10 The Office Characters Who Only Appeared in 1 Single Episode

The Office, the hit mockumentary-style sitcom about struggling paper company Dunder Mifflin, featured numerous fantastic guest stars during its tenure on NBC. Many of them recurred in multiple episodes and runners, but some were so memorable or had such an impact on the show that fans might be surprised to learn they were only in one single episode.

The beloved Dunder Mifflin family goes through its ups and downs over nine seasons, eventually all finding their happily ever afters. Still, their journeys wouldn’t have been the same without the help of some amazing side characters to get there.

10.Brenda Withers’s Reactions to Michael Scott Are Spot-On

Brenda Silently Observes and Endures Michael’s Leadership Course

Brenda Withers appears as Brenda Matlow in The Office’s season two episode “Booze Cruise,” where Michael takes everyone on a leadership course aboard a booze cruise on Lake Wallenpaupack in the middle of winter. Brenda is from corporate training and was sent to observe the course Michael had promised. Withers’ appearance also serves as a mini-reunion with Mindy Kaling—her former writing partner and co-star in the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play, Matt and Ben.

Despite having only a few lines, Brenda fits effortlessly into the world of Dunder Mifflin and makes a big impression with her comedic timing and great facial expressions. She plays off of Melora Hardin and Steve Carell brilliantly in her first scene as she’s stuck awkwardly between the two of them; her look to camera at the end of the scene perfectly encapsulates how anyone would feel meeting Michael Scott for the first time. Her character also goes on to possibly date Jim off-screen in subsequent episodes, as she is mentioned in “The Carpet,” where Jim leaves her a voicemail asking her out, and again in “Drug Testing,” when Brenda calls Jim during his epic jinx with Pam.

9.Tim Meadows’ Chemistry With Steve Carell Steals the Show

Christian Is Michael Scott’s Perfect Audience

In The Office season two episode “The Client,” Tim Meadows appears as Christian, a potential client from Lackawanna County. The pivotal episode shows the audience Michael Scott was good at his job and led to the beginning of his toxic romance with Jan. The Saturday Night Live star had incredible chemistry with long-time friend and fellow Second City veteran, Steve Carell—it’s no surprise they had a great time and improvised plenty of hilarious material.

Tim Meadows delivers a genius performance as Christian on The Office, matching Michael’s energy perfectly–whether it was laughing so hard at Micheal’s joke he had awesome blossom coming out of his nose, harmonizing as they sang the Chili’s jingle or having meaningful conversations about family and sacrifice. The sincerity in his performance and his chemistry with Steve Carell create a hilarious dynamic and an unforgettable appearance.

8.Ken Howard Perfectly Illustrates What It’s Like To Manage Michael Scott

Ed Truck’s Management Style Is the Opposite of Michael’s

Ed Truck was Michael Scott’s old boss at Dunder Mifflin. He’s mentioned several times on The Office where it is implied that he and Michael didn’t exactly get along. His character has such a history and presence in the show that it may surprise fans to learn he only appears in the season two episode, “The Carpet.” Michael tricks Ed to get him to the office so he can ask for advice on how to deal with a nasty prank someone has played on him.

Ken Howard delivers a great performance, masterfully demonstrating in less than two minutes what his and Michael’s working relationship must have looked like. At first, he is patient and attempts to relate to Michael manager-to-manager, but it’s not long before the frustration every manager feels when managing Michael Scott surfaces. Their dynamic is perfectly illustrated when an exasperated Ed asks, “What can’t your workers be your workers, your family be your family, and your friends be your friends?” Michael attempts to dismiss what Ed says as ridiculous but is unhappy when confronted with the truth of it. His frustration with Ed Truck continues to have an impact on him, particularly when Ed dies in season three, triggering Michael’s fear of dying alone and leading him to host a funeral for a bird.

7.Thomas Middleditch Was a Hilarious Foil for Dwight

Jeb and Dwight Bicker Like Only Brothers Can

Dwight Schrute’s siblings had been hinted at on The Office, but details were elusive until the season nine episode “The Farm.” A funeral for Dwight’s aunt shines a light on Dwight’s family and more amazing Schrute customs, like stating observations about the deceased and shooting them before they’re buried. In the episode, the Schrute siblings inherit a massive farm from their aunt, but only on the condition that Jeb and Fannie move back to Scranton.

The episode served as a backdoor pilot that would follow the Schrute siblings working on the farm together. While The Office spinoff was ultimately scrapped, it still gave us some great Dwight moments. Thomas Middleditch plays Dwight’s brother, Jeb, who owns a “worm” farm in California. He makes a strong first impression, pulling up to the funeral in his car and parking it almost on top of the open grave. During the service, he wastes no time in bickering with Dwight about the soil in the graveyard. They go back and forth trying to get the last word, making Middleditch instantly feel like a familiar member of the Schrute clan.

6.Black Belt Michael Imperioli Is the Perfect Sensei

Sensei Billy Gives Dwight the Validation He Seeks

Dwight Schrute fulfills a lifelong dream and gets his black belt in the season nine episode of The Office, “Living the Dream.” Dwight reveals he has recently begun working with a new sensei, Sensei Billy, played by Michael Imperioli, and he will receive his black belt after a demonstration during his lunch break. While Sensei Billy only has three scenes in the episode, Imperioli’s chemistry with Rainn Wilson and the authenticity he lent the role—holding an actual black belt in taekwondo—made those scenes funny and memorable.

