One of the rare gems we’ve seen hit the single-digit channels since the turn of the millennium, The Office, actually sported a ton of directors you’ve more than likely heard of. Some of them were already famous upon helming an episode or two of the NBC mockumentary, others were pinned at the starting line of what has proved to be a rocket-fueled race to stardom. Here are a few great film directors who, as you may or may not know, worked on The Office from time to time:
Columbia Pictures via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: “Hot Girl.”
But You Know Her for: The generation-defining Jane Austen adaptation Clueless, plus the Look Who’s Talking movies and European Vacation.
Columbia Pictures via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: “A Benihana Christmas,” “Safety Training,” “Beach Games,” and “The Delivery – Part 2.”
But You Know Him for: Some of the most iconic comedies from the past 35 years — Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Groundhog Day among them. And as far as acting goes, we’ll remember him always as Egon Spengler.
WENN/Nikki Nelson
Episodes Directed: “Business School” and “Beach Wars.”
But You Know Him for: It’s true that offbeat television work like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly is what got Whedon on the map, but he is now one of the most prominent voices in blockbuster cinema thanks to, if nothing else, The Avengers and the upcoming The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
WENN
Episodes Directed: “Moving On.”
But You Know Him for: Another member of the Marvel family, Favreau’s biggest films are certainly Iron Man and Iron Man 2, though we celebrate his smaller fare: Made, Elf, and 2014’s delightful Chef.
Fox Searchlight Pictures via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: “Manager and Salesman.”
But You Know Him for: Jumping over to the other side of the comic book game, we find Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man and Amazing Spider-Man 2. But before partnering up with Peter Parker (or even joining forces with Michael Scott), Webb helmed the neo-rom com (500) Days of Summer.
Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: “Cocktails.”
But You Know Him for: Whedon’s only rival on this list in terms of blockbuster influence, Abrams is of course the man behind Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, as well as the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII.
Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: “Koi Pond.”
But You Know Him for: Though Hudlin has spent most of his time directing television in recent years, the dawn of his career gave us two early ’90s cult favorites: the Kid ‘n Play comedy House Party and Eddie Murphy’s Boomerang.
Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: “Local Ad” and “Frame Toby.”
But You Know Him for: That irreverent fast-paced serio-comedic style we saw in Thank You for Smoking, Juno, Up in the Air, and (the best of the lot) Young Adult. He also did Labor Day, but we don’t have to talk about that one.
WENN/Joseph Marzullo
Episodes Directed: “Work Bus.”
But You Know Him for: Not directing, but acting. Cranston became a household name thanks to his starring role as Walter White on the unforgettable Breaking Bad.
20th Century Fox Film via Everett Collection
Episodes Directed: And we have a winner! Feig directed 14 episodes of The Office, including “Office Olympics,” “Halloween,” “Performance Review,” “E-Mail Surveillance,” “Survivor Man,” “Dinner Party,” “Goodbye, Toby,” “Weight Loss,” “The Surplus,” “Moroccan Christmas,” “New Boss,” “Dream Team,” “Niagara,” “Goodbye, Michael.”
But You Know Him for: Bridesmaids, of course, plus The Heat… and the legion of exciting projects he has in the works, like a spy comedy, a gay rom com, and (potentially) an all-female Ghostbusters III. And although we’re focusing on movie credits here, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention his greatest contribution to pop culture of all: Freaks and Geeks.
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