# Ben Schwartz

Benjamin Joseph Schwartz (born September 15, 1981) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his recurring role as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, his starring role as Clyde Oberholt on the Showtime series House of Lies, and his voice roles as Randy Cunningham in Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Dewey Duck in DuckTales, Leonardo in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Sonic the Hedgehog in the eponymous film series and its spin-off miniseries Knuckles. He also appeared many times in the CollegeHumor web series Jake and Amir.
His film career also includes roles in Peep World; Everybody's Fine; The Other Guys; Transformers: Age of Extinction; The Walk; This Is Where I Leave You; Standing Up, Falling Down; and Flora & Ulysses. On television, he has starred in the Netflix comedy series Space Force (2020–2022) and the Apple TV+ murder mystery comedy series The Afterparty (2022–2023). He also voiced in the Netflix interactive special We Lost Our Human as Pud.

## Early life

Benjamin Joseph Schwartz was born on September 15, 1981, in The Bronx, New York City, to a Jewish family. His parents, both Bronx natives, raised Schwartz in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the northwestern part of the Bronx. His father was a social worker before going into real estate and his mother was a music teacher at P.S. 24, an elementary school in Riverdale. He also has a sister named Marni. 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.'"
When he was eleven years old, his family moved to Edgemont, New York, in adjacent Westchester County. Schwartz attended Edgemont Junior–Senior High School where he played basketball and sang in the chorus; he graduated in 1999. He then attended Union College, graduating in 2003 with a double major in psychology and anthropology.

## Career

On television, Schwartz guest-starred as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on NBC's Parks and Recreation and was a lead in the Showtime show House of Lies. In 2010, Schwartz played series regular Bill Hoyt on J. J. Abrams' one-hour spy drama Undercovers for NBC.
Schwartz had his own segment on HBO's Funny or Die Presents called Terrible Decisions with Ben Schwartz and has appeared in multiple CollegeHumor sketches including the popular web series Jake and Amir.
Schwartz has been nominated for four Emmys and won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for coauthoring Hugh Jackman's opening number for the 81st Academy Awards.
Schwartz voiced Randy Cunningham, a 14-year-old freshman student and ninja protecting his hometown Norrisville from forces of evil in Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja.
In September 2013, he was hired by Paramount Pictures to re-make the 1991 comedy Soapdish, retitled El Fuego Caliente and reworking the original's American soap opera into a Latin telenovela, 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.
Schwartz is an alumnus of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCBT). He was a member of the improv group "Hot Sauce" with Adam Pally and Gil Ozeri. The group performed 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. Schwartz also played a cameo role as a Stormtrooper in the film.
Since 2014 Schwartz has appeared in episodes of the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast as the only guest in "Solo Bolo" (2014), "Solo Bolo Dos Lo" (2015), "Solo Bolo Trolo" (2016), "Solo Bolo Cuatrolo" (2016), "Solo Bolo Cincolo" (2017), "Solo Bolo Sonicolo" (2020), and "Solo Bolo Hallowolo" (2021). In nearly each episode he and host Scott Aukerman compete in the Olympic Song Challenge. Ben has also appeared on episodes of comedy podcasts If I Were You, ID1OT, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes, and Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend.
In 2017, Schwartz began voicing Dewey Duck in the Disney XD revival of DuckTales. Schwartz has been featured as himself in Netflix's Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh's 2017 animated Christmas special - Home for the Holidays - alongside Kelly Clarkson. He provided the voice of Leonardo in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In August 2018, Schwartz was announced to voice the titular character in the 2020 film Sonic the Hedgehog.
On September 26, 2019, it was announced that Schwartz was cast as F. Tony Scarapiducci in the Netflix comedy series Space Force.
Ben Schwartz co-starred alongside Billy Crystal in the movie Standing Up, Falling Down, initially released on April 25, 2019.
In April 2020, Schwartz and fellow comedian Thomas Middleditch starred in Netflix's first long-form improv special, Middleditch and Schwartz, a three-part series of hour-long performances filmed at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
In 2022, Schwartz was in the main cast of the first season of the Apple TV+ mystery comedy series The Afterparty, reprising his role in a guest capacity in the series' 2023 second season.
In January 2023, Schwartz guest voiced a character, TAY-0, a droid who participates in races for Cid, on Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

### Books

Schwartz has co-written four books, three with writer Amanda McCall: Grandma's Dead: Breaking Bad News with Baby Animals; Maybe Your Leg Will Grow Back!: Looking on the Bright Side with Baby Animals and Why is Daddy in a Dress?: Asking Awkward Questions with Baby Animals and (with writer Laura Moses), Things You Should Already Know About Dating, You F-king Idiot.