In the episode, Dwight moves through his forms, and his admiration of Sensei Billy becomes apparent as Dwight constantly checks to ensure he is watching. Michael Imperioli’s reactions were perfectly deadpan, and his dry delivery added brilliantly to the dynamic. His comedic timing shines during a brief conversation between Dunder Mifflin CEO, David Wallace, and Sensei Billy when Wallace makes an offhand comment about Dwight being “an odd guy,” and Sensei Billy doesn’t wait for him to finish his sentence before agreeing with an emphatic, “Yes.” It almost feels like he was always Dwight’s sensei.

5.Yvette Nicole Brown Steals Every Scene

Paris Is Dwight’s Sassy Co-Worker at Staples

It’s no surprise comedian Yvette Nicole Brown stands out in any role, but it might be a surprise to realize she was only in one episode of The Office as Dwight Shrute’s scene-stealing co-worker. In the season three episode, Dwight works at Staples after resigning from Dunder Mifflin to protect his secret romance with head accountant Angela Martin. While working at Staples, Dwight has a few scenes with fellow sales associate Paris, where she tries to make small talk, but Dwight being Dwight, it doesn’t go well.

During a lunch break at Staples, Paris tries to make small talk and get to know her new co-worker but offends Dwight by never having heard of Dunder Mifflin. Dwight’s response was dominant and condescending, but Paris wasn’t having any of that; Yvette Nicole Brown delivers comedy gold as she quickly fires back. She goes on to have a hilarious talking head where she makes her feelings about Dwight abundantly clear, saying, “I don’t like him, his giant head, or his beady little eyes.”

4.Stephen Collins Brings Andy’s Insecurities to Life as Walter Bernard SR.

Walter Shows Himself as the Source of Andy’s Fears and Self-Doubt

Andy Bernard joined the cast of The Office in season three, but he went on to replace Michael as branch manager after Steve Carell’s departure from the series. From the beginning, it was clear that Andy had a complicated relationship with his father and desperately sought his approval. Stephen Collins portrayed Walter Sr. with just the right amount of condescension and fake humility; it’s hard to believe he was only in one episode.

The father-and-son dynamic between Andy and his father is hinted at early on with darkly comedic drop-ins, but when Walter Bernard Sr. appears in season eight, and the heartbreaking dynamic is on full display, he perfectly embodies every one of Andy’s insecurities about being liked, appreciated and loved. The painful exchange in which Walter criticizes Andy for seeking his approval is overheard by everyone through a baby monitor, leading the Dunder Mifflin employees to understand and sympathize with Andy and bringing them closer together.

3.Stephen Colbert as Broccoli Rob Sings as Andy’s Frenemy

Broccoli Rob Gaslights Andy and Steals His Signature Song

The rivalry between Andy Bernard and his a cappella brother Broccoli Rob is hinted at in multiple episodes, but it’s not until the season nine Halloween episode of The Office that he appears on-screen when Andy hires the college a cappella group, Here Comes Treble, to perform during Halloween party. Andy’s hopes of reliving his glory days are dashed when it’s revealed they brought in Broccoli Rob to sing Andy’s signature song.

Stephen Colbert is only a talking head on a screen, but with his brilliant comedic performance as Broccoli Rob, it feels like he’s in the office gaslighting Andy. The frenemy relationship between Andy and Broccoli Rob is showcased as Broccoli Rob pretends he is not fully aware of how he uses his proximity to Cornell to undermine Andy, leading Andy to become jealous of Broccoli Rob’s proximity to his alma mater. This revelation ultimately leads Andy to realize his dream of working at Cornell.

2.Bob Odenkirk as Mark Is the Michael Scott of Real Estate

Mark Hams It up for the Cameras

Bob Odenkirk portrays Mark, a bumbling manager, in The Office season nine’s “Moving On,” where Pam goes to Philadelphia to interview for a job with his real estate firm. Odenkirk’s sharply funny performance fit seamlessly into the world of The Office, leaving a strong impression on viewers. Fans wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he was a frontrunner for the role of Michael Scott; his fantastic audition tape can even be found in The Office DVD extras for season nine.

In Pam’s comedically awful interview, Mark hilariously parodies a Bob Dylan song and loves talking to the camera. Being familiar with this type of person, she knows how to be a good audience, encouraging Mark to further theatricalize for the cameras. He cracks plenty of inappropriate jokes and demonstrates the same insensitivity she put up with working for Michael Scott. The thought of working for another Michael gives Pam the courage to be honest with Jim, leading them to deal with the problems they’d been having throughout the final season of The Office.

1.Randall Park Is Brilliant in the Cold Open That Spawned a Thousand Memes

Steve Is Iconic as Asian Jim

Randall Park has to be one of the most memorable guest stars to ever appear on The Office as Steve, aka Asian Jim Halpert, in one of the cold opens of season nine. Randall Park walks into the office pretending to be Jim Halpert, equipped with details of his recent sales, passwords, and even family photos of him, Pam, and the kids in an epic prank on Dwight Schrute.

Randall Park copied John Krasinksi’s mannerisms and posture and delivered his lines perfectly. He even nails the classic look to camera Jim does as Dwight flourishes a family photo of the Halperts. The scene is so infamous that Randall Park was hired to pretend to be John Krasinski in an interview with Ryan Reynolds during promos for the 2024 film IF.