Rainn Wilson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wilson atGalaxyCon Richmond in 2025 | |
| Born | Rainn Percival Dietrich Wilson (1966-01-20)January 20, 1966 (age 59) Seattle,Washington, U.S. |
| Other names | Rainnfall Heat Wave Rising Sea Levels Wilson (social media) |
| Education | Tufts University University of Washington (BFA) New York University (MFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Known for | Dwight Schrute |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Rainn Percival Dietrich Wilson (born January 20, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, producer, writer, and director. He starred asDwight Schrute onNBC's American adaptation ofThe Office from 2005 to 2013, and received three consecutiveEmmy Award nominations forOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role.
Wilson began acting at theUniversity of Washington. Following his 1986 graduation, he worked in theatre inNew York City. He made his film debut inGalaxy Quest (1999), followed by supporting parts inAlmost Famous (2000),Steven Soderbergh'sFull Frontal (2002), andHouse of 1000 Corpses (2003). He also had a recurring part asArthur Martin in theHBO seriesSix Feet Under from 2003 to 2005.
Wilson's other film credits include lead roles in the comediesThe Rocker (2008) andSuper (2010), and supporting roles in the horror filmsCooties (2014) andThe Boy (2015). In 2009, he was heard in the animatedscience fiction filmMonsters vs. Aliens as the villain Gallaxhar, and voicedGargamel inSmurfs: The Lost Village (2017). He has had the guest-starring role ofHarry Mudd onStar Trek: Discovery (2017) andStar Trek: Short Treks (2018), and a supporting role inThe Meg (2018). From 2018 to 2021, he had a recurring role as Trevor on seasons 6–8 of theCBS sitcomMom. He is also the voice ofLex Luthor in theDC Animated Movie Universe. Outside of acting, Wilson published his autobiography,The Bassoon King, in 2015, and cofounded the digital media company SoulPancake in 2008.
Wilson was born on January 20, 1966,[1] at theUniversity of Washington Medical Center inSeattle, Washington,[2] the son of Shay Cooper, ayoga teacher and actress, and Robert G. Wilson (1941–2020), a novelist, artist and business consultant who wrote the science fiction novelTentacles of Dawn.[3][4] Wilson is of part Norwegian ancestry.[5][6] From ages three to five, he lived with his father and stepmother, Kristin, inNicaragua before they returned to Seattle after their divorce.[7] He attendedKellogg Middle School andShorecrest High School inShoreline, Washington, where he played theclarinet andbassoon in the school band.[8] He transferred to and graduated fromNew Trier High School after his family moved toWilmette,Illinois, to serve at theBaháʼí National Center.[2]
Wilson attendedTufts University inMedford, Massachusetts, before transferring to theUniversity of Washington in Seattle, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in drama in 1986.[2] He then enrolled inNew York University'sGraduate Acting Program at theTisch School of the Arts where he graduated with anMFA in acting[9] and was a member ofThe Acting Company.[10] Between acting jobs in New York City, he drove a moving van to make ends meet.[11]
Wilson worked extensively in the theater early in his career, performing withThe Public Theater, theEnsemble Studio Theatre,Playwrights Horizons, theRoundabout, and theGuthrie Theater, among others. He played one of the eight chorus members inRichard Foreman's 1996 production ofSuzan-Lori Parks'Venus,[12] and was nominated for threeHelen Hayes Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his work at theArena Stage.
Wilson first appeared onscreen in 1997 in an episode of the soap operaOne Life to Live, followed by a supporting role in the television filmThe Expendables (1999).[13] He made his feature film debut inGalaxy Quest (1999), followed by a minor supporting role inCameron Crowe'sAlmost Famous (2000). In 2001, he played Dennis Van De Meer inWhen Billie Beat Bobby.[14] In 2002, he was cast in a lead role inRob Zombie's horror filmHouse of 1000 Corpses (2003).[15] Beginning in 2003, Wilson playedArthur Martin, an intern at Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home inHBO'sSix Feet Under, earning aScreen Actors Guild award for best drama ensemble for the series. He also had minor roles inAmerica's Sweethearts (2001) and theMelvin van Peebles biopicBaadasssss! (2003). He guest-starred inLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Entourage,[16]Monk,Numbers,Charmed,Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job, andReno 911!