## 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 | Runner Runner | Craig | |
| 2014 | Happy Christmas | Party Guest | |
| 2014 | Better Living Through Chemistry | Noah | |
| 2014 | Transformers: Age of Extinction | Bumblebee | Radio Voice |
| 2014 | I'm A Mitzvah | David | Short film |
| 2014 | This Is Where I Leave You | Rabbi Charles "Boner" Grodner | |
| 2014 | The Interview | Eminem's Publicist | |
| 2015 | The Walk | Albert | |
| 2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | BB-8 / Stormtrooper | Voice consultant |
| 2016 | The Intervention | Jack | |
| 2017 | How to Be a Latin Lover | Jimmy / Valet | |
| 2017 | Outside In | Ted | |
| 2018 | Happy Anniversary | Sam | |
| 2018 | Blue Iguana | Paul Driggs | |
| 2018 | An Actor Prepares | Jimmy | |
| 2018 | Monster Challenge | Himself | Short film |
| 2018 | Night School | Marvin | |
| 2019 | The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Banarnar | Voice |
| 2019 | Standing Up, Falling Down | Scott | |
| 2020 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog | Voice and facial motion-capture |
| 2021 | Music | Rudy | |
| 2021 | Flora & Ulysses | George Buckman | |
| 2021 | Rumble | Jimothy Brett-Chadley III | Voice |
| 2022 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Voice and facial motion-capture |
| 2022 | Sonic Drone Home | Sonic the Hedgehog | Voice, short film |
| 2022 | DC League of Super-Pets | Mark | Voice |
| 2022 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie | Leo, Janitor Man | Voice |
| 2023 | We Lost Our Human | Pud | Voice, interactive special |
| 2023 | Renfield | Teddy Lobo | |
| 2024 | A Very Sonic Christmas | Sonic the Hedgehog | Voice, short film |
| 2024 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Voice and facial motion-capture |
| TBA | Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice | TBA | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Various | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Starveillance | Glenn | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Bronx World Travelers | Ben | 5 episodes; also producer and director |
| 2008–2009 | Mayne Street | Evan Mintz | 10 episodes |
| 2009 | Intercourse With A Vampire | Waiter | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Accidentally on Purpose | Max Silver | Episode: "Working Girl" |
| 2009 | Happiness Isn't Everything | Jacky Hamburger | Television film |
| 2010 | The Sarah Silverman Program | Writer | Episode: "A Slip Slope" |
| 2010–2012 | Undercovers | Bill Hoyt | Main cast; 13 episodes |
| 2010–2015 2020 | Parks and Recreation | Jean-Ralphio Saperstein | 22 episodes |
| 2011 | Funny or Die Presents | Ben | Segment: "Terrible Decisions"; also producer |
| 2011 | Mad | Narrator / Announcer / Jim Halpert | Voice, episode: "Ribbitless / The Clawfice" |
| 2012 | Tron: Uprising | Rilo | Voice, episode: "The Renegade" |
| 2012–2016 | House of Lies | Clyde Oberholt | Main cast; 58 episodes |
| 2012–2015 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Randy Cunningham/Ninja | Main voice cast; 50 episodes |
| 2013 | Arrested Development | John Beard Jr. | Episode: "Colony Collapse" |
| 2013–2020 | Bob's Burgers | Josh / Rick | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2013–2020 | Robot Chicken | Roger Radcliffe / Scaredy Smurf / Dickwax / Oog / Zeeko | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2013–2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Rodney Wayber | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Wallykazam! | Skydasher Steve | Voice, episode: "The Big Goblin Problem" |
| 2015–2019 | BoJack Horseman | Rutabaga Rabitowitz | Voice, 8 episodes |
| 2015 | The Simpsons | Clerk | Voice, episode: "Cue Detective" |
| 2015 | Drunk History | Meyer Lansky | Episode: "Las Vegas" |
| 2016–2017 | Animals. | Antonio / Geoff | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2017 | The New V.I.P.'s | Lenny | Cancelled pilot |
| 2017 | Hot Date | Rich Boyfriend | Episode: "Gold Diggers" |
| 2017 | Home: For The Holidays | Himself | Television film |
| 2017–2021 | DuckTales | Dewey Duck | Main voice cast; 69 episodes |
| 2018 | The Wrong Mans | Sam | Cancelled |
| 2018 | Medal of Honor | Vito Bertoldo | 1 episode |
| 2018–2019 | Modern Family | Nick | 3 episodes |
| 2018–2020 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Leo | Main voice cast; 39 episodes |
| 2019 | Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television | Himself | Episode: "Execution Dependant" |
