Dwight Schrute
Encyclopedia
Dwight Kurt Schrute III (January 27, 1970) is a character on NBC
's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson
. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan
from the original UK version
of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for his successes, despite lacking social skills and common sense
. Despite his personal dislike of Jim Halpert
, the two are an effective sales team. Dwight's ability as a salesman, though, has rarely commanded the respect of his peers or led to higher levels of professional success. Moreover, though at one time he was the Assistant to the Regional Manager, he was demoted to a debatable number three in the office after Jim Halpert came back from Stamford. Currently, while Andy is manager, Dwight resumed his post as assistant regional manager.
In an episode commentary on the season-one DVD, Wilson refers to Dwight as a "fascist nerd
" who is a predictable caricature of a character that demonstrates the futility of most TV. In a featurette on the season-three DVD, Wilson describes Dwight as "someone who does not hate the system, but has a deep and abiding love for it".
Dwight is a former volunteer sheriff deputy
and has been trained in surveillance
. Dwight lives on his family's 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) beet farm, in a nine bedroom farmhouse (with one outhouse
), with his cousin Mose (played by producer/writer Michael Schur
), where they grow table beets. Dwight also likes paintball
, Battlestar Galactica
, ping pong, survivalism
, Goju Ryu karate and weapons. He drives a red 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
. At the end of season 5 Dwight introduces his best friend, Rolf. He says that they met in a shoe store when he overheard him asking for a shoe that could increase his speed and not leave any tracks.
Not much is revealed about Dwight's parents except that his father used to take him hunting, cheated in games, and that he battled obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is also revealed that Dwight would have loved to set Michael up with his mother, implying that she is deceased. Dwight once mentioned that his grandfather fought in World War II
and ended up in an Allied
prison camp
, implying he was a soldier in the German army
. This is later confirmed while Dwight is explaining his reasoning for his living to a long age. He tells the cameras that his grandfather is still "puttering around Argentina somewhere", implying that his grandfather was one of the members of the SS
who fled into South America. He tried to visit his grandfather once but his travel visa was protested by the Shoah Foundation
. His father and grandfather are also named Dwight Schrute; however, his great-grandfather was named Dwide Schrude.
As with Steve Carell's departure from the show, Dwight is the only character to have an appearance and speaking lines in every episode of the show.
Dwight Schrute is portrayed by American actor Rainn Wilson
. The character is based on Gareth Keenan
of the original British version of the show
, who was played by actor Mackenzie Crook
.
All original series characters were adapted for the U.S. version. Unlike Carell, Wilson watched every episode of the original British series, and was a fan before he auditioned for the US version. Wilson originally auditioned for Michael, a performance he described as a "terrible Gervais
impersonation"; however, the casting directors liked his audition as Dwight much more and hired him for the role. Wilson based Dwight's hairstyle on his own style he had when he was sixteen. In an interview he said that he went to a barber to get "the worst haircut possible."
branch of the paper-goods distribution company Dunder Mifflin. Dwight formally held the title of "Assistant to the Regional Manager" but constantly refers to himself as "Assistant Regional Manager," attempting to elevate himself to second-in-command to Michael Scott
. Dwight craves authority over others and relishes any minor task that Michael or anyone else gives him. Though Dwight acts like a know-it-all, he is actually quite gullible, ignorant, and naïve. For this reason, he is easily tricked and pranked by his desk-mate and fellow salesman Jim Halpert
. Dwight speaks in a halting, intense manner, even in casual conversations. Dwight almost always wears a mustard-colored short-sleeved dress shirt with a dark tie, often with a brown suit jacket. He often uses one-upmanship
to better himself over his peers, such as boasting about how he trains specific parts of his body or how he can outrun Toby Flenderson
. Though he has little, if any, sense of humor, Dwight often engages in jokes and games to appease Michael, but fails because of Michael's perception of himself as the jokester. After Dwight temporarily leaves Dunder Mifflin, it is shown that Dwight watered the office plant and arranged the toys on Michael's desk in a manner that made Michael happy. Dwight also has a preference for the back seat of cars because they are the safest location in a car.
", Dwight claims to have performed his own circumcision
. Dwight was shunned by his family from the age of four until his sixth birthday for forgetting to save the excess oil from a can of tuna. He lost a grade school spelling bee to Raj Patel by misspelling the word "failure" in front of the entire school. In seventh grade, Dwight played the invented role of "Mutey the Mailman" in a production of Oklahoma!
He explains that there were not enough roles for all of the children, so they made up roles. Dwight's father battled high blood pressure and obesity all his life, but often went hunting with his son. In the deleted scenes of the Season 5 episode, "The Duel", Dwight also reveals that his great uncle Helmuth was locally renowned for building a makeshift flying machine in four years; but he was promptly killed when said machine landed on a small girl. In the Season Two DVD bloopers it is revealed that Dwight's father would take him and his brothers to a swimming hole on hot summer days as a child until 10:00 AM, then they would work the beet fields until well after midnight.
Dwight's paternal great-grandfather, Dwide Schrude, was Amish
and apparently others in his family have been as well, since Dwight's cousin and housemate Mose dresses as a practicing member of the Amish. Dwight speaks German, but his knowledge of it is "pre-industrial and mostly religious" as might be expected if the language was learned exclusively in an Amish church or context.
Dwight lives in a nine-bedroom, one-bathroom (which is located under the porch as revealed in "Office Olympics
"), farmhouse on his family's 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) beet
farm with Mose, selling beets to local stores, restaurants and roadside beet stands. It is also revealed that Dwight uses part of his farm to grow hemp
; in "Launch Party
", he claims that teens keep stealing it, though a pizza delivery boy under the impression it's marijuana as opposed to hemp claims that it's "crappy". Dwight and Mose have also turned Schrute Farms into a very ramshackle bed & breakfast that was visited during "Money
" by Jim and Pam. The bed and breakfast had three theme rooms, "America, Irrigation, and Nighttime". Schrute Farms was also to be the site of Andy and Angela's wedding before the two broke off their engagement.
