Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz | |
---|---|
Schwartz performing in 2009 | |
Born |
The Bronx, New York | September 15, 1981
Medium | Television, sketches, webisodes |
Notable works and roles |
Jean-Ralphio Saperstein in Parks and Recreation Bill Hoyt in Undercovers Clyde Oberholt in House of Lies |
Website | RejectedJokes.com |
Emmy Awards | |
2009 Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special for coauthoring Hugh Jackman's opening number for the 81st Academy Awards[1] |
Ben Schwartz (born September 15, 1981)[2] is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is perhaps best known for portraying Tom Haverford's friend Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on the sitcom Parks and Recreation. In 2012, he joined Showtime's television comedy House of Lies as the ambitious, brash, and insecure management consultant Clyde Oberholt.
His feature film credits include Peep World[3] with Rainn Wilson, Michael C. Hall and Sarah Silverman as well as Everybody's Fine with Robert De Niro. Additionally he had a role in The Other Guys starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg and directed by Adam McKay.
Career
On television, Schwartz guest-starred as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on NBC’s Parks and Recreation[4] 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[5] 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.[1][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.[4]
Schwartz is an alumnus of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCBT)[4] 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.
Personal life
Schwartz grew up in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the Bronx in New York City.[8] 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.'"[8]
Schwartz grew up in a family of social workers and Bronx school teachers,[8] including his mother, a music teacher.[9] He graduated from Union College in 2003 with a double major in psychology and anthropology.[10]
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 role |
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 | Post-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Starveillance | Glenn - Host (voice) | 3 episodes: "Pilot", "Episode #1.2", "Episode #1.5" |
2007-2008 | Bronx World Travelers | Ben | 5 episodes |
2008-2009 | Mayne Street | Evan Mintz | 10 episodes |
2009 | Happiness Isn't Everything | Jacky Hamburger | TV Movie |
2009 | Intercourse With A Vampire | Waiter | 1 episode: "Episode #1.3" |
2009 | Accidentally On Purpose | Max | 1 episode: "Working Girl" |
2010-2012 | Undercovers | Bill Hoyt | 13 episodes |
2010-2015 | Parks and Recreation | Jean-Ralphio Saperstein | Recurring character 19 episodes |
2011-2015 | Jake and Amir | Amir Blumenfeld/Couples Therapist/Jope/Office Painter/Scalbylausus Jim/Stanley/Carrot Slat/Interrogator/Charles Crooshtoost/Doctor/Sulu Candles/Priest/Cherry Dude/Ben Schwartz/Milkman | Web series 23 episodes |
2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Ben | Episode #2.1 (segment "Terrible Decisions") |
2011 | Mad | Narrator, Statler, Jim Halpert, Cyclops | Voice role 1 episode: "Ribbitless/The Clawface" |
2012 | Tron: Uprising | Rilo | 1 episode: "The Renegade: Part 1" |
2012-present | House of Lies | Clyde Oberholt | Main Cast 48 episodes |
2012-present | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Randy Cunningham | Voice role 69 episodes |
2012-present | Doc McStuffins | Stuffy | Episodes starting in Season 3 |
2013 | Arrested Development | John Beard Jr. | 1 episode: "Colony Collapse" |
2013 | Bob's Burgers | Josh | Voice role 2 episodes: "Lindapendent Woman", "Two for Tina" |
2013 | Robot Chicken | Scaredy Smurf/Roger Radcliffe/Toy Announcer | Voice role 1 episode: "Papercut to Aorta" |
2013-2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Rodney Wayber | 2 episodes: "Anna Kendrick Wears a Patterneed Blouse & Burgundy Pants", "Tony Hawk Wears a Plaid Shirt & a Silver Watch" |
2014 | Robot Chicken | Baloo/Radio Jockey | Voice role 1 episode: "Batman Forever 21" |
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2013 | Turbo: Super Stunt Squad | Skidmark |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Primetime Emmy® Award Database". Primetime Emmy Award Database. Emmy.org. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Ben Schwartz". Upright Citizens Brigade. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- ↑ ""Ben Schwartz" Stuff on CollegeHumor". CollegeHumor. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 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.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 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". Union College. Retrieved 29 April 2014.