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When I first moved to New York City back in 2006, I was broke. I was working 50-hours a week for free as an intern, so the luxuries of NYC nightlife were well beyond my meager reach. Thankfully, there was the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Offering both free and affordably-priced improv and sketch shows, I spent an absurd amount of my free time at the now famous comedy institution where I was fortunate enough to watch luminaries like Amy Poehler, Paul Scheer, Jack McBrayer, and Jason “Heynong Man” Mantzoukas perform on a weekly basis.
I’ve been lucky enough to see an incredible array of comedy performers during my time in New York, but the funniest person I’ve ever seen live is Ben Schwartz. Best known as Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Recreation or Clyde Oberholt on House of Lies (Pies), Schwartz is a fearless improviser whose genuine love for comedy infuses every scene he’s in with boundless enthusiasm.
Before he won the role of the mesmerizing yet deplorable Jean-Ralphio, Schwartz began his career working as an audience page for The Late Show with David Letterman. From there, he began submitting jokes to Letterman’s monologue as well as SNL’s Weekend Update before transitioning to film and television.
The versatile performer has been an indispensable pillar of the comedy community for years. Learn a little more about the prolific career of Ben Schwartz below!
Ben Schwartz And Bill Hader Provide The Voice Of BB-8 in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'
If you’re ever in need of a carefully curated assortment of beeps and boops, pick up the phone and dial S-C-H-W-A-R-T-Z. I assume that’s how phones will work in the future. That’s how they should work now. Thanks for nothing, Alexander Graham Bell.
Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz are both credited as a “BB-8 Voice Consultant” for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Fun fact: Hader told HitFix’s Drew McWeeny that BB-8’s voice was created with a sound effects app on J.J. Abrams’ iPad that was attached to a talk box.
This wasn’t the first time Schwartz worked on a J.J. Abrams project. He also starred on Abrams’ short-lived NBC action series Undercovers.
He Co-Hosts A New Funny Or Die Series With Lauren Lapkus
Funny or die? As a concept that seems a bit extreme, but thankfully Schwartz and Lauren Lapkus don’t have to worry about death via non-hilarity because their energetic new series, The Earliest Show, is an absolute delight.
The two seasoned improv vets have scorching comedic chemistry as ebullient hosts of a morning talk show. Lampooning the excessive energy of the a.m. talk show circuit, the first episode features pillow cereal, comedy legend Reggie Miller, and a wedding proposal that goes awry.
New episodes drop every Tuesday on Funny or Die.
He Is A Frequent Collaborator With Comedy Duo Jake And Amir
Younger audiences may recognize Schwartz from his many appearances on Jake and Amir’s popular College Humor web series. For six years, Schwartz appeared in 22 extremely silly immensely funny videos and developed such a delightfully playful chemistry with Jake and Amir.
Watch a NSFW example below.
“I’m sorry. I was thinking of that ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ song. What’d you say?”
Ben Schwartz: Beloved Guest Of Scott Aukerman's 'Comedy Bang! Bang!'
Schwartz may be at his absolute funniest when teamed with Scott Aukerman on Comedy Bang! Bang!.
Whether he’s appearing in podcast form on a musically infused Solo Bolo (an episode with only one guest) or dropping by Aukerman’s IFC talk show as celebrity publicist Rodney Waber, the pleasure these two derive from working together is patently obvious. The two make such a formidable comedy duo as Aukerman’s straight man is the perfect foil for Schwartz’s untamable kinetic energy.
With Aukerman’s IFC series set to end in December, hopefully Waber can find his way onto the Earwolf podcast.
He Once Interviewed Olympic Gold Medalist Nastia Liukin
Ben Schwartz: If I got a 9.5 on the uneven bars would you go out with me?
Nastia Liukin: No, because that’s a terrible score in the new system.
I was introduced to Schwartz’s comedy through his website, Rejected Jokes, where he hosts a trove of incredible short form comedy videos. While his ESPN Conversations are must stream, I also highly suggest checking out his video with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, Job Interview, and Valentine’s Break Up.
Ben Schwartz Is An Accomplished Comedy Writer
While best known for this theatrical gifts, Schwartz and author Amanda McCall have also written a series of books that use adorable baby animals to break bad news. Almost any shopping conundrum can be solved with the gift of Grandma’s Dead: Breaking Bad News with Baby Animals.
Not only is Schwartz a former staff writer for Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken, but he also penned a remake of the film Soapdish (titled El Fuego Caliente) that was performed as a live script reading back in November of 2015.
He Still Performs Regularly At The UCB Theatre
Schedule permitting, Schwartz is still a fixture on the UCB scene.
Whether he’s performing with Hot Sauce — his long form improv team that includes Adam Pally and Gil Ozeri — or Snowpants — an improv show that usually features a first time improviser performing with a group of experienced players — the comedian keeps his improv skills sharp with constant performances at the renowned comedy theater.