Dwight's maternal grandfather, whose surname is Manheim (according to Dwight's web log on NBC.com
) fought in World War II
and killed twenty men before ending up in an Allied
prison camp
. In "Take Your Daughter to Work Day", Michael refers to Dwight's grandmother as a "Nazi war criminal". In "Dunder Mifflin Infinity
", Dwight reveals that he has a grandfather still alive at 103 years old and living in Argentina, but when he went to visit him, his travel visa was protested by the Shoah Foundation
. Dwight reveals the day of casino night that he is wearing the suit his grandfather was buried in ("Casino Night"). It is possible that this is the same grandfather that was reburied in an "old oil drum" ("Grief Counseling
"). In the deleted scenes for "The Surplus" in Season 5, Dwight tells Angela that his family came over on a U-Boat
after she tells him that Andy Bernard
's ancestors came to the U.S. on the Mayflower
.
According to one of Dwight's web logs on NBC.com's "Schrute-Space", he had an uncle named Gunther, a goat farmer, who fled the Allied invasion of Germany
and married a Finnish woman with whom he had 17 children. He also had an Uncle Girt who revealed that the Schrute family has an ongoing hatred of Harry S. Truman
because they were staunch supporters of Thomas Dewey
. In another blog
, he mentions a cousin named Heindl, who received numerous injuries and infections from an attack by a small sheep dog
that was working for their family.
and is a former Lackawanna County
volunteer sheriff
's deputy. He is also a purple belt in Goju-Ryu karate, and is the senpai at his dojo. Dwight is a pop culture and sci-fi
buff who has expressed fanship of many sci-fi movies and popular TV shows. In the episode "The Fire", he mentioned the movie The Crow
as being his favorite film. He hints at belief in fictional creatures such as androids, zombies and vampires (though curiously, despite having claimed in "Business School
" to have shot a werewolf
, he says in one of his blog entries that he does not believe in them; however, he may have simply been denying claims of werewolves at Schrute Farms in order to prevent potential visitors from being frightened away). He enjoys playing table tennis and states that many of his heroes are table tennis players. He is also shown to be very good at the sport. His musical tastes vary, but classic rock seems to be a recurring theme. His personal musical talents are not lacking, as he plays guitar and recorder, and sings. He has a fascination with cars
; he usually checks a car's suspension, especially muscle cars. He drives a 1987 Pontiac Trans Am. His technological talents are limited but he shows a passion for the online role playing game, Second Life
, in which the only difference between himself and his avatar is that his avatar can fly. He also shows an interest in trains as he's restoring a life size train in his slaughterhouse during "The Meeting
", which has him bonding with Toby as they share the same interest. In "Todd Packer
", Dwight does not know who Justin Bieber
is, asking Jim "Who is Justice Beaver?" and leaving Jim to answer "A crime-fighting beaver."
Dwight owns an impressive array of weaponry. In addition to Laser Tag and paintball equipment, he has a crossbow
range at his farm ("Office Olympics
") and, when he was named official security supervisor of the Scranton branch, hinted that he might bring a bo staff
to work. He maintained a hidden arsenal of weapons around the office, including pepper spray
, nunchucks
, throwing stars
, a stun gun, a boomerang
, handcuffs
, a nightstick
, a pair of brass knuckles
and a Chinese Sword
, all of which were confiscated by Toby. Dwight also claimed to have sat at his desk for an entire day with a Spud Gun without any trouble from security. Dwight also uses a real gun, a Colt Anaconda
, fired within city limits, to start off the race in Fun Run. He also produced a disturbing number of Molotov cocktail
s for a panty raid on Utica in "Branch Wars
". In "Survivor Man
", it is revealed that Dwight still has many knives (and other weapons) hidden on himself (as in "Stress Relief" there is a knife strapped to his leg) or strategically positioned throughout the office ('Mr. A Knife' in a filing cabinet, twin sais behind a water cooler, sword in ceiling tile, blow dart in a bathroom stall, a compound bow under a couch) and he owns a .22 rifle with scope. Also in this episode, it is shown that Dwight has extensive knowledge of how to look after himself in the wild, being able to provide himself with food, and observes Michael from a distance through the scope of a bolt-action centerfire rifle and stops Michael from poisoning himself, although it is not clear whether the mushrooms were actually poisionous.
Dwight is vocal about his views on justice, which is reflected in his television viewing habits as he enjoys watching and has great admiration for 'Judge Judy', as well as Vic Mackey on The Shield. In "The Negotiation", Roy attacks Jim because he kissed Roy's fiancee, Pam
, but Dwight intercepts the attack with pepper spray. Jim wants to show his appreciation, but Dwight refuses to accept his gifts: "Citizens do not accept prizes for being citizens". In "Drug Testing"
, Dwight finds half of a joint in the parking lot, which incites him to carry out a full-out investigation. When he discovers that Michael might have been exposed to drugs at a concert he substitutes his own urine during the drug test. Dwight then resigns from his volunteer position at the Sheriff's Department because he feels he is no longer worthy of working there. In "Frame Toby
", Dwight states that he is good at framing people and animals, saying that he once framed a raccoon
for opening a Christmas present and a bear for eating out of the garbage, although he made it more than obvious to the police that he wanted Toby to go to prison. In the episode "Womens Appreciation", he is quoted as saying "Better a thousand innocent men are locked up than one guilty man roam free."
In "Stress Relief
" and "Happy Hour
" it is hinted that Dwight is against vegetarianism. When asked what charity he dislikes he says PETA
and says he likes the fact that Isabel is not a vegetarian.
Dwight also seems to like the band Mötley Crüe
when he is seen in "Performance Review
" and "Traveling Salesmen
" dancing to their music.
