Emmy Award-winning writer, comedian and actor Ben Schwartz '03 will be the featured speaker at this year’s Commencement, College officials announced today.
Approximately 460 students in the Class of 2024 will receive degrees during the ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 16, on Hull Plaza.
Ben Schwartz
Schwartz will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree.
“We are delighted and honored to welcome Ben back to campus,” said President David R. Harris. “Since his days honing his craft in an improv group at Union, Ben has shared his remarkable talents and creativity with a worldwide audience in a number of memorable roles on television and in theaters. We look forward to what promises to be an entertaining and inspiring message.”
Born and raised in the Bronx, Schwartz was a double major in anthropology and psychology. Upon graduating, he interned at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City so he could take free improv classes in hopes of pursuing a career in entertainment.
Schwartz is perhaps best-known as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on the Amy Poehler sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” He also voices the title character in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise. Last year, he starred opposite Nicolas Cage in the horror-comedy film “Renfield,” and he joined Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Adam Driver in the movie “This is Where I Leave You.”
Schwartz has also appeared in “The Afterparty” on Apple TV+, Steve Carell’s Netflix comedy “Space Force” and the Showtime series “House of Lies” with Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell
In addition to Sonic, Schwartz has done voiceovers for animated shows such as “Ducktales,” “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Randy Cunningham 9th grade Ninja.”
The author of four books, he has also written dozens of scripts for a wide range of networks and studios. Nominated for four Emmys, he won in 2009 as one of the songwriters for Hugh Jackman’s opener to the 81st Academy Awards.
Along with Thomas Middleditch, he has a three-part Netflix improv comedy special “Middleditch and Schwartz.” He continues to perform longform improv all over the world with his troupe, “Ben Schwartz and Friends,” selling out at venues including at the Eventim Apollo in the U.K, Carnegie Hall, The Chicago Theatre and Radio City Music Hall.
“I am so excited and honored to come back to Union (when it's not winter) for Commencement,” Schwartz said. “I can finally read aloud my 100-page anthropology senior thesis about how "sports are a microcosm of society" that I haven't looked at since the day I handed it in 21 years ago.”
For more on Commencement, including a list of previous speakers, visit the website.