B.J. Novak

Biography: Blessed with an offbeat sense of humor, this Harvard graduate snagged his first professional entertainment job — as a writer for the short-lived sitcom Raising Dad — three days after finishing college in 2001. Once the show folded, Novak turned to stand-up, appearing on late-night talk shows and landing on Variety's 2003 list of "10 Comics to Watch." As one of Ashton Kutcher's coconspirators on MTV's prank show Punk'd, he duped a number of celebrities and turned in a memorable performance as Hilary Duff's driving instructor. But he became a star in 2005 when he signed on as a writer-producer for NBC's Emmy-winning sitcom The Office, on which he played a temp on a career path full of highs and lows. While working on that show, Novak also began taking supporting roles in movies, including Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-nominated Inglourious Basterds. When he's not on camera, Novak continues to perform stand-up.