| 2019 | Pinky Malinky | Coach Freebird | Voice, episode: "Advanced" |
| 2019 | Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ | Quistian Gayle | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Human Discoveries | Leader Elk | Voice, episode: "And Then They Discovered the Wheel" |
| 2020 | Middleditch and Schwartz | Various | Main cast, also creator; 3 episodes |
| 2020–2021 | American Dad! | Various | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2020–2021 | Crossing Swords | Keefer | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2020–2022 | Space Force | F. Tony Scarapiducci | Main cast; 17 episodes |
| 2021 | Earth to Ned | Himself | Episode: "Party Like It's Nineteen Ninety Ned" |
| 2021 | Calls | Andy | Voice, episode: "The Beginning" |
| 2021 | Bless the Harts | Bryce | Voice, episode: "Haul Force One" |
| 2021 | M.O.D.O.K. | Lou Tarleton | Main voice cast; 10 episodes |
| 2021 | HouseBroken | Various | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2021 | Rugrats | Lord Crater | Voice, episode: "Final Eclipse" |
| 2021–2022 | Staged | Tom / Ben Schwartz / Bob Marley | 5 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | Fairfax | Cody | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | The Afterparty | Yasper E. Lennov | Main cast (season 1); guest role (season 2) |
| 2022 | The Boys Presents: Diabolical | Simon / Kingdom's Dad | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Central Park | Various | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Star Wars: The Bad Batch | TAY-0 | Voice, episode: "Faster" |
| 2023 | Die Hart | Andre | 7 episodes Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series |
| 2023 | The Muppets Mayhem | Gus D'Vore | Episode: "Track 3: Exile on Main Street" |
| 2023–present | Invincible | The Shapesmith / Rus Livingston, additional voices | Voice, seasons 2–present |
| 2024 | Knuckles | Sonic the Hedgehog | Voice, episode: "The Warrior" |
| 2024 | Baby Shark's Big Show! | Blizzard Wizard | Voice, episode: "Assembly Required" |
| 2025 | Chibiverse | Dewey Duck | Voice, episode: "The Perfect Gift" |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007–14 | CollegeHumor Originals | Hegie / Himself / Gino | 13 episodes: "High Times Editorial Office: Episode 1", "High Times Editorial Office: Episode 2", "High Times Editorial Office: Episode 3", "High Times Editorial Office: Episode 4", "High Times Editorial Office: Episode 5", "How Many Times Has This Happened To You?", "Porn Rental", "Stay Awake Contest", "Drinking Soda Contest", "Eating Contest", "Fasting Contest", "Ham Sandwich Lie Detector Test", "Should We Make Another Contest Video?" |
| 2008–10 | Hardly Working | Himself | 5 episodes: "All-nighter: Handicap Suicide", "Hypnotist", "All Nighter III: New Boss", "Josh's Mindhouse: Autograph", "Fish Dance" |
| 2009–11 | Terrible Decisions with Ben Schwartz | Himself | Also producer |
| 2009–15 | Jake and Amir | Dating Coach (Amir Blumenfeld) / Couples Therapist / Private Eye (Jope) / Office Painter / H.R. Guy (Skolbilassus Jim) / Mountain Hiker (Stanley) / Interrogator (Carrot Slat) / Milk Man (Charles Crooshtoost) / Usher (Sulu Candles) / Real Estate Agent (Cherry Dude) / Himself | 23 episodes |
| 2012 | Dorkly Originals | Hermit | 1 episode: "Legend of Zelda Hermit Wants to Haggle (with Ben Schwartz)" Voice |
| 2012, 2017 | Kevin Pollak's Chat Show | Himself / Guest | 2 episodes: "143", "291" |
| 2016 | The Earliest Show | Josh Bath | 6 episodes; also writer and director Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series |
| 2018 | Lonely and Horny | Bernand | 1 episode: "Game Night" |
| 2018, 2020 | Good Mythical Morning | Himself | 2 episodes: "Crazy Free Stuff On Craigslist (GAME) ft. Ben Schwartz", "Who Is the Fastest? (SPEED CHALLENGE)" |
| 2019–2024 | Guest Grumps | Himself | 5 episodes: "Playing Magic Kingdom w/ Ben Schwartz!", "Playing Games with Epic Gamer BEN SCHWARTZ - Guest Grumps - Aladdin", "Playing Quiplash with Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz!", Episode: "Ben Schwartz OBLITERATES Super Castlevania IV", Episode: "Ben Schwartz takes us BACK TO THE FUTURE!" |
| 2020–2023 | The George Lucas Talk Show | Himself | 6 episodes |
| 2024 | Make Some Noise | Himself | Episode: "A Basketball Player's Far Too Elaborate Free Throw Routine" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Voice role |
| 2013 | Turbo: Super Stunt Squad | Skidmark |