Hollywood actor Timothy Olyphant recently spilled the beans on a funny behind-the-scenes moment during his guest appearance on The Office. The star, best known for his roles in Justified and Deadwood, shared that working alongside comedy legend Steve Carell left him in stitches—literally!
In a recent interview, Olyphant revealed that while filming a scene with Carell, he “completely screwed it up” because he just couldn’t keep a straight face. “Steve is absolutely incredible,” Olyphant said. “I’m supposed to be doing my lines, but I’m just standing there laughing because he’s so good at what he does. I was like, ‘What’s wrong with me?’”
Olyphant played Danny Cordray, a charming traveling salesman, in the show’s seventh season. His character’s smooth-talking ways created tension in Dunder Mifflin’s quirky office dynamic, especially with Michael Scott, played by Carell. Despite being a professional, Olyphant admitted that Carell’s comedic timing and improvisation made it nearly impossible to stay in character.
“Every take was a challenge,” he said with a laugh. “I’d try to focus, but Steve would come out with something so ridiculous and perfect that I’d lose it. It was like getting hit by a comedy train.”
Fans of The Office might be surprised to learn this fun fact about one of the show’s iconic guest appearances. It turns out even seasoned actors like Olyphant aren’t immune to Carell’s on-set magic.
This anecdote adds to the long list of hilarious stories from The Office cast and crew about the comedy gold that unfolded on set. Olyphant’s confession only solidifies Carell’s status as one of the funniest actors in Hollywood.
For Olyphant, the experience was both a humbling and unforgettable lesson in comedy. “I learned that sometimes, you just have to roll with it. If you’re laughing, that’s the magic right there. It’s what made The Office such a special show.”
Fans of the series continue to love these kinds of behind-the-scenes stories, proving that even years after it ended, The Office remains a comedy classic that keeps delivering laughs—on-screen and off.