The Office cast: Where are they now?

The Office cast, then and now

When The Office made its midseason debut on NBC on March 24, 2005, it became a sleeper hit for the network and eventually went on to revive its Thursday night comedy lineup. Once famous for the likes of Friends, Will & Grace, and Seinfeld, NBC began a new era of comedy dominance with The Office.

Telling the story of the everyday foibles and lives of a group of co-workers at a paper company in Scranton, Pa., this show brought the workplace comedy to new heights and provided a platform to showcase the talents of individuals who have gone on to become some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Mindy Kaling, Ed Helms, and Ellie Kemper. Ahead, find out where they are now.

Steve Carell (Michael Scott)

Carell had made inroads as a comedy supporting player in properties like The Daily Show and Anchorman (2004), but his role as Michael Scott, a well-meaning but bumbling and ignorant boss, shot him to superstardom. He earned six Emmy nominations for his performance as the world's worst boss (who somehow thinks he's the best).

Following his debut as Michael Scott, Carell went on to star in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Get Smart (2008), Date Night (2010) opposite Tina Fey, and Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). In 2010, he endeared himself to younger audiences by voicing supervillain–turned–lovable father Gru in Despicable Me, a role he has reprised in several sequels. Carell has also featured in more dramatic roles, earning praise for his work in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), The Big Short (2015), Vice (2018), and Beautiful Boy (2018), as well as an Oscar nomination for Foxcatcher (2014).

In the second season of The Office, Carell gained a producing credit. He now runs a production company with his wife Nancy, and they produced the Rashida Jones-led Angie Tribeca on TBS. He returned to television on the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, for which he earned another Emmy nomination, the Netflix comedy Space Force, and the in Hulu miniseries The Patient.

Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly)

Fischer was working steadily in guest-starring roles on shows like Six Feet Under and That '70s Show when she got her big break as the kind and funny receptionist, Pam. Initially engaged to another man but yearning for Jim (John Krasinski), she became part of the show's most enduring love story. While playing Pam, Fischer branched out into other comedic roles in movies like Blades of Glory (2006), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), and Hall Pass (2011), where she often played love interests cut from the same cloth as her workplace sitcom character.

Since The Office ended, she's had recurring roles on several short-lived TV shows, including The Mysteries of Laura, Splitting Up Together, and You, Me, and the Apocalypse. She appeared in 2018's The 15:17 to Paris, Clint Eastwood's film based on the true story of a terrorist attack on a European train.

In 2019, she and The Office costar Angela Kinsey started a weekly podcast called Office Ladies, looking back at episodes of the show. She and Kinsey also wrote a book together called Office BFFs, released in 2022.

John Krasinski (Jim Halpert)

Krasinski broke out as the deadpan, lovelorn, prank-loving Jim Halpert, earning legions of fans for his quiet pining for office receptionist Pam in one of the greatest sitcom love stories.

Since his time on the show, Krasinski has focused his energy on the big screen, appearing in everything from indie films (Promised Land, Away We Go) to rom-coms (It's Complicated, Something Borrowed) to action flicks (13 Hours). He proved himself an action star on the small screen in Amazon's adaptation of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan novels as the titular character previously portrayed in movies by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine.

Krasinski has also launched a promising career as a director with horror hits, A Quiet Place (2018) and A Quiet Place Part II (2020), which featured his wife, Emily Blunt. He made a cameo appearance as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute)

Before The Office, Rainn Wilson was best known for his recurring role as Arthur Martin on Six Feet Under, but he proved himself a new comedic talent as eccentric, brown-nosing office drone Dwight Schrute, earning three Emmy nominations for his performance.

Since then, he's brought his unique brand of humor to shows like Adventure Time and Backstrom, and films like Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). In 2008, he founded the digital media company SoulPancake, and in 2015, he published an autobiography titled The Bassoon King. On TV, he has appeared on Star Trek: Discovery, the Amazon series Utopia, AMC's Dark Winds, and the Roku Channel TV movie Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor)

Mindy Kaling joined the sitcom as a member of the writing staff, but soon found her ditzy, romance-obsessed office worker Kelly Kapoor becoming a fan favorite. In 2010, she was nominated for an Emmy for writing "Niagara," the episode where Jim and Pam get married.