. Pam begins to suspect a relationship between Dwight and Angela in the episode "E-mail Surveillance
" by observing their interactions, suspicions which are strengthened in "The Injury
" and "Conflict Resolution" and confirmed by "Traveling Salesmen", where Angela confides in Pam about her relationship, using code names. Ryan discovers the relationship between the two when he overhears a coded conversation between the two in the kitchen while Jim discovers the relationship while coming out of the office bathroom after quitting time to find Dwight and Angela kissing, although on an earlier occasion he unwittingly glimpsed Angela lying in Dwight's hotel room dressed in lingerie, but mistook her for a prostitute. On most occasions, Dwight and Angela will only talk at work in the kitchen, and when facing opposite directions.
In the episode "Fun Run
", Angela asks Dwight to care for her sick cat, Sprinkles. Instead of caring for the cat, Dwight feels he should put Sprinkles out of its misery
and feeds it antihistamines until it falls asleep and then places the sleeping but not dead cat in Angela's freezer. This backfires, and Angela breaks up with him. Jim, on a visit to Dwight's beet farm, finds Dwight sitting alone at night, contemplating Angela's cherub figurine and moaning in anguish.
In the fourth season finale "Goodbye, Toby
", Dwight is obviously hurt when Angela's boyfriend, Andy Bernard, proposes to her. However, in the final scene of the episode (and the season), coworker Phyllis Lapin-Vance comes back into the office following Toby's farewell party and catches Dwight having sex with Angela, strongly indicating a reconciliation between the two is possible.
In the fifth season Premiere, "Weight Loss
", Dwight and Angela have resumed a covert relationship, using a storage room in the warehouse to have sex whenever Angela finds Andy too unbearable. In "Business Ethics
", it is revealed that it takes Dwight nineteen minutes and forty-eight seconds to make love to Angela. In "Crime Aid
", Dwight once again becomes depressed when Andy and Angela have set a date for their wedding. Dwight gives Angela an ultimatum: call off the engagement or lose him. She ultimately says no to him.
Phyllis eventually tells everyone, apart from Andy, about Angela's affair with Dwight; Michael steps in and tells Andy when Angela fails to do so. A duel
between Dwight and Andy takes place when both realize that Angela has been lying to them, and neither one ends up with her. For quite some time afterwards, Dwight and Angela avoid each other; however, later episodes have hinted at a possible future for the couple. In the season 6 episode "The Delivery
", Dwight, witnessing Jim and Pam talk to customers about their unborn child, decides that he wants a child and asks Angela to be the mother. They sign an elaborate contract including eating guidelines for Angela to follow when she is pregnant, and how the baby will be raised. While Angela seems excited by the reconciliation, Dwight doesn't appear to share her romantic feelings. When Dwight develops an interest in Pam's friend Isabel, he tells Angela to forget about the contract; this infuriates Angela and she sues him in small-claims court. When an arbitrator tells them that the contract is valid and would involve a $30,000 settlement (because it would be illegal to force Dwight and Angela to procreate), Dwight cuts a deal with Angela for five sessions of sex. He then proceeds to abuse his genitals in an effort to sterilize himself, and curtly fends off Angela's efforts to be romantic during Session 6 in "The Chump". In Season 7, the deal continues for a while, but a combination of both Dwight and her having mixed feelings about it, and Angela's meeting of a handsome (though possibly closeted gay) State Senator leads her to void the pact in WUPHF.com
. Dwight looks visibly distraught when he sees the now-defunct document.
", Dwight is sad when the open branch manager position goes to Deangelo Vickers
, and when he learns that Michael did not even recommend him for the job, he snubs Michael and heads off to a meeting Vickers has called, leaving Michael standing outside by himself. In "Goodbye, Michael
", Dwight is still mad at Michael, but his hostility turns into heartfelt appreciation as Michael hands him the recommendation letter. At first the letter does not seem to impress Dwight at all, (believing it was a cruel prank) but as he reads through he realizes that Michael truly cares for him all this time. They are later seen engaging in a friendly paintball fight and Dwight's loyalty to Michael is once again secured.
, to whom Michael often assigns personal tasks, and he continues to resent Ryan, a temp, throughout the second season, often addressing him as "Temp," even after Ryan took Jim's job. In the beginning of season 2, Dwight's friendship with Michael was slightly torn during one of the episodes when Michael must evaluate Ryan. Dwight remained cautious. Dwight takes Ryan under his wing for his first sales call, although they get off to a rough start when Dwight has him undergo a series of bizarre initiation rituals. But soon after, Dwight takes Ryan on his first meeting, which ends in disaster and the two later egg the potential customer's building out of spite. During season 4, Dwight along with Michael, comes to Ryan's rescue when they visit him in New York City when he gets into a scuffle. The two later team up in season 6 when Dwight plans to take Jim down as branch co-manager.
and Pam Halpert, though he remains oblivious to Pam's involvement. As a result of this, Dwight and Jim have an ongoing feud that reaches a head in "Conflict Resolution", when Dwight threatens to quit unless Jim is transferred. Professionally, Dwight wins the 2005 Salesman of the Year Award, though this is likely due, at least in part, to his stealing Jim's largest client. Dwight's stolen sale deprived Jim of his biggest commission of the year.
Somewhat surprisingly, Dwight was regretful during "Initiation" as he told Ryan he and Jim never got along, and since that point and Jim's return from Stamford they have generally gotten along better. Jim is annoyed when Andy replaces Dwight in the brief time Dwight has quit. Jim even consoled Dwight during the painful aftermath of his breakup with Angela, although Dwight maintains a supercilious attitude towards Jim. In addition, as shown in "Traveling Salesmen," Jim and Dwight make an incredibly efficient sales team, functioning well as a duo and thinking similarly in their tactics. The two were paired together when they began as traveling salesmen at the company. Dwight did plan to demote Jim from the Assistant Regional Manager spot and make his life a living hell during "The Job
" but Jim mocked his plans and they did not produce any concrete impact on Jim.
