Rainn Wilson (Actor)

Rainn Wilson poses during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo: Mark Main / Getty Images)

About Rainn Wilson

As Dwight Schrute, the obnoxious sales rep with a superiority complex second only to his boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) in NBC’s comedy hit “The Office,” actor Rainn Wilson took that most coveted of roles – the guy you love to hate – and ran with it, chewing up the scenery with his uberdork proclivities and hyper-intense observations of his co-workers. His hysterical rounds of kiss-ass to Carell's Scott were among the most gut-busting scenes in a show chock full of them. Wilson's comedic skills, coupled with a distinctive bespectacled look and a range of goofy facial expressions, helped make Wilson a fan favorite and highly bankable star in other genres, including as big screen second banana.

Born Jan. 20, 1966, Wilson grew up in Seattle, WA, but went to high school in Illinois. He attended college at Tufts University and the University of Washington before studying acting ay NYU’s graduate acting program. He joined The Acting Company and Arena Stage, performing off-Broadway in “Titus Andronicus,” “Twelfth Night” and “Venus” as well as on Broadway in “London Assurance” and “The Tempest.” He also co-created and directed the sketch comedy and clown show “The New Bozena” in New York – later directing a short film version of the stage show, and creating an unsold pilot presentation to Fox TV, as well.

One of Wilson’s first acting jobs was on the soap opera “One Life to Live,” and he followed that gig with appearances on a handful of feature films, including “Galaxy Quest” (1999), “Almost Famous” (2001), and Steven Soderbergh’s “Full Frontal” (2002). Later big screen appearances included the action adventure comedy “Sahara” (2004), opposite Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn and Penelope Cruz.

He also made a slew of appearances on network television, including bit parts on “Dark Angel” (Fox), “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” (CBS) and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and “Numb3rs” (CBS),” but Wilson’s biggest television breakthrough was on HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” where he made a tremendous impression playing the odd mortician Arthur Martin, an unlikely romantic interest for series lead Frances Conroy. He also had a memorable one-episode stint on HBO's comedy "Entourage" in 2005, playing a Harry Knowles-esque Internet journalist who uses his clout with the fan-boy fringe to influence how star Vince Chase (Adrian Grenier) is required to deal with him.

Wilson’s role of the delightfully unctuous, self-important Dwight on NBC's American version of the British cult favorite series "The Office" (2005 - ), where he is unwitting recipient of antagonism by his co-workers, was patterned after the character of Gareth, played by Mackenzie Keenan in the original BBC production, but Wilson created a wildly unique comedic character in its own right. Dwight earns the ribbing he gets with his strict by-the-book ways and constant insertion of himself as the second-in-command to boss Steve Carell ("It's Assistant Regional Manager – not Assistant TO THE Regional Manager") and the two performers quickly developed a brilliant comedic give-and-take that became the centerpiece of the series' more outrageous moments. On July 19, 2007, Wilson received a well-earned (and, according to many, long overdue) Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

As the show's devoted fan pool continued to grow, Wilson was given opportunities to expand his resume outside of Dunder-Mifflin. In 2006, he was cast in the Luke Wilson/Uma Thurman comedy “My Super-Ex-Girlfriend,” directed by comedy legend Ivan Reitman, in which he portrayed Wilson's repugnant loser friend, Vaughn Haige. While the film ended up a summer box office disappointment, the edge was taken off when the third season of "The Office" resumed in the fall to stellar ratings and a quickly expanding fan base. Wilson wrapped up a good year by writing and starring in his own dark comedy, "Bonzai Shadowhands" (2006), in which he portrayed a retiring ninja. The following year, Wilson landed a supporting role in the entertaining fantasy “The Last Mimzy” (2007) directed by New Line head honcho, Robert Shaye.

Notes

"I would describe my look as lantern-jawed, rugged, and chiseled," muses Wilson. "Oh, wait — that's Mark Harmon. I'm gangly and freakish. Put it this way: My looks go hand in hand with the characters I usually play. It's all in the hair." - Wilson to EW, June 28, 2006