Joshua Benjamin Ruben (born June 30, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, director, and producer. He formerly worked for CollegeHumor and continues to appear in Dropout original shows.
He has directed the horror films Scare Me, Werewolves Within, and Heart Eyes.
Early life and education Ruben was born in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Woodstock, New York, with two half-siblings, one of whom is the singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata. He acted in youth theatre and aspired to become a comic actor.
He graduated from Onteora High School in 2001. He worked at a gas station before being accepted into the New Actors Workshop in New York City at age 19.
Career Unable to get an agent in his first years in New York City, Ruben worked as a film extra and at Best Buy. With childhood friend Sam Reich and others, he formed the comedy group Dutch West, which made sketch comedy videos for the internet. Thanks to his work with the group, CollegeHumor hired him as a staffer, and he wrote and directed hundreds of its "Originals" short videos. He has appeared on the Dropout game show Game Changer and its spinoff Make Some Noise, both hosted by Reich, and is credited as an executive producer on the latter series.
Ruben moved to Los Angeles in 2016. He drew from his CollegeHumor 401(k) to write, produce, and direct Scare Me, a comedy horror film shot at Cooper Lake outside of Woodstock. Starring Ruben as an aspiring writer staying in a cabin in the woods, it premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. His next film, Werewolves Within, based on the video game, was also shot in the area in the Hudson Valley. It premiered to critical acclaim at the Tribeca Festival in June 2021. He directed Heart Eyes, a romantic comedy slasher film. He is set to direct the sci-fi horror film Green Bank as well as the horror film Wilderness Reform.
Personal life Ruben is married to writer and director Lauren Sick, who served as second unit director on his film Heart Eyes. Their house in Altadena burned down in the 2025 Eaton Fire shortly before they planned to move in.
Filmography Feature film Year Title Director Writer Producer Actor Notes 2020 Scare Me 2021 Werewolves Within Are You Happy Now 2025 Heart Eyes cameo TBA Green Bank Post-productionKumail Nanjiani, Jim Belushi, Brittany O’Grady and Taylor John Smith Join Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Green Bank’ (Exclusive)
Short film Year Title Director Writer Producer Actor Notes 2015 Zoolander Returns to the Runway Co-directed with Vincent Peone 2016 Tond 2017 Freddy Derryl Cabin
Television Year Title Director Writer Producer Actor Notes 2009–2013 CollegeHumor Directed 48 episodes;Wrote 22 episodes 2012–2013 Hardly Working Directed episode "Fire Warden";Wrote 4 episodes 2013 Remix the Movies 7 episodes2014 That Couple You Know Step 9 3 episodes GQ Originals Episode "Adam Drive Meets His Man Crush" 2015 Adam Ruins Everything 3 episodes 2016 Boondoggle Episodes "Pilot Error" and "The Course" 2021 Death to 2021 Co-directed with Jack Clough2024 Die Hart 7 episodes The Creep Tapes Episode "Brad"
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