She also began to take on supporting roles in films like No Strings Attached (2011) and The Five-Year Engagement (2012), and doing voice-work for Wreck-It Ralph (2012). In 2012, Kaling began starring in her own show, The Mindy Project, where she played the lovable-but-narcissistic Mindy Lahiri for six seasons. Debuting on Fox, the series—which she also created, wrote, and produced—moved to Hulu for its fourth season as one of its first pieces of original programming.

Kaling memorably voiced Disgust in Pixar's Inside Out (2015) and featured in blockbuster films like A Wrinkle in Time (2018) and Ocean's 8 (2018). She continues to build her own impact as a multi-hyphenate, writing and appearing in projects like Late Night (2019) and NBC's short-lived Champions. She's also published multiple best-selling memoirs. Her work as a producer includes Hulu's Four Weddings and a Funeral, Netflix's Never Have I Ever, and HBO Max's The Sex Lives of College Girls and Velma.

B.J. Novak (Ryan Howard)

B.J. Novak was another cast member to pull double duty as actor and member of the writing staff. He portrayed Ryan Howard, the sleazy office intern who maintained a toxic relationship with Kelly Kapoor. Prior to The Office, Novak was a comedian, perhaps best known for his time as one of Ashton Kutcher's sidekicks on the prank show Punk'd.

Novak has continued to act in films like Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), and Saving Mr. Banks (2013), where he portrayed one of the Sherman brothers. He has also appeared on television shows including The Newsroom and Kaling's The Mindy Project.

However, Novak has focused more on writing and business ventures since his time on the show, releasing a collection of short stories titled One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, launching the now-defunct The List App, creating the Hulu anthology series The Premise, and writing, directing, and starring in the 2022 film Vengeance.

Leslie David Baker (Stanley Hudson)

Formerly a K–8 special education teacher, Leslie David Baker had bit roles on several television shows before earning his most memorable part as sarcastic, over-his-job paper salesman Stanley Hudson.

While he's still best known for his role on The Office, Baker has lent his voice to the 2017 Captain Underpants film and guest starred on shows including Scorpion and Life in Pieces. He also portrayed Principal Wentworth on Disney Channel's That's So Raven reboot, Raven's Home, and starred in various commercials for Honey Nut Cheerios.

Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone)

Brian Baumgartner had only scored a few guest-star appearances when he was cast as the dry, not-all-that-bright Kevin Malone on The Office.

That remains his most enduring role, but he's also appeared in films like License to Wed (2007) and Four Christmases (2008). He's continued to rack up guest-star credits on TV shows such as Scream Queens, Life in Pieces, Hot in Cleveland, Mike & Molly, and Melissa and Joey. He had a recurring role as Dr. Olonari on Amazon's Hand of God, and has appeared on Disjointed and The Goldbergs.

He has hosted multiple podcasts about The Office, including An Oral History of The Office for Spotify and The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner for iHeart.

Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin)

Kinsey was best known for a recurring voice role on King of the Hill before being cast as uptight, rule-stickler Angela Martin on The Office. Her scandalous, long-kept secret office romance with Dwight Schrute served as a fun counterpoint to the more tender romance of Jim and Pam.

She's continued to excel on television, starring on two seasons of Hulu's Real Housewives spoof The Hotwives and the Netflix series Haters Back Off!. She was a guest star on The Real O'Neals, Life in Pieces, New Girl, Impress Me, and more. She also costarred in the 2019 Netflix film Tall Girl and its 2022 sequel, Tall Girl 2. She cohosts Office Ladies with Fischer and wrote the book Office BFFs with her former costar.

Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Vance)

Phyllis Smith was working as a casting associate when offered a role as the soft-spoken Phyllis on The Office.

She has since parlayed the role into other memorable parts, including a highly-praised turn as the voice of Sadness in Inside Out. She's appeared on The Middle, Trophy Wife, and in the film Bad Teacher (2011) opposite Cameron Diaz. She also had a recurring role on Netflix's The OA and a small role in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021).

Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer)

Kate Flannery was well-known in the comedy world and as a stage performer before landing the part of the boozy Meredith Palmer.

