Ben Schwartz

"Parks and Recreation", which started its run as a cumbersome companion to "The Office", and ended it as an enjoyable, if not groundbreaking sitcom, helped the careers of the many previously-unknowns who made up its cast.

The most obvious one is Chris Pratt, who was sixth-billed on "Parks", but somehow transformed himself into Star-Lord. Aziz Ansari, a little-known comedian, is now heading his own, critically acclaimed series, "Master of None". Aubrey Plaza went from being a nobody to being an emo queen. Nick Offerman's deadpan style became a welcome addition to numerous comedic vehicles.

And then there is Ben Schwartz. His role on "Parks" wasn't major by any strech of imagination; he was the delightfully-named Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, the crazy-haired lunatic who appeared in a bunch of episodes. And yet, Schwartz parlayed his role into a massive movie franchise that even bypasses Star-Lord's.

He beeps for BB-8 in "Star Wars".

Verdict: **Jew**.

_December 18, 2017_