Josh Ruben

Joshua Benjamin Ruben (born June 30, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, director, and producer who has become a recognizable figure in internet‑based comedy and indie film circles. Raised in Woodstock, New York, he grew up with two half‑siblings, one of whom is singer‑songwriter Rachael Yamagata, and discovered his love for performance in youth theatre before graduating from Onteora High School in 2001. After a brief stint working at a gas station, he was accepted into the New Actors Workshop in New York City at age 19, where he began studying the craft while still taking on extra work and a job at Best Buy to make ends meet. Together with childhood friend Sam Reich and a group of collaborators, Ruben co‑founded the comedy troupe Dutch West, a platform that produced sketch videos for the internet and ultimately caught the eye of CollegeHumor, launching his prolific tenure as a staff writer, director, and performer; during this period he wrote and directed hundreds of “Originals” short videos that helped define the site’s comedic voice. His on‑screen persona also expanded onto the streaming platform Dropout, where he appears regularly on the improvisational game shows Game Changer and its spin‑off Make Some Noise, earning an executive‑producer credit on the latter series. In 2016 Ruben relocated to Los Angeles, using his CollegeHumor 401(k) savings to finance his debut feature, the horror‑comedy Scare Me (2020), which premiered at Sundance and showcased his ability to blend satire with genuine scares. He followed this success with Werewolves Within (2021), an adaptation of the popular video game that debuted at the Tribeca Festival to critical acclaim, and continued to explore genre‑bending narratives with projects such as Heart Eyes (2025) and the forthcoming sci‑fi horror Green Bank. Throughout his career, Ruben has demonstrated a keen talent for merging comedic timing with inventive storytelling, solidifying his reputation as a versatile creator in both digital and cinematic arenas.