In 2005, Wilson appeared in the comedy filmSahara[17] and in the independentmockumentary filmThe Life Coach. The same year, he was cast as neurotic assistant managerDwight Schrute in the network seriesThe Office,[18] for which he was nominated forEmmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and won twoSAG awards as part of Best Comedy Ensemble on the series. As well as acting on the series, he directed three episodes: "The Cover-Up" (season 6), "Classy Christmas" (season 7) and "Get the Girl" (season 8).[citation needed]
On February 24, 2007, Wilson hostedSaturday Night Live, becoming the secondThe Office cast member to host (afterSteve Carell). During the2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wilson appeared in ads for the 2007United States women's national soccer team as public relations manager "Jim Mike". In August 2010, he appeared in the music video forFerraby Lionheart's "Harry and Bess" andAndy Grammer's "Keep Your Head Up" as the "creepy elevator guy".
Wilson starred in theFox Atomic comedyThe Rocker (2008).[19] In 2009 he joined the voice cast ofDreamWorks Animation filmMonsters vs. Aliens as villainous alien overlord Gallaxhar; and was featured inTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen, playing a university professor. In 2010, he had the lead role of the unhinged protagonist inSuper. CriticRoger Ebert faulted the script, but praised Wilson's performance: "[Wilson] never seems to be trying to be funny, and that's a strength."[20]
For his role of Paul, the bereft father, inHesher (2011), Roger Ebert said of Wilson's work: “He has that rare quality in an actor, an uncanny presence. There are a few like him (Jack Nicholson, Christopher Walken, Bill Murray) who need only to look at something to establish an attitude toward it. Yes, they can get worked up, they can operate on high, but their passive essence is the point: dubious, wise, sadly knowledgable [sic], at an angle to the throughline. Other actors could sit on a sofa and watch TV, but Rainn Wilson makes it a statement. A statement of … nothing, which is the point."[21]
In 2014, Wilson had roles in the independent horror comedyCooties and the thrillerThe Boy (2015).[22] In theFox crime-drama seriesBackstrom, he played Everett Backstrom, an offensive, self-destructive detective, based onLeif G. W. Persson's Swedish book series of the same name.[23] Wilson was also one of the show's producers. It was cancelled by Fox after 13 episodes.[24] In 2016, Wilson appeared as a guest star on the TV seriesRoadies.
In 2017, Wilson voicedGargamel in the 2017 animated reboot ofSmurfs: The Lost Village forSony Pictures Animation.[25] He also starred in the independent comedy filmPermanent, directed byColette Burson and produced by2929 Entertainment.[26] Wilson starred inShimmer Lake (2017) for Netflix andThe Meg (2018) forWarner Brothers.[27]
Wilson was cast in the guest role ofHarry Mudd inStar Trek: Discovery, and directed theStar Trek: Short Treks episode "The Escape Artist".[28] He has voicedLex Luthor in various DC animated films, includingThe Death of Superman,Reign of the Supermen,Batman: Hush, andJustice League Dark: Apokolips War.[citation needed]
In 2019, Wilson appeared in the independent dramaBlackbird, and in 2020 starred in the independent thrillerDon't Tell a Soul.[29] In 2020, he was also a series regular in theAmazon Original SeriesUtopia as virologist Dr. Michael Sterns.[citation needed] On October 10, 2019, he was featured in the 30-minuteYouTube documentaryLaughing Matters, created by SoulPancake in collaboration withFunny or Die, wherein a variety of comedians discuss mental health.[30] Wilson was cast as the villain in the upcoming animated filmHitpig!.[31] In 2020, he executive-produced and narrated the Netflix documentary seriesWe Are the Champions.
Wilson played Trevor Wells, the recurring therapist to Bonnie (Allison Janney) on nine episodes of the CBS sitcomMom.[32] He was also cast in mystery seriesDark Winds onAMC.[33] In 2023, Wilson appeared in four episodes ofLessons in Chemistry onApple TV.[34]
Wilson presented the travel seriesRainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss in 2023 forPeacock.[35] Wilson's other streaming credits include a role inJerry & Marge Go Large forParamount+,[36] and a loose depiction ofDr. Demento inWeird: The Al Yankovic Story.[37] Wilson is set to play a lead role inCode 3, a buddy comedy film.[38]
Wilson portrayed Caldwell B. Cladwell inUrinetown during a limited run production atNew York City Center as a part of theirEncores! series in early 2025.[39]
Wilson co-founded the website and YouTube channel SoulPancake with Joshua Homnick and Devon Gundry in 2008.[40] As of February 20, 2019, the channel had over 3 million subscribers and 557 million video views. The channel was featured onOprah Winfrey's Satellite Radio Show andSuper Soul Sunday[41] and was named one ofFast Company's 10 Most Innovative Companies in Video for 2015.[1] In 2015, it was ranked No. 114 on theInc. 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America List.[42] In 2016 the channel was purchased byParticipant Media.[43]
Wilson co-wrote theNew York Times bestsellerSoulPancake: Chew on Life's Big Questions (2010). In 2015, he publishedThe Bassoon King, a humorous memoir of his personal life, career and faith.[44]
Wilson is a climate-change activist. He visited Greenland in 2019 withArctic Basecamp, whose Advisory Board he also serves on. During the trip he shot the web docuseriesThe Idiot’s Guide to Climate Change for SoulPancake's YouTube channel.[45]
In 2021, Wilson voiced the title character in the comedy audio seriesDark Air with Terry Carnation. The podcast series is based on his character Terry Carnation from theRadio Rental podcast, created by Payne Lindsey.
