Josh Ruben | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Ruben in 2012 | |
| Born | Joshua Benjamin Ruben (1983-06-30)June 30, 1983 (age 41) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Website | www |
Joshua Benjamin Ruben (born June 30, 1983)[1] is an American actor, comedian, director, and producer. He has directed the comedy horror filmsScare Me (2020) andWerewolves Within (2021), both of which were filmed near his hometown in theHudson Valley in New York, as well asHeart Eyes (2025). He formerly worked forCollegeHumor and continues to appear inDropout original shows.
Ruben was born in Washington, D.C.[2] He grew up inWoodstock, New York, with two half-siblings, one of whom is the singer-songwriterRachael Yamagata.[2][3] He acted in youth theatre and aspired to become a comic actor.[3] He graduated fromOnteora High School in 2001.[3] He worked at a gas station before being accepted intothe New Actors Workshop in New York City at age 19.[3][4]
Unable to get an agent in his first years in New York City, Ruben worked as a filmextra and atBest Buy.[3] With childhood friendSam Reich and others, he formed the comedy group Dutch West, which made sketch comedy videos for the internet.[3][4] Thanks to his work with the group,CollegeHumor hired him as a staffer, and he wrote and directed hundreds of its "Originals" short videos.[3][4] He has appeared on theDropout game showGame Changer and its spinoffMake Some Noise, both hosted by Reich, and is credited as an executive producer on the latter series.[5]
Ruben moved to Los Angeles in 2016.[3] He drew from his CollegeHumor401(k) to write, produce, and directScare Me, a comedy horror film shot atCooper Lake outside of Woodstock.[3][4] Starring Ruben as an aspiring writer staying in a cabin in the woods, it premiered at the2020 Sundance Film Festival.[4] His next film,Werewolves Within, based onthe video game, was also shot in the area in theHudson Valley.[3][4] It premiered to critical acclaim at theTribeca Festival in June 2021.[6][7] He directedHeart Eyes, aromantic comedyslasher film,[8] and he is set to direct the sci-fi horror filmGreen Bank.[9][7]
