| Rainn Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson attending the premiere of The Union at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival |
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| Born | Rainn Dietrich Wilson January 20, 1966 [1] Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, director, art collector |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Religion | Bahá'í |
| Spouse | Holiday Reinhorn (1995–present) |
Rainn Dietrich Wilson (born January 20, 1966)[2] is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office. He has also directed two episodes of The Office: the sixth season's "The Cover-Up" and the seventh season's "Classy Christmas".
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Wilson was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of Shay Cooper, a yoga teacher and actress, and Robert G. Wilson, a novel writer, artist, and business consultant who wrote the science fiction novel Tentacles of Dawn. Rainn showed the book and read from it on Jimmy Kimmel Live March 22, 2011. Wilson attended Central Middle School and Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, Washington, where he played the clarinet and bassoon in the band.[3] He transferred to and graduated from New Trier High School after his family moved to Wilmette, Illinois to serve at the Bahá'í National Center.[4] Wilson has a theatre background from Tufts University and the University of Washington, and has taught acting classes. He holds an MFA from New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts[5] and was a member of The Acting Company.[6] While acting in theatrical productions in New York, he drove a moving van to make ends meet.[7]
In addition to his starring role on The Office, Wilson appeared as the eccentric Arthur Martin—the intern at Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home—on HBO's Six Feet Under. He has also appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI, NUMB3RS, and Entourage, in the latter portraying a sleazy entertainment journalist based on Harry Knowles[8] of Ain't It Cool News. Wilson guest-starred as a murderous baseball fan in an episode of Monk entitled "Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame" and as a virologist in an episode of "NUMB3RS" entitled "Vector." He appeared in the "Coyote Piper" episode of Charmed as an alchemist named Kierkan. On February 24, 2007, Wilson hosted Saturday Night Live, becoming the second cast member from The Office to host (after Steve Carell). During the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wilson appeared in ads for the 2007 United States women's national soccer team as public relations manager "Jim Mike." Wilson has made a guest appearance in two episodes of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim-bloc series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job. Wilson has also appeared on Reno 911.
Wilson was also in the music video for Andy Grammer's "Keep Your Head Up" as the "creepy elevator guy."
Wilson made the final cut for the role of Gob in Arrested Development, but was beaten out by Will Arnett for it
His film credits include Almost Famous, America's Sweethearts, BAADASSSSS!, Galaxy Quest, House of 1000 Corpses, Sahara, The Last Mimzy, Juno (in which he played convenience store clerk Rollo), The Rocker, and My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
Wilson starred in the Fox Atomic comedy The Rocker, released on August 20, 2008.[9] His 2009 films include Bonzai Shadowhands, which he co-wrote and co-produced;[7] Renaissance Men, which he wrote and is co-producing;[10] the DreamWorks Animation film Monsters vs. Aliens, for which he voiced the villainous alien overlord Gallaxhar;[11] and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, in which he played a university professor.[12] 2011 brought him another lead role as the unhinged protagonist of Super.
Wilson wrote in-character as Dwight Schrute on his NBC blog, "Schrute-Space".[13] In June 2008, Wilson confirmed that he no longer writes the blog.[14]
Wilson founded the website SoulPancake. Since its launch in March 2009, it has had over 1 million visits, and has been featured on Oprah Winfrey's Satellite Radio Show.[15]
Wilson is married to writer Holiday Reinhorn. They met in an acting class in college and married on the Kalama River in Washington. The couple have a son, Walter Mckenzie, born in 2004, and they currently reside in Agoura Hills, California. They have three pit bulls, Oona, Barry, and Pilot.[16] He and his family are members of the Bahá'í Faith.[17][18][19] A short film inspired by his character in The Office was selected and shown at the 2009 Dawn Breakers International Film Festival in Zurich.[20]
On Bill Maher's Real Time, Wilson described himself as a diverse independent, voting for Republican, Green Party, and Democratic candidates. Wilson's charitable works include fundraising for the educational organization The Mona Foundation.[21]
Wilson and his father, both art collectors, buy and sell fine art and represent contemporary artists on their website, rrwilsonart.com.[1]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Galaxy Quest | Lahnk | |
| 1999 | The Expendables | Newman | |
| 2000 | Almost Famous | David Felton | |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | Dave O'Hanlon | |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Brian | |
| 2002 | Wheelmen | Barney | |
| 2003 | House of 1000 Corpses | Bill Hudley | |
| BAADASSSSS! | Bill Harris | ||
| 2005 | The Life Coach | Dr. Watson Newmark | |
| Sahara | Rudi Gunn | ||
| 2006 | My Super Ex-Girlfriend | Vaughn Haige | |
| 2007 | The Last Mimzy | Larry White | |
| Juno | Rollo | ||
| 2008 | The Rocker | Robert 'Fish' Fishman | |
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Gallaxhar | Voice only |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Professor Colan | ||
| 2010 | Super | Frank D'Arbo / The Crimson Bolt | |
| 2011 | Hesher | Paul Forney | |
| Peep World | Joel Meyerwitz |
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Riddles Of The Paranormal | Xanthony O'Harbinger's | Several episodes |
| 1997 | One Life to Live | Casey Keegan | Several episodes |
| 2001 | Charmed | Kierkan | Single episode |
| When Billie Beat Bobby | Dennis Van De Meer | Television film | |
| Dark Angel | Phil | Single episode | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Guy in Supermarket | Single episode | |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Janitor | Single episode |
| 2003 | Monk | Walker Browning | Single episode |
| 2003–2005 | Six Feet Under | Arthur Martin | Thirteen episodes |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Martin Grolsch | Single episode |
| Entourage | R. J. Spencer | Single episode | |
| 2007 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Single Episode |
| 2008 | Tim and Eric Nite Live! | The Psychic | Single episode |
| Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Bobby Stoan | Three episodes | |
| 2009 | Reno 911! | Calvin Robin Tomlinson | Single episode |
| 2005–present | The Office | Dwight Schrute | Every episode |
| 2010 | Family Guy | Dwight Schrute | Single episode; guest voice actor |