Timothy Olyphant’s forgotten role in this 9-season sitcom with an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score is undoubtedly a comedy masterpiece. While the actor made a name for himself in the theater and movies in the earlier years of his career,Timothy Olyphant’s TV charactersfrom more recent years are nothing short of stellar.
FromDeadwoodtoCurb Your Enthusiasm, Olyphant has been busy. However, a lot of people don’t realize that Olyphant is also a member ofThe Officecast. Olyphant only has a small role, buttruly dedicated fans of the sitcom will always remember the iconic actor asThe Office’s Danny Cordray.
Timothy Olyphant Plays Jim & Dwight’s Rival In The Office
Danny Cordray Is A Threat When It Comes To Sales & Romance
For those unfamiliar with the sitcom,Timothy Olyphant portrays Danny Cordray inThe Office, a traveling paper salesman who initially works for Dunder Mifflin’s rival, Osprey Paper.Danny is first introduced in the season 7 episode “The Sting,”but he isn’t exactly an unknown figure in the world ofThe Office, and the characters are already aware of who he is.
Danny is a major rival of Jim and Dwight.While both of the men are very strong salesmen, they frequently lose out to Danny,which is even more frustrating considering Osprey Paper is an even smaller company than Dunder Mifflin. It is also later revealed that whenJim left Scranton afterThe Officeseason 2, Pam and Danny went out a few times.
This sparks an even deeper conflict between Jim and Danny.Jim struggles to understand why Danny never called Pam back for a third date,but eventually, he realizes how lucky he is to have a wife who is such a “weirdo.” However, this rivalry between the three doesn’t really turn into much, especially as we don’t see a lot of Olyphant’s character.
Danny Could’ve Been An Interesting Change To The Office’s Dynamic
Technically, Olyphant only appears as Danny Cordray in two episodes ofThe Office, “The Sting” and “Costume Contest.” He does briefly appear in“Michael’s Last Dundies,”but in a deleted scene. Either way, it’s rather limited screen time for the character.Since Danny is a traveling salesman, it explains his absence,which is the same reason we only see Todd Packer periodically.
Season 7, Episode 21
“Michael’s Last Dundies” (Deleted Scene)
However, Todd Packer appears several times throughoutall 9 seasons ofThe Office, whether that’s in-person or just the sound of his voice over the phone. There absolutely should have been more of Timothy Olyphant inThe Office, though,as there are many potential storylines that could’ve spawned from Danny Cordray’s presence.
For example, in “Costume Contest,” everyone looks forward to going to Danny’s bar, but Kevin and Andy are particularly cautious about disrupting the status quo in the office, especially if it’ll upset Pam and Jim.Danny is also a voice of reason, like Jim,who offers stunned reactions to the ridiculous situations that pan out, and it would’ve been good to see more of that.
What Timothy Olyphant Has Said About Acting In The Office
Olyphant Loved His Brief Stint On The Office
In an episode ofThe Office Ladiespodcastfrom earlier this year,Timothy Olyphant discusses his experiences playing Danny Cordray withThe Office’s Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey.The actor shares a few comical stories about his other projects and one scene he filmed with Steve Carell inThe Office.
He ultimately refers to himself as a “bit of a disappointment” for failing to keep a straight face opposite Carell,but this doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy himself. Olyphant also adds thatThe Office“was a kick to do… it’s such a fun show, the nature of the whole thing.”
Despite only appearing in two episodes,Timothy Olyphantis a notable figure inThe Office. Danny Cordray may have minimal screen time, but he is still one of the most memorable characters and guest cameos throughout the show.
The Office
Cast
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
