10 Best Supporting Stars Of ‘The Office’, Ranked

Over a span of nine seasons and 201 episodes, an American version of ‘The Office‘ showcased the day-to-day lives of employees at the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office, using a mockumentary style. Created by Greg Daniels, this series initially aired on NBC and utilized a documentary crew concept that influenced elements such as interview segments and ongoing storylines centered around sales, mergers, and corporate changes happening in Scranton.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire the extraordinary cast that brought this production to life. The lead actors certainly held the heart of the story, but there were also an impressive group of performers who filled crucial roles, seamlessly transitioning between warehouse and office settings, and even dabbling as writers and producers behind the scenes.

What’s fascinating is how many of these talented individuals joined mid-show or switched positions as the narrative unfolded. And let me tell you, several of them made significant returns to tie up loose ends both personally and professionally by the final curtain call.

10. Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson

Melora Hardin plays the character of Jan Levinson, a high-ranking executive at Dunder Mifflin who is responsible for managing the Scranton branch and supervising Michael Scott throughout several seasons. Jan features in appraisals, corporate conferences, and meetings where sales targets and business strategies are determined for the branches, and her choices influence staffing, mergers, and financial decisions in Scranton and Stamford.

After departing from the company, Jan establishes a candle business named Serenity by Jan, where she continues to make appearances in storylines that intertwine her corporate past with the new branch. Additionally, she becomes a parent through a sperm donor and remains a regular character in both legal and personal narratives involving former coworkers from ‘The Office’.

9. Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson

As a dedicated movie buff might put it: I, a seasoned sales rep, hail from Scranton, where I’ve served long-term clients alongside my fellow sales team members. I take part in yearly sales drives, branchwide incentives, and cross-branch meetings that focus on achieving quotas and maintaining client relationships. And oh, did I mention? I’m frequently involved in company-wide events that are captured by the documentary crew.

Towards the end of the series, Stanley decides to retire following the broadcast of the documentary and subsequently moves to Florida, marking the conclusion of a career that encompassed fire drills, safety workshops, and committee work within the office. However, he makes appearances at events linked to the release of the documentary and maintains connections with colleagues who transition into new positions after the series’ workplace undergoes changes.

8. Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone

Brian Baumgartner portrays Kevin Malone, an accountant who operates behind the scenes with the Scranton accounting team. His responsibilities include managing daily ledger duties, resolving petty cash matters, and conducting branch audits. Additionally, he leads the band Scrantonicity, performing at office events such as a coworker’s wedding.

Toward the end of the show, Dwight Schrute let me go during a round of staff shakeups, but later I opened my own bar, which turned into a hangout for old friends from work. When they made a documentary about the series events, I came back and reconnected with former coworkers at the final Scranton celebrations on ‘The Office’. As a diehard fan, it was like reliving the good old days!

7. Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Vance

In a simplified manner: Phyllis Smith portrays Phyllis Vance, a saleswoman based in Scranton who handles accounts throughout the region. She’s also part of the Party Planning Committee. She ties sales initiatives with warehouse logistics using her business park contacts and gets involved in numerous sales contests and company events, as she is married to Bob Vance from Vance Refrigeration.

Prior to landing her role, Smith had previously worked as a casting associate. Her office readings during the initial stages significantly impacted the show’s development, ultimately leading to her being cast for a role that spanned the entire series. She was prominently featured in the final episodes and subsequent reunions, and her character continues to be integral to storylines connecting the sales floor with neighboring buildings, as well as recurring party planning duties throughout ‘The Office’.

6. Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor

Mindy Kaling plays the role of Kelly Kapoor, a representative who handles client calls, resolves complaints, and deals with returns that correspond to Scranton’s sales activity. Previously, Kelly has been involved in training new hires for customer service roles and collaborating with higher-ups on policy and compliance teams.

In addition to acting on ‘The Office’, Kaling was also involved in writing and producing episodes, crafting scripts that formed storylines for various departments. Her character eventually departs Scranton due to a romantic development, reappearing at significant events related to the documentary series that link past and current employees.

5. B. J. Novak as Ryan Howard

B.J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard, an individual who initially works as a temp at the Scranton office before advancing to a management position within the company. Throughout this career progression, Ryan is involved in introducing new products and projects that bridge the gap between New York headquarters and branch operations. Subsequently, he returns to the Scranton office following his corporate tenure.

Novak played multiple roles on ‘The Office’, both as a writer and producer, and also acted. He helped shape the storylines throughout the show. On-screen, Ryan introduced the tech company WUPHF dot com upon his return to Scranton, worked in an annex adjacent to customer service, and continued to be part of corporate and branch matters till the end of the series.

4. Paul Lieberstein as Toby Flenderson

In a different setting, Paul Lieberstein portrays Toby Flenderson, the dedicated HR representative for the Scranton office who focuses on policy management, incident reports, and ensuring corporate compliance. Toby leads training sessions, supervises investigations within the workplace, and manages documentation linking Scranton’s operations to corporate legal obligations.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to highlight that Lieberstein played an integral role off-camera, penning scripts and overseeing production as a producer, even serving as showrunner for several seasons of ‘The Office’. On the screen, Toby took a temporary leave to Costa Rica, only to return to his post in HR at Scranton. He was there to witness and be part of the poignant documentary release events that concluded the series.

3. Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin

As a follower, I embody Angela Martin, the head of Scranton’s accounting department who has long presided over our Party Planning Committee. My role involves meticulously managing budgets and scrutinizing expense approvals. Additionally, I collaborate with corporate auditors during branch financial reviews, and I delegate accounting tasks that facilitate sales tracking and inventory reconciliation.

In the show ‘The Office’, Angela’s plotlines involve an engagement with Andy Bernard, a romantic involvement with Dwight Schrute, and a wedding with Dwight in the final episode. Furthermore, her relationship with State Senator Robert Lipton, which intersects with political office matters, impacts various departments throughout the series.

2. Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez

In a simple and conversational manner: Oscar Nunez plays the role of Oscar Martinez, an accountant from Scranton who focuses on budgeting, analysis, and corporate reporting. He becomes pivotal in HR and management storylines after Michael Scott discloses details about his personal life, and subsequently takes part in corporate training sessions on sensitivity and policy revisions.

In subsequent plot developments, Oscar finds himself entangled in story arcs that overlap with State Senator Robert Lipton, Angela Martin’s family, and political occurrences within ‘The Office’. He maintains his presence throughout the following seasons, making appearances at documentaries screenings and panel discussions, while also linking accounting functions to organization-wide projects.

1. Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin

Craig Robinson portrays Darryl Philbin, a warehouse manager responsible for overseeing shipping, receiving, and safety protocols at the Scranton business park. As time goes by, he engages in discussions with higher-ups regarding promotions and personnel matters. He subsequently transitions from his role in the warehouse to an office position upstairs, and begins attending meetings with management that aim to harmonize warehouse operations with sales goals.

Later on, Darryl decides to take up a job opportunity with Jim Halpert’s sports marketing company, Athlead, which is based in Austin. This move connects the Scranton storyline to his professional journey after the documentary, essentially marking a new phase in his career. Darryl eventually returns for the significant events surrounding the documentary premiere and reunions. Throughout ‘The Office’, we witness his transformation from being a warehouse supervisor to transitioning into corporate roles, a transition that spans a substantial portion of the series.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below! Who from ‘The Office’ cast, aside from the main characters, do you think deserves more recognition? Let’s discuss!

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2025-08-19 18:46