A primary reason why the American version of The Office continues to enjoy a broad fan base nine years after its conclusion is that it consistently reinvented itself throughout its nine season run, regularly introducing new elements in an effort to avoid stagnation.
A notable benefit of this practice was the regular incorporation of new characters, with many of them establishing themselves as primary members of the cast despite their late debuts. The best Office characters to join the series after the pilot episode became integral enough to the show that some may forget that they were late additions.
Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson)
Darryl Philbin, who began his tenure on the show as the manager of the warehouse and concluded it as the V.P. of Athleap, was introduced as a recurring character midway through season 1 and was established as a leading member of the cast by the later seasons of the series.
While he is more reserved and serious-minded in his earlier appearances (during which Darryl arguably deserved more respect at Dunder Mifflin), he is later revealed to be lighthearted and playful as he forms bonds with the upstairs employees. The writers’ collective decision to provide Craig Robinson with a larger share of each script proved beneficial to a show that would eventually achieve iconic status.
Kelly Kapoor (Mindy Kaling)
Office showrunner Greg Daniels hired several individuals to serve as both writers and performers in an effort to bind the cast with the writing staff. Perhaps the most notable of these multi-hyphenates was Mindy Kaling, who portrayed Kelly Kapoor, in addition to serving as one of the few female writers on the show.
Kelly was introduced in the series’ second episode (the highly-controversial “Diversity Day”) and later achieved a more prominent role due in large part to her storylines with Ryan Howard. Kelly’s joyful disposition — which the writers developed later in Kaling’s tenure as a cast member — provided a levity to the series that was lacking in early episodes.
Karen Filippelli (Rashida Jones)
While many Office fans resent Karen Filippeli for her threat to Jim and Pam’s potential relationship in season 3, her intellect, maturity, and dry wit rendered her one of the most admirable of Dunder Mifflin Scranton’s employees. Karen was additionally depicted as being an exceptional worker (as evidenced by her later promotion to Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Utica), and her frustration with Jim’s reluctance to move in with her reflected poorly on her forlorn boyfriend rather than on herself.
Had Karen been added to the main cast in the fourth season, she would have provided a much-needed sober voice to the office.
Andy Bernard (Ed Helms)
The writers introduced Andy in season 3 with the intention of using him as a temporary source of comedic relief, but Helms’ exceptional performance secured him a permanent place in the main cast. While Andy’s grating personality and desperation for attention initially rendered him a near-clone of Regional Manager Michael Scott, the writers later distinguished the salesman by depicting his greater ability to befriend his colleagues.
Andy’s romantic relationship with Erin and his platonic one with Darryl were two of the most memorable highlights of the later seasons of The Office.
Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper)
Erin Hannon joined the cast in season 5 to replace Pam at the reception desk when the latter left Dunder Mifflin to work for the hilariously ill-fated Michael Scott Paper Company (one of Michael Scott’s smartest schemes). Erin’s boundless optimism was partially responsible for shifting the series’ tone in the second half of its run, as her positivity proved to be infectious in the workplace.
Her playful relationship with Michael, which resembled one between a father and daughter, was one of the most memorable elements of her tenure on The Office.
Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein)
While Toby was nearly universally hated by the employees of Dunder Mifflin Scranton and is one of the characters whom Office fans feel bad for, scores of viewers love him for his mild demeanor and his everyman persona. Unlike extraverted and rambunctious characters such as Michael and Dwight, Toby’s humor is dry and subtle, and his relatable disposition allows audiences to view the antics of the workplace from his perspective.
From his introduction in episode 2 to his final appearance in the series finale, Toby provides comedic relief to the show that is distinct from that of the other primary characters.
Holly Flax (Amy Ryan)
After years of comically-horrific romantic entanglements (the most notable being with Dunder Mifflin Vice President Jan Levinson), Michael finally finds a healthy relationship with Toby’s temporary replacement, Holly Flax (one of the best character relationships in The Office). Holly manages to share Michael’s eccentric sense of humor while maintaining a groundedness that perfectly complements his excessive personality.
Her ability to effectively communicate with both unusual and down-to-Earth colleagues displays the exceptional interpersonal strengths that rendered her an outstanding Human Resources representative and a widely-beloved character. Holly’s move to Colorado with Michael was a heartwarming sendoff that only the series’ most notable characters received.
David Wallace (Andy Buckley)
Dunder Mifflin Chief Financial Officer David Wallace (who concludes the series as the company’s CEO) is one of Michael’s most effective foils, observing the Scranton branch manager’s antics with a note of concern that is occasionally even funnier than the behavior that he is responding to. While David’s earliest appearances were relatively minor, Andy Buckley’s brilliant deadpan delivery secured him a semi-regular role that lasted until the show’s series finale in 2013.
The few episodes that depict David in a different light than usual (such as that in which Dunder Mifflin Scranton employees visit him at his home and find that unemployment has driven him to near-hysteria) are rare treats that many fans are overjoyed by.
Robert California (James Spader)
When Steve Carell departed the show in 2011, the writers attempted to ease the transition by pairing new regional manager Andy Bernard with an in-office superior. Robert California was one of the most interestingly-written characters in the series’ run, constantly offering bizarre observations and musings that led Jim to speculate that he might be a genius.
Robert entered the Scranton branch eccentrically (having convinced Sabre CEO Jo Bennett to give him her job) and maintained that degree of unconventionality for the rest of season 8. Robert and Andy’s uneasy dynamic made for some of the best gags of the series and allowed audiences to adjust to a post-Michael Office.
Charles Miner (Idris Elba)
The Wire star Idris Elba enjoyed a brief but memorable run during the latter half of season 5 as Dunder Mifflin Vice President Charles Miner, who serves as the Scranton branch’s temporary manager while Michael commandeers the Michael Scott Paper Company.
Charles’ most defining feature was perhaps his physical attractiveness (with employees such as Kelly determinedly but unsuccessfully pursuing him), but his platonic chemistry with the primary cast members defined his most notable moments. His distaste for Jim (who had long been the most adored character on the show) allowed for a change in the branch’s social ecosystem that interested long-term viewers of The Office.
