So Much More Than Dwight: 13 Times Rainn Wilson Played Total Weirdos Before ‘The Office’

Rainn Wilson knows that he has Dwight K. Schrute to thank for his starring roles in offbeat comedies like The Rocker and Super. His role as Dunder Mifflin’s smarmy Assistant to the Regional Manager on The Office boosted the actor’s popularity almost overnight. But what about before Dwight?

The actor is celebrating his 49th birthday today and has a new series — Backstorm — where he plays an antisocial and cynical detective premiering January 22. (Based on the character description, the guy would probably get along great with Dwight.) To gear up for Backstorm, let’s take a look at Wilson’s roles playing various weirdos before he became engaged in a never-ending prank war with Jim Halpert in 2005.

1. One Life To Live, Casey Keegan — 1997

2. Galaxy Quest, Lahnk — 1999

3. The Expendables, Newman — 1999

4. Almost Famous, David Felton — 2000

5. Charmed, Kierkan — 2001
“Coyote Piper”

6. Dark Angel, Phil — 2001
“I and I am a Camera”


7. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, guy in supermarket — 2001
“The Strip Mall Strangler”

8. America’s Sweethearts, Dave O’Hanalon — 2001

9. Law & Order: SVU, janitor — 2002
“Waste”

10. House Of 1,000 Corpses, Bill Hudley — 2003

11. Monk, Walker Browning — 2003
“Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame”

12. Baadasssss!, Bill Harris — 2003

13. Six Feet Under, Arthur Martin — 2003-2005
various episodes

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