Dwight's relationship with Jim mellows somewhat in later seasons, and they sometimes cooperate effectively on sales calls or running the office in Michael's absence. However, when Jim is promoted to co-manager, Dwight's enmity returns to full force and he conducts an ongoing campaign to depose Jim, who eventually resumes his old job as sales representative, pleasing Dwight who (wrongly) believes that his "diabolical plan" forced Jim to resign.
Jim and Dwight team up in "Todd Packer
" to try to get rid of Todd Packer after he returns to the Dunder-Mifflin offices and takes Dwight's desk. The two at first can't agree on a plan, but eventually trick Packer into thinking he's got a job in Tallahassee. Michael tries to derail their scheme but changes his mind after Packer insults Holly.
to gain Michael's favor for "third-in-command". The struggle comes to a head in "Traveling Salesmen
". In Season 4, Andy and Dwight work well together as a sales team, but Andy's successful pursuit of Angela after she broke up with Dwight was annoying to him. When Andy gets engaged to Angela, Dwight is greatly upset by this, and embarks on an affair with Angela. This affair culminates in a short-lived fight between Andy and Dwight when they find out Angela has lied to both about sleeping with them. However by season 5, Andy and Dwight become friends and discover they both share a mutual interest in music and hunting.
" and "Diwali
", he comforts a tearful Pam, and in "China
" he secretly allows Pam to save face
when she feels vulnerable about her job abilities. The two even become friends after he suffers a concussion in "The Injury
". In the season 6 episode The Delivery
, Dwight shows more signs of his begrudging friendship with Jim and Pam during Pam's pregnancy. In the episode, he is sent to the Halperts' house to retrieve Pam's iPod
while they are at the hospital. Instead of finding the iPod and bringing it back to her, Dwight decides to completely rebuild and repaint their kitchen. He also advises Pam on how to keep her daughter Cece quiet, during "Viewing Party
", by relating his child rearing experiences. Dwight's odd friendship with Pam is explored again in "Doomsday (The Office)
". At this point, Pam seems to be the only one in the office who is able to understand Dwight's inner feelings, as she successfully convinces him to deactivate the doomsday machine. It is implied at the end of the episode that Dwight, despite his outward contempt for his coworkers, truly cares about them.
Dwight has an odd relationship with Phyllis, treating her badly (abandoning her across town so she'd lose weight by walking back), but also well (bidding to win a hug from her at the auction
and massaging
her back when she injured it from dancing). He has a rare interaction with Creed
when he suspects Jim Halpert to be a vampire and he asks Creed if he could make a wooden stake for him in less than an hour. Dwight has low opinion of Meredith Palmer
and once caused her to get bitten by a bat
. During "Todd Packer
", he cheers up Kevin
upon witnessing Todd insult Kevin with a fat joke, by telling Kevin that he'd be a prominent fighter in sumo wrestling. However, during "Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
", all bets are off when Dwight takes over as acting manager and imposes a dictatorial management style on the staff. When he accidentally fires off a gun and makes Andy lose temporary hearing, the staff blackmails Dwight with multiple requests. Among them, Dwight has to give a back massage to Kevin, which disgusts him.
has even pointed out how socially weird Dwight is being, only for the woman to brush it off. In "Night Out
", Dwight hooks up with a women's basketball player, while Michael fails in his attempts with a couple of women. As Michael and Dwight leave the club, the woman calls out for Dwight to call her, which he says to Michael that he will not do. In "Niagara
", Michael and Dwight compete for the attention of Pam's best friend, Isabel. When Dwight starts talking about his farm, Michael tries to explain that no one can connect with his experiences as farmer, only for Isabel to become interested in Dwight's horses. Dwight ultimately manages to sleep with her, and she even begins to develop deeper feelings for him which he does not return, although it is finally hinted in "The Delivery" that Dwight might have more intimate feelings for her than he originally let on. They meet again at the bar in "Happy Hour
", and bond further, kissing at the end of the episode. In a chat at OfficeTally.com, Mindy Kaling noted that Dwight is not a typical "nerd" character, that he is a "farmer and kind of strapping and tall", and it generally makes sense that he does well with the opposite sex.
he is one of the "greatest sidekicks." In TV Guide
's list of the top 100 characters in television history, Dwight was ranked 85th. In an ABC News
interview with Rainn Wilson, the interviewer commented that "Words barely describe Dwight Schrute, the suck-up salesman and assistant to the regional manager of the Scranton branch for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company..." and "Dwight, as played by the 41-year-old Wilson, has become one of the breakout characters in television comedy. Dwight is a survivalist geek, a student of karate who likes to shoot a crossbow and watch "Battlestar Galactica" on television. And he takes himself very, very seriously..." E! News
commented that Rainn Wilson should be nominated for an Emmy Award
for his performance of Dwight, commenting: "...Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now, Dwight Schrute? Oh, only the ten million-plus people who watched as you pepper sprayed the living daylights out of Roy for trying to pop Jim in the face last night. My God, have I missed you, man. Mr. Schrute, you are the reason I love my job, my friend. It is the selflessly heroic actions of a man such as you that make television a nice place to be on a Thursday night. You may just be an everyday citizen who does not accept prizes for being a citizen, but you'd best be accepting a supporting actor Emmy nod this year, because, hot damn if you don't deserve it."
Another positive review of the character was given by PopMatters, an online entertainment news site. The review stated:
"One of the show’s ironies is that Michael and Dwight, hapless though they might be within the office or in most social settings, are actually top salesmen...Undeterred, or unaware of any of this, Dwight carries on with his dreams of grandeur, even instituting a reward system called “Schrute Bucks” for employees who please him during a brief but tyrannical reign as branch manager...Dwight approaches sales with the same militaristic fervor as everything else in his life, and it pays off for him (maybe that’s one of the reasons why, when Jim gives Dwight one of Benito Mussolini’s speeches to deliver when he accepts a sales award in Season Two, Dwight delivers it so enthusiastically that he gets a standing ovation)..."
