Brian Baumgartner
He transformed a slow-burning, chili-loving accountant into one of television's most unexpectedly beloved comic characters.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American actor·Birthday: November 29·Generation X
Biography
Brian Baumgartner didn't just play Kevin Malone on 'The Office'; he built him from the ground up with a deliberate, understated genius. His Kevin was a masterpiece of comic timing, a man whose profound simplicity and deadpan delivery became a central rhythm of the show's humor. Baumgartner's background in theater gave him the tools to find the surprising depth in a character often defined by his love of chili and miscalculated sentences. The role earned him two Screen Actors Guild Awards and made him a fan favorite, but his career extends beyond Dunder Mifflin. He has appeared in numerous films and stage productions, and he hosts a popular podcast where he revisits the series, revealing the thoughtful craft behind his seemingly effortless performance.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brian was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Kevin Malone for nine seasons on the American version of 'The Office,' winning two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.
- Earned a Daytime Emmy Award for his role in the web series 'The Office: The Accountants.'
- Hosts the rewatch podcast 'The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner,' which topped podcast charts.
- Performed in regional theater productions, including playing Santa Claus in 'The Christmas Schooner.'
- Appeared in films such as 'The Last of the Mohicans' (1992) and 'License to Wed' (2007).
Did You Know?
He is a trained theater actor and graduated from Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts.
He directed several episodes of the web series 'The Office: The Accountants.'
His podcast interview with Steve Carell was one of the most downloaded episodes of 2021.
He is an avid golfer and has participated in numerous celebrity tournaments.
He provided the voice for a character in the animated film 'The Croods: A New Age' (2020).
“I approach comedy with the same focus I used to have on the baseball field.”