Wilson also competed in Chess.com'sPogChamps 3 chess competition, finishing in second place after a tiebreaker game with French streamerSardoche [fr].[46]
In 2024, Wilson launched a long-form interview podcast on YouTube titledSoul Boom w/ Rainn Wilson.
Wilson is married to writerHoliday Reinhorn, whom he met in an acting class at the University of Washington.[2] They married on theKalama River inWashington in 1995, and have a son, Walter, born in 2004. They have a home outside ofSisters, Oregon, and a house in Los Angeles. They have twopit bulls, Pilot and Diamond;[47] twoVietnamese pot-bellied pigs, Snortington and Amy; a donkey named Chili Beans; and azonkey named Derek.[48][49]
Wilson and his family are members of theBaháʼí Faith.[50][51][52] The website Baháʼí Blog, which is popular in the Bahá’í community, hosts Wilson'spodcast, theBaháʼí Blogcast, for which he interviews notable people[example needed] about the intersection of their faith and work.[53]
OnBill Maher'sReal Time, Wilson described himself as a diverse independent, having voted forRepublican,Green andDemocratic candidates.[54] In 2008, he said he regretted the statement: "It was kind of a mistake, I don’t want to talk politics. […] The process of politics is so deeply corrupt on so many levels. Even the greatest candidate in the world couldn’t really make that much of a difference. But people with compassionate hearts can make the world a better place."[54] However, Wilson does vote.[54]
Wilson's charitable works include fundraising for theMona Foundation, a Bahá’í-inspired charity operating in developing countries.[55] In 2013, he co-foundedLidè Haiti, an educational initiative that uses the arts and literacy to empower adolescent girls in ruralHaiti.[56] As of 2024, the group works in 13 locations with over 500 girls, providing scholarships to many of them.[57]
On November 10, 2022, Wilson changed his name on social media toRainnfall Heat Wave Rising Sea Levels Wilson in an effort to raise awareness aboutclimate change, though he did not change his legal name.[58][59]
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Galaxy Quest | Lahnk | |
| 2000 | Almost Famous | David Felton | |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | Dave O'Hanlon | |
| 2002 | Full Frontal | Brian | |
| 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 |
| Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Professor Colan | Cameo | |
| 2010 | The New Recruits | Narrator | |
| Super | Frank Darbo / The Crimson Bolt | Also executive producer | |
| Hesher | Paul Forney | ||
| Peep World | Joel Meyerwitz | ||
| 2013 | The Stream | Adult Ernest | |
| 2014 | Cooties | Wade Johnson | |
| 2015 | Uncanny | Castle | |
| The Boy | William Colby | Also executive producer Nominated –Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| 2016 | Army of One | Agent Simons | |
| 2017 | Permanent | Jim Dixon | |
| Smurfs: The Lost Village | Gargamel | Voice | |
| Shimmer Lake | Andy Sikes | ||
| 2018 | The Death of Superman | Lex Luthor | Voice |
| The Meg | Jack Morris | ||
| Where in the Hell is the Lavender House? | Executive producer Documentary ofLongmont Potion Castle | ||
| 2019 | Reign of the Supermen | Lex Luthor | Voice |
| Brightburn | Frank Darbo / The Crimson Bolt | Cameo (photograph only) | |
| Batman: Hush | Lex Luthor[60] | Voice | |
| Blackbird | Michael | ||
| 2020 | Justice League Dark: Apokolips War | Lex Luthor | Voice |
| Don't Tell a Soul | Hamby | ||
| Don't Look Back | George Reed | Cameo Also known asGood Samaritan | |
| 2022 | Jerry & Marge Go Large | Bill | |
| Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Dr. Demento | ||
| 2023 | Ezra | Nick | |
| 2024 | Empire Waist | Mark | |
| Hitpig! | Leapin' Lord of the Leotard | Voice[61] | |
| 2025 | Paradise Records | Creepy Guy | |
| Home Delivery | Cheyenne | ||
| Code 3 | Randy | [62] | |
| TBA | At the Sea † | TBA | Filming |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | One Life to Live | Casey Keegan | |