The Devil Wears Prada
has a song titled "Assistant to the Regional Manager" which they indirectly associate with Dwight by way of a T-shirt designs which strongly resembles him. It is named "Guy Wearing Tie."
, Dwight is given a bobblehead doll
as a Valentine's gift from Angela. Following the episode, fans of the show petitioned NBC to make the bobblehead doll available for purchase on their online store. NBC responded by creating an initial run of 4,000 bobblehead dolls, which sold out almost immediately. The creator of the show, Greg Daniels
, joked about the bobbleheads, saying "Yes, they are fun, but they also serve a business purpose. People who want to manage by consensus can buy six and keep them nodding all the time to whatever they say." The item is currently sold on Amazon and the NBC store. In 2010 Hallmark released a smaller talking version of the doll as part of their 2010 Christmas Keepsake Ornament selection.
, Craigslist
, and Google
." A producer actually did create a Monster account for Dwight and uploaded his résumé a month before the episode aired. It can be found by employers with resume database access who search for salesmen in Scranton, Pennsylvania
. The résumé stated that he was willing to relocate to another state, wanted a salary close to $30,000 (USD), desired the job title of regional manager, was currently "Assistant to the regional manager", and had a Bachelor's Degree
. The posted résumé also stated: "My time spent at Dunder Mifflin was very enjoying. I had the opportunity to learn from an experienced and talented boss. My branch consistently was one of the top sellers of the company..."
page for Dwight's bed and breakfast. This can be found by searching for Schrute Farms. Jim and Pam discover that Dwight is running the Schrute Farm as an "agritourism
" Bed and Breakfast
. They spend the night there, taking part in table-making demonstrations, beet wine-making, and distributing manure
. That night, however, Jim finds Dwight moaning in depression over Angela. The Trip Advisor page said:
"Schrute Farms is the number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We offer the finest accommodations for the casual traveler and/or beet enthusiast. Come join us and experience majestic Schrute Farms."
Jim and Pam ("JandP2") also posted a review, which can be seen on the reviews page. It read: "The architecture reminds one of a quaint Tuscan beet farm, and the natural aroma of the beets drifts into the bedrooms and makes you dream of simpler times. You will never want to leave your room. The informative lecture will satisfy all your beet curiosity, and the dawn goose walk will tug at your heart strings. Table making never seemed so possible. Great story to tell your friends. Plenty of parking! The staff’s attention to detail and devotion to cleanliness was limitless. From their enthusiastic welcome to the last wave good-bye, Schrute Farms delivers."
An angry Angela also put a review up, and mentioned the death of her cat as a main cause for the review. It said: "I have to warn people about the proprietor of Schrute Farms—he may portray himself as a gentleman farmer, but he is not what he seems! He killed my cat, Sprinkles! Who knows what he might do to you or your loved ones..."
According to Dwight, during the Civil War, while the battle of Gettysburg was known for having the most deaths, the battle of Schrute Farms was known for having the highest DPA (deaths per acre). He also claimed it was the Northern-most battle during the Civil War. However, it was really a safe-haven for men who wanted relief from the war to focus on artistic lifestyles. It is insinuated that this was a camp for homosexual soldiers.
Melvin Fifer Garris is the only known soldier to write home from Schrute Farms during the Civil War.
presidential nominee John McCain
joked that Dwight Schrute would be his vice presidential candidate choice. Rainn Wilson
appeared on The Tonight Show
on May 14, 2008, and read to Jay Leno
a list of demands from Dwight in exchange for being vice president. Included in this list was being able to pilot Air Force One
at any time, and only to be addressed as "Iceman" while piloting. He also demanded that Jack Bauer
be immediately promoted to United States Secretary of Defense
, his bunker
to include a foosball table and be zombie
proof, and that the Secret Service
members be armed with nunchucks, throwing stars, and flamethrower
s. Finally, he demanded a flamethrower, an Iron Man
suit, and that fellow character Michael Scott
be an "ambassador to Hawaii."
, Stanford and Northwestern University
demonstrated that social outsiders, similar to Dwight's character, lead to better group decision making. Media accounts of their published study reported that having a Dwight Schrute around is good for business. Dwight was included in articles about the research by Time magazine
, Toronto Globe and Mail, The Salt Lake Tribune and Brigham Young University
.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan
Gareth Keenan
Gareth Keenan is a fictional paper salesman on BBC's comedy The Office. He is portrayed in the series by Mackenzie Crook as a gaunt, self-important team leader proud of his alleged lieutenant status in the Territorial Army...
from the original UK version
The Office (UK TV series)
The Office is a British sitcom television series that was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious...
of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for his successes, despite lacking social skills and common sense
Common sense
Common sense is defined by Merriam-Webster as, "sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts." Thus, "common sense" equates to the knowledge and experience which most people already have, or which the person using the term believes that they do or should have...
. Despite his personal dislike of Jim Halpert
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
, the two are an effective sales team. Dwight's ability as a salesman, though, has rarely commanded the respect of his peers or led to higher levels of professional success. Moreover, though at one time he was the Assistant to the Regional Manager, he was demoted to a debatable number three in the office after Jim Halpert came back from Stamford. Currently, while Andy is manager, Dwight resumed his post as assistant regional manager.
In an episode commentary on the season-one DVD, Wilson refers to Dwight as a "fascist nerd
Nerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
" who is a predictable caricature of a character that demonstrates the futility of most TV. In a featurette on the season-three DVD, Wilson describes Dwight as "someone who does not hate the system, but has a deep and abiding love for it".
