John Krasinski, the 6’3” Boston-born actor best known for his work on “The Office,” is a natural comedian. He’s a perfect fit for the quirky, deadpan ensemble led by Steve Carell, and the show has allowed John to easily cross over to the big screen. An honors playwright student at Brown University, John interned on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Just a few years later, he is now a frequent guest on the show.
Before joining “The Office” in 2005, John made appearances in “Kinsey” with Liam Neeson and “Taxi” with Jimmy Fallon in 2004. He also has a small but amusing role in “Jarhead” and as Bob Flynn in the little seen “Duane Hopwood.” By 2006, John was on fire – so much so that his name appeared on a whopping six projects, including “The Holiday” and “Dreamgirls,” capped by People calling him one of the “Sexiest Men” of the year. 2007 was no different, with John prolific as ever, voicing Lancelot in “Shrek the Third” and as Ben Murphy in the comedy “License to Wed” with Robin Williams and Mandy Moore. The Screen Actors Guild awarded John and his co-stars on “The Office” the Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2007. The fan base continues to grow, and John with it: he’s turning to writing and directing now, expanding his comedic persona to include work behind the camera. While he could easily rest on the laurels “The Office” has brought, John seems to be working harder as his recognition widens. And we’re very happy he’s working so hard to make us laugh.
John on the Screen
John’s first major screen role was actually not a comedy, but the biopic “Kinsey.” He was Messenger #3 in “Taxi,” appeared in guest roles on “CSI” and “Without a Trace,” and as Corporal Harrigan in “Jarhead.” While reporting to “The Office” on TV, John had roles in Christopher Guest’s “For Your Consideration,” “The Holiday,” “Dreamgirls,” the festival favorite “Smiley Face, “Shrek the Third,” and “License to Wed.” Phew. Robin Williams couldn’t even keep up.
John Says
On his humor:
“Being funny is one of my greatest strengths. I can make girls smile when they’re down, and when they’re having a good time, I can carry on the joke.”
On magic:
“It would be fun to walk next to David Blaine and whisper in his ear, “I’m invisible. What can you do?”
On “To Kill A Mockingbird”:
“It was the first time for me that a story really sunk in. The idea that at the end of the day, what will get you through any sort of prejudice is to rise above it.”