Rainn Wilson

Rainn Wilson Headshot

Actor • Comedian • Writer

Birth Date: January 20, 1966

Age: 58 years old

Birth Place: Seattle, Washington

As Dwight Schrute, the obnoxious German sales rep with a superiority complex second only to his boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) on NBC's comedy hit "The Office" (2005-13), 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 überdork proclivities and hyper-intense observations of his co-workers. His hysterical rounds of kiss-up to Carell's arrogant 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 him a fan favorite and highly bankable star in other genres, including as big screen second banana in films like "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" (2006), "The Last Mimzy" (2007), "Juno" (2007) and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009). But it was his turn as the egotistical Dwight that earned him a legion of diehard fans and numerous award nominations, while propelling his career to the next level.

Born Jan. 20, 1966, Wilson grew up in Seattle, WA, but attended high school in Illinois. He attended college at Tufts University and the University of Washington before studying acting at New York University'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/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 the Fox network.

One of Wilson's first acting jobs was on the soap opera "One Life to Live" (ABC, 1968-2012) and he followed that gig with appearances in 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, 2000-02), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," (CBS, 2000-15), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ) and "Numb3rs" (CBS, 2005-2010)," but Wilson's biggest television breakthrough ended up being on HBO's "Six Feet Under" (2001-05) 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" (2004-2011) in 2005, playing a Harry Knowles-esque Internet journalist who uses his clout with the fan-boy fringe to influence how star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) is required to deal with him.

Wilson's role of the delightfully self-important Dwight Schrute on the American version of the British cult favorite series "The Office" (NBC, 2005-13), where he is an unwitting recipient of antagonism by his Dunder-Mifflin co-workers, was patterned after the character of Gareth, played by Mackenzie Keenan in the original BBC production. However 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 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 résumé outside of Dunder-Mifflin. In 2006, he was cast in the Luke Wilson/Uma Thurman comedy "My Super-Ex-Girlfriend," directed by 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 fast 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, as well as a cameo role in the critical darling, "Juno" (2007). The following year, Wilson landed a supporting role in the entertaining fantasy "The Last Mimzy" (2007), directed by New Line head honcho, Robert Shaye. After playing a failed drummer given a second chance at fame in "The Rocker" (2008), he was a sleazy college professor in the blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009) and voiced the alien overlord Gallaxhar in the animated "Monsters vs. Aliens" (2009). Meanwhile, Wilson continued to receive well-deserved accolades for "The Office," earning his third consecutive Emmy nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2009.

Credits

Lessons in ChemistryStream

Actor
Phil Lebensmal
Miniseries
2023
86%

Rainn Wilson and the Geography of BlissStream

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2023

Rainn Wilson and the Geography of BlissStream

Host
Docuseries
2023

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

StoryBots: Answer Time

Guest Star
Show
2022

StoryBots: Answer Time

Guest Voice
Show
2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Dark WindsStream

Actor
Devoted Dan
Series
2022
100%

Jerry & Marge Go LargeStream

Actor
Bill
Movie
2022
67%

WEIRD: The Al Yankovic StoryStream

Actor
Dr. Demento
Movie
2022
84%

The Office: Superfan Episodes

Actor
Dwight Schrute
Show
2020

We Are the Champions

Executive Producer
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2020

We Are the Champions

Narrator
Show
2020

UtopiaStream

Actor
Michael Stearns
Series
2020
50%

Utopia - Extras

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Michael Stearns
Show
2020

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

Home Movie: The Princess Bride

Actor
Vizzini
Show
2020

All In Washington: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief

Actor
Show
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

Celebrity IOUStream

Self
Reality
2020

Tooning Out the News

Guest
Show
2020

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War

Voice
Lex Luthor
Movie
2020

Don't Tell a Soul

Actor
Hamby
Movie
2020

A Little Late With Lilly Singh

Guest
Talk
2019
82%

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Tamron Hall

Guest
Talk
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

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2019

The Death of Superman/Reign of the Supermen

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Lex Luthor
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2019