Dwight is a former volunteer sheriff deputy
Auxiliary police
Auxiliary police or special constables in England) are usually the part-time reserves of a regular police force. They may be armed or unarmed. They may be unpaid volunteers or paid members of the police service with which they are affiliated...
and has been trained in surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
. Dwight lives on his family's 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) beet farm, in a nine bedroom farmhouse (with one outhouse
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
), with his cousin Mose (played by producer/writer Michael Schur
Michael Schur
Michael Herbert Schur is an American television producer and writer, best known for his work on the NBC comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation, the latter of which he co-created along with Greg Daniels...
), where they grow table beets. Dwight also likes paintball
Paintball
Paintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...
, Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica TV series in 1978, and was followed by a brief sequel TV series in 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games...
, ping pong, survivalism
Survivalism
Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups who are actively preparing for future possible disruptions in local, regional, national, or international social or political order...
, Goju Ryu karate and weapons. He drives a red 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Pontiac Firebird
The Pontiac Firebird was built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002. The Firebird was introduced the same year as the automaker's platform-sharing model, the Chevrolet Camaro...
. At the end of season 5 Dwight introduces his best friend, Rolf. He says that they met in a shoe store when he overheard him asking for a shoe that could increase his speed and not leave any tracks.
Not much is revealed about Dwight's parents except that his father used to take him hunting, cheated in games, and that he battled obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is also revealed that Dwight would have loved to set Michael up with his mother, implying that she is deceased. Dwight once mentioned that his grandfather fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and ended up in an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prison camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
, implying he was a soldier in the German army
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. This is later confirmed while Dwight is explaining his reasoning for his living to a long age. He tells the cameras that his grandfather is still "puttering around Argentina somewhere", implying that his grandfather was one of the members of the SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
who fled into South America. He tried to visit his grandfather once but his travel visa was protested by the Shoah Foundation
Shoah Foundation
Shoah foundations are organizations that are formed to further the remembrance of the Holocaust of World War II. There are currently two major foundations that are internationally active.-Major Shoah Foundations:...
. His father and grandfather are also named Dwight Schrute; however, his great-grandfather was named Dwide Schrude.
As with Steve Carell's departure from the show, Dwight is the only character to have an appearance and speaking lines in every episode of the show.
Casting
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
. The character is based on Gareth Keenan
Gareth Keenan
Gareth Keenan is a fictional paper salesman on BBC's comedy The Office. He is portrayed in the series by Mackenzie Crook as a gaunt, self-important team leader proud of his alleged lieutenant status in the Territorial Army...
of the original British version of the show
The Office (UK TV series)
The Office is a British sitcom television series that was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the programme is about the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictitious...
, who was played by actor Mackenzie Crook
Mackenzie Crook
Paul Mackenzie Crook is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Gareth Keenan in The Office and Ragetti in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.-Life and career:...
.
All original series characters were adapted for the U.S. version. Unlike Carell, Wilson watched every episode of the original British series, and was a fan before he auditioned for the US version. Wilson originally auditioned for Michael, a performance he described as a "terrible Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
impersonation"; however, the casting directors liked his audition as Dwight much more and hired him for the role. Wilson based Dwight's hairstyle on his own style he had when he was sixteen. In an interview he said that he went to a barber to get "the worst haircut possible."
Character information
When the series begins, Dwight Schrute is a competent salesman, despite lacking general knowledge, at the ScrantonScranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
branch of the paper-goods distribution company Dunder Mifflin. Dwight formally held the title of "Assistant to the Regional Manager" but constantly refers to himself as "Assistant Regional Manager," attempting to elevate himself to second-in-command to Michael Scott
Michael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
. Dwight craves authority over others and relishes any minor task that Michael or anyone else gives him. Though Dwight acts like a know-it-all, he is actually quite gullible, ignorant, and naïve. For this reason, he is easily tricked and pranked by his desk-mate and fellow salesman Jim Halpert
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
. Dwight speaks in a halting, intense manner, even in casual conversations. Dwight almost always wears a mustard-colored short-sleeved dress shirt with a dark tie, often with a brown suit jacket. He often uses one-upmanship
One-upmanship
One-upmanship is the art or practice of successively outdoing a competitor.The term originated as the title of a book by Stephen Potter, published in 1952 as a follow-up to The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship and Lifemanship titles in his series of tongue-in-cheek self-help books, and film ...
to better himself over his peers, such as boasting about how he trains specific parts of his body or how he can outrun Toby Flenderson
Toby Flenderson
Toby Wyatt Flenderson, M.S.W. born 1971 is a character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Paul Lieberstein. He is an original character and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office.-Overview:...
. Though he has little, if any, sense of humor, Dwight often engages in jokes and games to appease Michael, but fails because of Michael's perception of himself as the jokester. After Dwight temporarily leaves Dunder Mifflin, it is shown that Dwight watered the office plant and arranged the toys on Michael's desk in a manner that made Michael happy. Dwight also has a preference for the back seat of cars because they are the safest location in a car.
Family and childhood
He claims to remember his own birth including his father delivering him and his mother biting the umbilical cord. Dwight was a twin, but he "resorbed" his twin while still in his mother's womb (this occurrence is called twin embolisation syndrome). He believes that he now has "the strength of a grown man and a little baby". He claims to have been born weighing 13 lb (5.8967 kg), rendering his mother incapable of walking for three months and two days. In "Baby ShowerBaby Shower
"Baby Shower" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office, and the show's seventy-sixth episode overall. The episode aired in the United States on October 16, 2008 on NBC....
", Dwight claims to have performed his own circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
. Dwight was shunned by his family from the age of four until his sixth birthday for forgetting to save the excess oil from a can of tuna. He lost a grade school spelling bee to Raj Patel by misspelling the word "failure" in front of the entire school. In seventh grade, Dwight played the invented role of "Mutey the Mailman" in a production of Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
He explains that there were not enough roles for all of the children, so they made up roles. Dwight's father battled high blood pressure and obesity all his life, but often went hunting with his son. In the deleted scenes of the Season 5 episode, "The Duel", Dwight also reveals that his great uncle Helmuth was locally renowned for building a makeshift flying machine in four years; but he was promptly killed when said machine landed on a small girl. In the Season Two DVD bloopers it is revealed that Dwight's father would take him and his brothers to a swimming hole on hot summer days as a child until 10:00 AM, then they would work the beet fields until well after midnight.
