Starting on the BBC back in 2001, The Office made an icon out of Rick Gervais as the iconic David Brent. With that iconic theme tune, Gervais’ cringe-worthy performance kickstarted everyone’s obsession with the surprisingly hilarious show about a dull office. Although the British series only ran for two seasons and two Christmas specials, it became a cult favorite.
In 2005, the format jumped over to America and became a runaway success far beyond the UK version. This time, it was Steve Carell as the Brent-inspired Michael Scott. However, the big pull of The Office was never the humdrum backdrop of the Wernham Hogg Paper Company or Dunder Mifflin, it was the brilliant characters themselves.
Proving that selling paper was anything but boring, both shows had all-star talent that included Martin Freeman, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling, Will Ferrell, Kathy Bates, and James Spader, along with rising talent like Ed Helms, Rashida Jones, Craig Robinson, Zach Woods, and so many more.
With some 12 years of The Office to look back on and with so many big names making up the cast of both versions of the show, there are plenty of facts about the famous faces that made these series so iconic.
This is what didn't make it on screen - only the most intense The Office fans will know everything on this list.
Here are 25 Wild Facts About Cast Of The Office.
B.J. Novak And John Krasinki's Relationship
Both B.J. Novak and John Krasinski were staples of The Office as Dunder Mifflin’s office temp and sales rep who slowly climbed the corporate ladder.
It turns out that Novak and Krasinski didn’t first meet on the set of the workplace comedy - they actually went to high school together.
Speaking to Ellen, Novak discussed his role as an executive producer and writer on the show but also revealed that he went to Newton South High School with Krasinski.
In fact, the comedic duo met playing Little League and there is even a team photo of Krasinski in Novak’s house. Novak was apparently sick the day the picture was taken, so he's not in it.
Ricky Gervais' Music Career
Ricky Gervais may have become an internet sensation on The Office as the bumbling David Brent, but does anyone his short-lived pop career in the ‘80s?
During his final year and University College London, Gervais and close friend Bill Macrae formed the duo Seona Dancing. With dodgy outfits and even worse hair, Seona only released two singles - "More to Lose" and "Bitter Heart" - but failed to chart inside the UK top 75.
Although this signaled the end of the band, Gervais continued dabbling in the music business when he became the manager of the band Suede. Eventually, the lure of comedy was too much.
Rainn Wilson As A Bluth?
The Office and Arrested Development are at the pinnacle of American comedy. Did you know Rainn Wilson was nearly cast as GOB Bluth?
According to Vulture, Wilson was a finalist for the role but couldn’t contend with Will Arnett’s performance.
Wilson went to the final audition and waited for hours because producers forgot to tell him that Arnett had just been cast
Arrested Development was ultimately canceled (for the first time) in 2006, which is conveniently just a year after Wilson was winning us over on The Office. Considering Arnett was undeniably brilliant in Arrested Development and Wilson went on to be one of The Office’s breakout characters as Dwight Schrute, it all worked out in the end.
Phyllis Smith Was A Dancer
Now known for movies like Bad Teacher and Inside Out, Smith will always be ed as Phyllis Vance on The Office.
While Smith is known for her mild-mannered voice and Eeyore-esque personality, some may be shocked to know that she used to live the spicy life of a burlesque dancer.
A million miles away from Phyllis Vance on The Office, Smith revealed to Yahoo her past in burlesque. After performing as a cheerleader for a year with the St. Louis Cardinals in the ‘70s, Smith cartwheeled into a seven-year stint as a burlesque dancer.
Smith said that some carefully-placed feathers and ing outfits meant that it was never risqué.
Steve Carell's Law Career
While Gervais ruled the roost on the UK version of The Office, Steve Carell shone in the US version. Carell played Michael Scott as Dunder Mifflin Regional Manager. It’s hard to imagine Carell as anything other than a comedian now, but once upon a time, he was supposed to be a lawyer.
According to "What Makes Steve Carell Tick", the 55-year-old said, “I was actually filling out my law school applications, and I got to the essay question, which was, ‘Why do you want to be an attorney?’ And I couldn’t answer it.”
The Office helped launch Carell’s movie career into Bruce Almighty and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Thankfully, that job in law never worked out.
Mackenzie Crook's Famous House
Known as the slightly gawky Gareth on The Office, Mackenzie Crook grew from humble roots to appear in the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies and Game of Thrones. Thanks to a steady stream of acting work, Crook has been able to afford to buy himself a rather unusual house.
Comedian Peter Sellers was a national treasure of the UK. Crook was surprised to find he owned his former home.
According to an interview with The Independent, the kitchen was once a dark room and the beech tree that Sellers planted there in his 50s is now a huge feature of the garden. Although Sellers only lived there for around three years, it is still a huge honor for Crook.
Martin Freeman's Sherlock Feud
As the loveable Tim Canterbury on The Office, a much younger (and long-haired) Martin Freeman started his rise to prominence. These days, Freeman is known for the Hobbit movies and starring alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the BBC’s Sherlock TV series.
After an extended hiatus, Sherlock aired its fourth season in 2017. The delay was blamed on the busy schedules of both actors, but The Daily Mail reports that Freeman and Cumberbatch don’t actually get on. This has cast doubts over season 5, with some reports suggesting neither star can really be bothered.
Both are now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Everett Ross and Doctor Strange but are yet to share any screen time.
Jenna Fischer's Office Job
Jenna Fischer had arguably the leading female role on The Office, and while she hasn’t had the fame of some of the others, she will always be associated with playing Pam Beesly on the show.
Fischer actually worked in an office and has impressive typing skills.
According to CBS, Fischer grew up in St. Louis and had always wanted to be an actor. Moving to LA, Fischer spent five years earning less than $2,000 a month and was forced to take a series of temp jobs.
Although it was hard balancing her acting aspirations and office work, it has given Fischer the neat talent of an 85 WPM average.
John Krasinki's Doughy Body
John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are one of Hollywood’s golden couples right now. With Krasinski moving into more directing and the duo starring in his recent horror A Quiet Place, it seems that balancing work and love life isn’t too difficult for the pair. Krasinski himself underwent something of a body transformation, but apparently, Blunt prefers his old physique.
Krasinski showed off his shredded abs during a shirtless scene of 13 Hours, which Stephen Colbert itted he was very impressed with. The Office star joked that he had always looked like this as Jim Halpert - fans just couldn’t see.
However, he said that Blunt "hates it, she would way prefer to have doughy guy back."
Ed Helm's Hangover Improv
Ed Helms is easily one of the cast who has done the best since the show wrapped. With a lucrative comedy career in movies, Helms is best known for playing Stu Price in all three The Hangover movies.
Back on The Office, Helms played Andy Bernard - the Cornell graduate with a penchant for a capella music. It turns out that Helms himself has quite a talent for music.
Helm’s role in 2009’s The Hangover is largely ed for “Stu’s Song” as he serenaded a tiger, but speaking to Coming Soon, Todd Phillips confirmed that Helms made the song up himself and even wrote the music.