Reign of the Supermen

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Lex Luthor
Movie
2019

Batman: HushStream

Voice
Lex Luthor
Movie
2019
83%

The Death and Return of Superman

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Lex Luthor
Movie
2019

BlackbirdStream

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Michael
Movie
2019
63%

Today 3rd Hour

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2018

The RookieStream

Self
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2018

Star Trek: Short Treks

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Harry Mudd
Series
2018

Star Trek: Short Treks

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Series
2018

A Week In Interviews

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2018

Explained

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2018

The MegStream

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Morris
Movie
2018
47%

The Death of SupermanStream

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Lex Luthor
Movie
2018
93%

Complex X Fuse

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2017

Star Trek: DiscoveryStream

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Harry Mudd
Series
2017
85%

Star Trek: DiscoveryStream

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Harry Mudd
Series
2017
85%

Room 104Stream

Actor
Jim
Series
2017
88%

Live with Kelly and Ryan

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Talk
2017

Smurfs: The Lost Village

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Gargamel
Movie
2017

Shimmer Lake

Actor
Andy Sikes
Movie
2017

Permanent

Actor
Jim Dixon
Movie
2017

My Last DaysStream

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2016

The Preachers

Guest
Show
2016

Roadies

Guest Star
Bryce Newman
Series
2016
35%

Army of One

Actor
Agent Simons
Movie
2016

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Impress Me

Executive Producer
Show
2015

BackstromStream

Actor
Detective Lieutenant Everett Backstrom
Series
2015
36%

Uncanny

Actor
Castle
Movie
2015

The Boy

Actor
William Colby
Movie
2015

q

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Show
2014

The Mixtape by SoulPancake

Actor
Show
2014

The Mixtape by SoulPancake

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Show
2014

Running Wild With Bear GryllsStream

Self
Reality
2014

Kid President: Declaration of Awesome

Executive Producer
Show
2014

Backstrom: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Cooties

Actor
Wade
Movie
2014

MomStream

Actor
Trevor
Series
2013

MomStream

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Trevor
Series
2013

The Stream

Actor
Narrator / Ernest as Adult
Movie
2013

SoulPancake

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Show
2012

DreamWorks Spooky Stories

Actor
Show
2012

The Jeff Probst Show

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Show
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

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Talk
2012

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

Comedy Bang! Bang!Stream

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Series
2012

Comedy Bang! Bang!Stream

Guest Star
Series
2012

Super Soul SundayStream

Guest
Talk
2011

The Guthrie Theater Presents H.M.S. Pinafore

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Show
2011

Dish Nation

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Talk
2011

The Blitzen Trapper Massacre

Actor
Movie
2011

The Blitzen Trapper Massacre

Director
Movie
2011

Few Options

Actor
Cousin Don
Movie
2011

ConanStream

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Talk
2010

The Talk

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Talk
2010

The New Recruits

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2010

Adventure TimeStream

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Rattleballs
Series
2010
100%

Adventure TimeStream

Guest Voice
Peace Master/Rattleballs
Series
2010
100%

Super

Actor
Frank Darbo/The Crimson Bolt
Movie
2010

Super

Executive Producer
Movie
2010

Peep World

Actor
Joel
Movie
2010

Hesher

Actor
Paul Forney
Movie
2010

Lopez Tonight

Guest
Show
2009

Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space

Voice
Wicked Jack
Show
2009

The Jay Leno Show

Guest
Show
2009

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien

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Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Monsters vs. AliensStream

Voice
Gallaxhar
Movie
2009
74%

The Rocker

Actor
Robert "Fish" Fishman
Movie
2008

The Last Mimzy

Actor
Larry White
Movie
2007

JunoStream

Actor
Rollo
Movie
2007
94%

Rachael Ray ShowStream

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Talk
2006

etalk

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2006

Dominion

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Angel Gabriel
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2006

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

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Vaughn
Movie
2006

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

The OfficeStream

Actor
Dwight Schrute
Series
2005
81%

The OfficeStream

Director
Series
2005
81%

The OfficeStream

Producer
Series
2005
81%

Out There with Melissa DiMarco

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2005

NUMB3RSStream

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2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

SaharaStream

Actor
Rudi Gunn
Movie
2005
38%

EntourageStream

Guest Star
R.J. Spencer
Series
2004
65%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

House of 1000 CorpsesStream

Actor
Bill
Movie
2003
21%

Baadasssss!

Actor
Bill Harris
Movie
2003

MDs

Guest Star
Show
2002

MonkStream

Guest Star
Walker Browning
Series
2002
91%

Wheelmen

Actor
Barney
Movie
2002

Six Feet UnderStream

Actor
Arthur Martin
Series
2001
81%

Six Feet UnderStream

Guest Star
Arthur Martin
Series
2001
81%

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Guy in Supermarket
Series
2000

Dark Angel

Guest Star
Series
2000
65%

Entertainment Studios.com

Guest
Show
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Janitor
Series
1999
78%

Family Guy

Guest Voice
Dwight Schrute
Show
1999

Family GuyStream

Guest Voice
Dwight Schrute
Series
1999

Entertainers: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1994

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

Canada AM

Guest
Show
1972

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutRainn Wilson

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