Rainn Wilson
He transformed a socially awkward paper salesman into one of television's most uniquely hilarious and quotable characters.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actor, comedian, producer, and writer·Birthday: January 20·Generation X
Biography
Rainn Wilson's path to becoming Dwight Schrute was anything but direct. A classically trained theatre actor with a stint at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, he paid his dues with odd jobs and small, often eccentric TV roles. Then came 'The Office.' As Dwight, the beet-farming, bear-loving, assistant-to-the-regional-manager, Wilson crafted a masterpiece of comic specificity. His performance was a tightrope walk of utter sincerity and profound weirdness, making Dwight not just a joke but a strangely empathetic figure. The role earned him multiple Emmy nominations and cemented the character in the cultural lexicon. Beyond acting, Wilson co-founded the media company SoulPancake, exploring life's big questions, and has authored books, revealing a thoughtful depth that contrasts with the beet-fueled intensity of his most famous creation.
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.
Rainn was born in 1966, 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 Rainn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Rainn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received three consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for his role as Dwight Schrute on 'The Office.'
- Co-founded the digital media company SoulPancake, which focuses on philosophical and inspirational content.
- Authored the memoir 'The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy.'
- Starred in and produced the film 'The Rocker,' showcasing his lead comedic chops.
Did You Know?
His middle name is Percival.
He is a practicing member of the Baháʼí Faith.
Before acting, he worked as a waiter for a children's theatre where he had to dress as a cockroach.
He is an avid fan of heavy metal music.
“I think the key to being happy is to lower your expectations. And to be grateful for what you have.”