She's since taken on similarly bawdy, gruff, and outlandish characters in guest-starring roles on shows like New Girl, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She lent her voice talents to the cartoons OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes and Steven Universe and recurred on the TV series All Night. In 2019, she was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars, ultimately placing seventh.

Oscar Nuñez (Oscar Martinez)

Oscar Nuñez built himself a solid career as a comedian and actor before earning his biggest role yet as Oscar Martinez, an office employee who is frequently the target of casual racism and homophobia. In 2009, he had a memorable turn as a stripper (and various other occupations) named Ramone in The Proposal.

Following The Office, he's headlined shows like Benched and People of Earth, as well as guest-starred on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Shameless, and Liv and Maddie. He also played Mr. Hernandez on Netflix's Mr. Iglesias, guested on three episodes of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and had supporting roles in the Sandra Bullock-led film The Lost City (2022) and the Disney+ original Disenchanted (2022).

Creed Bratton (Creed Bratton)

Creed Bratton played a fictional version of himself on The Office as the resident eccentric, enigmatic oddball. He has played various small roles since becoming an actor in 1979, but prior to the show was likely best known as a member of the folk band the Grass Roots.

Since The Office, he's guest-starred on various shows, including Adventure Time, Grace and Frankie, and Franklin & Bash. He also appeared in the well-received indie film Terri (2011), road trip comedy The Guilt Trip (2012), and the Western The Sisters Brothers (2018).

Ed Helms (Andy Bernard)

Like Carell, Helms was another former Daily Show correspondent who rose to wider fame on The Office, portraying a cappella-obsessed Cornell alum Andy Bernard.

Helms hit it big as a mild-mannered dentist who loses a tooth after a wild night in Vegas in 2009's The Hangover. He has also appeared in multiple Hangover sequels and other films like Cedar Rapids (2011) and We're the Millers (2013).

Helms has continued to amass a long string of guest-star credits on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Mindy Project, Angie Tribeca, Arrested Development, and more. He created and starred on the Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls.

Paul Lieberstein (Toby Flenderson)

Paul Lieberstein moonlighted as put-upon HR rep Toby Flenderson, but he was also actually one of the executive producers and writers of the show, even becoming showrunner for seasons 5–8.

Following The Office, he went on to executive produce the third and final season of The Newsroom, which he appeared on as a train passenger named Richard Westbrook. He also took over as showrunner for Fox's short-lived Ghosted. He guest-starred on an episode of The Mindy Project and had a recurring role on the series People of Earth.

In 2018, he wrote and directed his first feature film, Song of Back and Neck, which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. He went on to write and direct the 2022 Comedy Central TV movie Out of Office.

Craig Robinson (Darryl Philbin)

Craig Robinson is yet another Office success story. Though he'd worked in television and as a comedian prior to portraying warehouse worker Darryl Philbin, his time on The Office helped launch him to wider success.

He's starred in comedies like Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) and frequently collaborates with Seth Rogen, appearing in Knocked Up (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), and voicing Mr. Grits in Sausage Party (2016). He also portrayed a version of himself on the short-lived television series Mr. Robinson and lent his voice talents to The Cleveland Show and the 2022 animated film The Bad Guys. He starred on the Fox sitcom Ghosted opposite Adam Scott and has appeared on television on Mr. Robot, Big Mouth, and more, including a memorable recurring role as Doug Judy, "the Pontiac Bandit," on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Robinson has also dabbled in drama since leaving The Office, appearing in the James Brown biopic Get on Up (2014) and indie drama Morris From America (2016), for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination. In 2022, he began starring in the Peacock comedy series Killing It.

Ellie Kemper (Erin Hannon)

A comedian on the improv circuit, Kemper was best known for viral internet sketches before joining The Office as new receptionist Erin Hannon when Pam moved into a sales job.

She then went on to appear in films like Bridesmaids (2011), 21 Jump Street (2012), and The Secret Life of Pets (2016), as well as on TV series including The Mindy Project, Sofia the First, and Drunk History. Kemper headlined the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and earned two Emmy nominations for her portrayal of the title character.

In 2018, she published her first book, My Squirrel Days. Kemper recreated the beloved All in the Family character Gloria Stivic on ABC's Live in Front of a Studio Audience specials. She costarred in the Disney+ comedy film Home Sweet Home Alone in 2021.