Dwight's paternal great-grandfather, Dwide Schrude, was Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
and apparently others in his family have been as well, since Dwight's cousin and housemate Mose dresses as a practicing member of the Amish. Dwight speaks German, but his knowledge of it is "pre-industrial and mostly religious" as might be expected if the language was learned exclusively in an Amish church or context.
Dwight lives in a nine-bedroom, one-bathroom (which is located under the porch as revealed in "Office Olympics
Office Olympics
"Office Olympics" is the third episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's ninth episode overall. Written by Michael Schur, and directed by Paul Feig, the episode first aired in the United States on October 4, 2005 on NBC.In the episode, Michael...
"), farmhouse on his family's 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) beet
Beet
The beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family which is now included in Amaranthaceae family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is the purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet...
farm with Mose, selling beets to local stores, restaurants and roadside beet stands. It is also revealed that Dwight uses part of his farm to grow hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
; in "Launch Party
Launch Party
"Launch Party" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifty-eighth episode overall. The episode was written by Jennifer Celotta and directed by Ken Whittingham...
", he claims that teens keep stealing it, though a pizza delivery boy under the impression it's marijuana as opposed to hemp claims that it's "crappy". Dwight and Mose have also turned Schrute Farms into a very ramshackle bed & breakfast that was visited during "Money
Money (The Office)
"Money" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's sixtieth episode overall. It first aired on October 18, 2007, on NBC, and was the last of four consecutive hour long episodes that opened the fourth season...
" by Jim and Pam. The bed and breakfast had three theme rooms, "America, Irrigation, and Nighttime". Schrute Farms was also to be the site of Andy and Angela's wedding before the two broke off their engagement.
Dwight's maternal grandfather, whose surname is Manheim (according to Dwight's web log on NBC.com
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and killed twenty men before ending up in an Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prison camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
. In "Take Your Daughter to Work Day", Michael refers to Dwight's grandmother as a "Nazi war criminal". In "Dunder Mifflin Infinity
Dunder Mifflin Infinity
"Dunder Mifflin Infinity" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifty-sixth episode overall. The episode was written by Michael Schur, who also acts in the show, and directed by Craig Zisk...
", Dwight reveals that he has a grandfather still alive at 103 years old and living in Argentina, but when he went to visit him, his travel visa was protested by the Shoah Foundation
Shoah Foundation
Shoah foundations are organizations that are formed to further the remembrance of the Holocaust of World War II. There are currently two major foundations that are internationally active.-Major Shoah Foundations:...
. Dwight reveals the day of casino night that he is wearing the suit his grandfather was buried in ("Casino Night"). It is possible that this is the same grandfather that was reburied in an "old oil drum" ("Grief Counseling
Grief Counseling (The Office)
"Grief Counseling" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 32nd episode overall. Written by Jennifer Celotta and directed by Roger Nygard, the episode first aired in the United States on October 12, 2006 on NBC.Michael is...
"). In the deleted scenes for "The Surplus" in Season 5, Dwight tells Angela that his family came over on a U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
after she tells him that Andy Bernard
Andy Bernard
Andrew "Andy" Baines Bernard is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. The character is highly insecure, yet egotistical, constantly mentioning his education at Cornell University...
's ancestors came to the U.S. on the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
.
According to one of Dwight's web logs on NBC.com's "Schrute-Space", he had an uncle named Gunther, a goat farmer, who fled the Allied invasion of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and married a Finnish woman with whom he had 17 children. He also had an Uncle Girt who revealed that the Schrute family has an ongoing hatred of Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
because they were staunch supporters of Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
. In another blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, he mentions a cousin named Heindl, who received numerous injuries and infections from an attack by a small sheep dog
Sheep dog
- Animals :*Livestock guardian dog, a dog used to guard sheep and other livestock*Herding dog, a dog used to herd sheep and other livestock- Computer science :*Sheepdog a distributed storage system for QEMU/KVM - Songs :...
that was working for their family.
Interests
Dwight is trained in the art of surveillanceSurveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
and is a former Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
volunteer sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
's deputy. He is also a purple belt in Goju-Ryu karate, and is the senpai at his dojo. Dwight is a pop culture and sci-fi
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
buff who has expressed fanship of many sci-fi movies and popular TV shows. In the episode "The Fire", he mentioned the movie The Crow
The Crow (film)
The Crow is a 1994 American action film based on the 1989 comic book of the same name by James O'Barr. The film was written by David J. Schow and John Shirley, and directed by Alex Proyas...
as being his favorite film. He hints at belief in fictional creatures such as androids, zombies and vampires (though curiously, despite having claimed in "Business School
Business School (The Office)
"Business School" is the seventeenth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's forty-fifth episode overall...
" to have shot a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, he says in one of his blog entries that he does not believe in them; however, he may have simply been denying claims of werewolves at Schrute Farms in order to prevent potential visitors from being frightened away). He enjoys playing table tennis and states that many of his heroes are table tennis players. He is also shown to be very good at the sport. His musical tastes vary, but classic rock seems to be a recurring theme. His personal musical talents are not lacking, as he plays guitar and recorder, and sings. He has a fascination with cars
CARS
Cars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
; he usually checks a car's suspension, especially muscle cars. He drives a 1987 Pontiac Trans Am. His technological talents are limited but he shows a passion for the online role playing game, Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
, in which the only difference between himself and his avatar is that his avatar can fly. He also shows an interest in trains as he's restoring a life size train in his slaughterhouse during "The Meeting
The Meeting (The Office)
"The Meeting" is the second episode of the sixth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the 102nd overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on September 24, 2009....
