It seems like only yesterday that The Office — the American take on the BBC's original
workplace comedy — closed its doors.
And while many members of its memorable cast have moved on to other projects or pursuits,
we can't help but wonder: Whatever happened to David Denman, the actor who played Pam's
ex-fiancé, Roy Anderson?
We know Roy struck it rich with his own gravel company, married a restaurant owner, and even
learned how to play piano …
[Playing piano and singing] "She's got a way about her/I don't know what it is"
… but that all took place in the fantasy land of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
What did Denman really do after The Office?
Let's take a closer look at what he's been up to since viewers said goodbye to Dunder
Mifflin.
He bossed around Steve Jobs
Well, he bossed around the Ashton Kutcher version of Steve Jobs.
"Listen, Steve.
You're good.
You're damn good.
But you're an a--hole."
Denman played the small but important role of programming pioneer and Pong creator Al
Alcorn in the 2013 biographical drama Jobs.
Though it's not the most memorable part in the critically panned film, not everyone can
claim that they hurled a profane insult at the late co-founder and former CEO of Apple.
That's a long way from stacking boxes for Dunder Mifflin.
But that wasn't Denmen's only 2013 gig.
He also stepped into the shoes of Private McQuarrie in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi action
flick After Earth — the second movie to star father-and-son duo Will and Jaden Smith.
"Might wanna go easy on him, Sarge.
That's the Prime Commander's son right there."
The film was widely panned by critics and viewers alike, and it has gone down as one
of both Smith's and director M. Night Shyamalan's least memorable projects.
Fortunately for those involved, it didn't turn out to be quite the career-demolishing
disaster it may have seemed — Shyamalan rebounded with Split in 2017, while both Smiths
always have plenty of projects in the pipeline.
As for Denman?
After Earth's failure definitely didn't stop him from landing more roles.
He went to boot camp
"You know, I do have a gun in my cubby, and I will use it."
In order to prepare for his role as Boon in the biographical war thriller 13 Hours: The
Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Denman put himself through boot camp — but not just to learn
how to shoot guns.
The actor, who starred in the flick alongside fellow Office alum John Krasinski, wanted
to really get into the mind of elite operatives.
He told Backstage,
"They're of a different ilk.
They do stuff that I don't necessarily understand and put themselves in harm's way without batting
an eye."
Denman was also surprised to learn about the positive impact The Office had on the actual
secret soldiers of Benghazi, saying,
"One of these guys came up after a screening and said, 'We watched The Office like crazy.
It got us through so much.'
[...] I sat there in awe that some guy overseas, trying to protect our interests, was using
a silly comedy as a survival tool.
My brain had an explosion.
I was really moved by that."
All we wanna know is: How many times did those badass soldiers force The Office's Jim and
Roy to reenact their on-screen rivalry?
"I'm gonna kill Jim Halpert."
He put a ring on it
Though Denman hasn't spent much time in the spotlight for his various supporting roles,
his marriage to Swedish-American actress and former Fear the Walking Dead star Mercedes
Mason has garnered the attention of celebrity-adoring media.
The couple tied the knot in 2014, and Denman celebrated their one-year anniversary on Instagram.
It really does look like everyday is getting better for the two — or should we say three.
Denman and Mason took to Instagram to announce that they were expecting their first child.
And in January 2018, Mason gave birth to a baby boy.
As usual, Denman headed over to Instagram to share the news — and compliment his wife
for being such "a champ."
No stranger to the small screen
Though Denman hasn't really been a leading man yet, you've definitely seen him on some
of your favorite shows.
He's made supporting appearances on Person of Interest, Vegas, How to Get Away with Murder,
Two and a Half Men, Impress Me, Mad Men, and True Detective.
Come to think of it, he's actually been pretty hard to miss.
He's also been featured as a prominent recurring cast member in Parenthood and Outcast.
With an ever-growing resumé, expect to keep seeing Denman pop up on your favorite series
for years to come.
That is, if he isn't busy landing larger roles on the big screen.
He rubs elbows with the Hollywood elite
In 2017, Denman appeared alongside some big-name talent in director Steven Soderbergh's heist
comedy Logan Lucky, as car dealer Moody Chapman.
"I love stick!
I'm a big fan of stick!"
The film boasts a cavalcade of household names including the likes of Channing Tatum, Adam
Driver, Katie Holmes, and Daniel Craig.
Certainly not bad company for Denman — especially considering how successful the kooky caper
turned out.
Logan Lucky gained critical praise for its goofball humor and pitch-perfect ensemble
cast, and it stands out as a recent highlight on Denman's CV.
A bright future in film
We certainly haven't seen the last of Denman, who's come a long way since playing Roy.
In 2018, the versatile actor starred alongside Kelly Macdonald in the Marc Turtletaub-directed
movie Puzzle.
The film centers around a suburban mother who discovers her penchant for puzzles — changing
both her and her family's lives.
It's also an adaptation of the 2010 Argentine film Rompecabezas, which was nominated for
the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
For Denman though, it's another step in the right direction toward an increasingly impressive
filmography.
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