| 1999 | The Expendables | Newman | Television film |
| 2000 | Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour | Roadmaster | Uncredited |
| 2001 | Charmed | Kierkan | Episode: "Coyote Piper" |
| When Billie Beat Bobby | Dennis Van De Meer | Television film | |
| Dark Angel | Phil | Episode: "I and I Am a Camera" | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Guy in Supermarket | Episode: "The Strip Strangler" | |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Janitor | Episode: "Waste" |
| 2003 | Monk | Walker Browning | Episode: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame" |
| 2003–2005 | Six Feet Under | Arthur Martin | 13 episodes |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Martin Grolsch | Episode: "Vector" |
| Entourage | R. J. Spencer | Episode: "I Love You Too" | |
| 2005–2013 | The Office | Dwight Schrute | 201 episodes |
| 2007 | Saturday Night Live | Host | Episode: "Rainn Wilson/Arcade Fire" |
| 2008 | Tim and Eric Nite Live! | The Psychic | Episode: "1.8" |
| 2008; 2010 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2009 | Reno 911! | Calvin Robin Tomlinson | Episode: "Digging with the Murderer" |
| 2010 | Family Guy | Dwight Schrute | Voice, episode: "Excellence in Broadcasting" |
| 2012 | Rove LA | Himself | Episode: "Rainn Wilson/Sarah Wayne/The Miz" |
| 2013 | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Dr. Po | Voice, episode: "Orange James Orange" |
| Comedy Bang! Bang! | Himself | Episode: "Rainn Wilson Wears a Short Sleeved Plaid Shirt & Colorful Sneakers" | |
| Arcade Fire in Here Comes The Night Time | Greeter; stage crew member | NBCspecial | |
| 2014–2018 | Adventure Time | Rattleballs / Peacemaster | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Backstrom | Detective Everett Backstrom | 13 episodes |
| 2016 | Roadies | Bryce Newman | Episode: "The Bryce Newman Letter" |
| 2017 | Star Trek: Discovery | Harry Mudd | Guest role (2 episodes) |
| 2018 | Room 104 | Jim Herbers | Episode: "Mr. Mulvahill" |
| 2019 | Star Trek: Short Treks | Harry Mudd / Harry Mudd (androids) | Also director; Episode: "The Escape Artist" |
| Transparent | Arthur | Episode: "Transparent Musicale Finale" | |
| 2019–21 | Mom | Dr. Trevor Wells | 9 episodes |
| 2020 | Solar Opposites | Mouse Milk Farmer | Voice, episode: "Terry and Korvo Steal a Bear" |
| Home Movie: The Princess Bride[63] | Vizzini | Episode: "Chapter Two: The Shrieking Eels" | |
| Utopia | Michael Stearns | 8 episodes | |
| We Are the Champions | Narrator | Also executive producer | |
| 2021 | The Rookie[64] | Himself | Episode: "True Crime" |
| Explained | Narrator | Episode: "Chess" | |
| 2022 | Dark Winds | Devoted Dan | 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss | Himself | Main role |
| StoryBots: Answer Time | Cosmic Caller | Episode: "Fractions" | |
| Lessons in Chemistry | Phil Lebensmal | Recurring role (4 episodes) | |
| 2025 | Rhett and Link's Wonderhole | Himself | Episode: "We Tested 1-Star Hotels" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Titus Andronicus | Martius | Shakespeare in the Park |
| Twelfth Night or What You Will | Ensemble | ||
| 1995 | The Tempest | Kuroko | New York Shakespeare Festival |
| 1996 | Venus | Father | The Joseph Papp Public Theater |
| 1997 | London Assurance | Charles Courtly | Criterion Center Stage Right |
| 2016 | Thom Pain (based on nothing) | Thom Pain | Geffen Playhouse |
| 2018 | The Doppelgänger (an international farce) | Thomas Irdley / Jimmy Peterson | Steppenwolf Theatre |
| 2024 | Waiting for Godot | Vladimir | Geffen Playhouse |
| 2025 | Urinetown | Caldwell B. Cladwell | New York City Center |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Gallaxhar |
Did being of the Baháʼí faith help you understand the spirituality? As a Baháʼí, I believe in all the spiritual beliefs: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity.
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Data from Wikidata