony Collapse" |
| 2013 | Bob's Burgers | Josh | Voice 2 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Robot Chicken | Various Characters | Voice Episode: "Papercut to Aorta", "Batman Forever 21" |
| 2013–2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Rodney Wayber | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | BoJack Horseman | Rutabaga Rabitowitz | Voice 5 episodes |
| 2015 | The Simpsons | Clerk | Voice Episode: "Cue Detective" |
| 2015 | Drunk History | Meyer Lansky | Episode: "Las Vegas" |
| 2016 | Animals. | Antonio | Voice Episode: "Pigeons." |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Turbo: Super Stunt Squad | Skidmark | Voice |
References
- ↑ http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/member.php?s=d69aaf247b89c3039d0fb522e1ca3056&u=5044
- ↑ Fernandez, Jay (25 February 2011). "TRAILER: Rainn Wilson and Sarah Silverman in 'Peep World'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Ben Schwartz". Upright Citizens Brigade. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ ""Ben Schwartz" Stuff on CollegeHumor". CollegeHumor. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ↑ "Primetime Emmy® Award Database". Primetime Emmy Award Database. Emmy.org. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- 1 2 Kit, Borys (23 February 2011). "Ben Schwartz to Pen 'Soapdish' Remake for Paramount". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ Finke, Nikki (12 December 2011). "The Black List 2011: Screenplay Roster". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ↑ DiClaudio, Dennis (December 16, 2015). "Turns out Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz did the voice of BB-8 in The Force Awakens". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Pollak, Kevin. "Kevin Pollak Chat Show: Ben Schwartz #143". Kevin Pollak Chat Show. YouTube. 10:30. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ↑ Marsh, Steve (12 January 2012). "Ben Schwartz '03". Vulture. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ↑ "Notable Alumni in Entertainment" (PDF). Union College. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ↑ DiClaudio, Dennis (December 16, 2015). "Turns out Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz did the voice of BB-8 in The Force Awakens". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 16, 2015.