", which has him bonding with Toby as they share the same interest. In "Todd Packer
Todd Packer (The Office)
"Todd Packer" is the eighteenth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 144th episode overall...
", Dwight does not know who Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
is, asking Jim "Who is Justice Beaver?" and leaving Jim to answer "A crime-fighting beaver."
Dwight owns an impressive array of weaponry. In addition to Laser Tag and paintball equipment, he has a crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
range at his farm ("Office Olympics
Office Olympics
"Office Olympics" is the third episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's ninth episode overall. Written by Michael Schur, and directed by Paul Feig, the episode first aired in the United States on October 4, 2005 on NBC.In the episode, Michael...
") and, when he was named official security supervisor of the Scranton branch, hinted that he might bring a bo staff
Bo (weapon)
A bō or kon , is a long staff weapon used in Okinawa and feudal Japan. Bō are typically around long and are now used in Japanese martial arts, in particular bōjutsu...
to work. He maintained a hidden arsenal of weapons around the office, including pepper spray
Pepper spray
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray , OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears...
, nunchucks
Nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.-Etymology:The Japanese word nunchaku is the Kun'yomi reading of the Kanji term for a traditional Chinese two section staff....
, throwing stars
Shuriken
A shuriken is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing...
, a stun gun, a boomerang
Boomerang
A boomerang is a flying tool with a curved shape used as a weapon or for sport.-Description:A boomerang is usually thought of as a wooden device, although historically boomerang-like devices have also been made from bones. Modern boomerangs used for sport are often made from carbon fibre-reinforced...
, handcuffs
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
, a nightstick
Club (weapon)
A club is among the simplest of all weapons. A club is essentially a short staff, or stick, usually made of wood, and wielded as a weapon since prehistoric times....
, a pair of brass knuckles
Brass knuckles
Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or knuckledusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles...
and a Chinese Sword
Jian
The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE during the Spring and Autumn Period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian.Historical one-handed versions have blades...
, all of which were confiscated by Toby. Dwight also claimed to have sat at his desk for an entire day with a Spud Gun without any trouble from security. Dwight also uses a real gun, a Colt Anaconda
Colt Anaconda
Introduced in 1990, the Colt Anaconda is a large frame double-action revolver featuring a full length under-barrel ejection-rod lug and six round cylinder, designed and produced by the Colt's Manufacturing Company...
, fired within city limits, to start off the race in Fun Run. He also produced a disturbing number of Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s for a panty raid on Utica in "Branch Wars
Branch Wars
"Branch Wars" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office—the show's sixty-third episode overall. Written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Joss Whedon, the episode originally aired in the United States on November 1, 2007 on NBC...
". In "Survivor Man
Survivor Man
"Survivor Man" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office—the show's sixty-fourth episode overall. Written by Steve Carell, who also acts on the show as Regional Manager Michael Scott, and directed by Paul Feig, it originally aired on NBC on...
", it is revealed that Dwight still has many knives (and other weapons) hidden on himself (as in "Stress Relief" there is a knife strapped to his leg) or strategically positioned throughout the office ('Mr. A Knife' in a filing cabinet, twin sais behind a water cooler, sword in ceiling tile, blow dart in a bathroom stall, a compound bow under a couch) and he owns a .22 rifle with scope. Also in this episode, it is shown that Dwight has extensive knowledge of how to look after himself in the wild, being able to provide himself with food, and observes Michael from a distance through the scope of a bolt-action centerfire rifle and stops Michael from poisoning himself, although it is not clear whether the mushrooms were actually poisionous.
Dwight is vocal about his views on justice, which is reflected in his television viewing habits as he enjoys watching and has great admiration for 'Judge Judy', as well as Vic Mackey on The Shield. In "The Negotiation", Roy attacks Jim because he kissed Roy's fiancee, Pam
Pam Beesly
Pamela Morgan "Pam" Halpert is a fictional character on the U.S. television sitcom The Office, played by Jenna Fischer. Her counterpart in the original UK series of The Office is Dawn Tinsley....
, but Dwight intercepts the attack with pepper spray. Jim wants to show his appreciation, but Dwight refuses to accept his gifts: "Citizens do not accept prizes for being citizens". In "Drug Testing"
Drug Testing (The Office episode)
"Drug Testing" is the twentieth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the twenty-sixth episode overall. It was written by Jennifer Celotta and directed by Greg Daniels, who is also an executive producer, and the series' show runner...
, Dwight finds half of a joint in the parking lot, which incites him to carry out a full-out investigation. When he discovers that Michael might have been exposed to drugs at a concert he substitutes his own urine during the drug test. Dwight then resigns from his volunteer position at the Sheriff's Department because he feels he is no longer worthy of working there. In "Frame Toby
Frame Toby
"Frame Toby" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office, and the show's eighty-first episode overall. The episode aired in the United States on November 20, 2008 on NBC....
", Dwight states that he is good at framing people and animals, saying that he once framed a raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
for opening a Christmas present and a bear for eating out of the garbage, although he made it more than obvious to the police that he wanted Toby to go to prison. In the episode "Womens Appreciation", he is quoted as saying "Better a thousand innocent men are locked up than one guilty man roam free."
In "Stress Relief
Stress Relief
"Stress Relief" is a two-part episode of the American comedy television series The Office. They constituted the fourteenth and fifteenth episode of the fifth season, and the 86th and 87th overall episodes of the series...
" and "Happy Hour
Happy Hour (The Office)
"Happy Hour" is the 21st episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 121st episode overall. It originally aired March 25, 2010 on NBC....
" it is hinted that Dwight is against vegetarianism. When asked what charity he dislikes he says PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
and says he likes the fact that Isabel is not a vegetarian.
Dwight also seems to like the band Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
when he is seen in "Performance Review
Performance Review
"Performance Review" is the eighth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fourteenth episode overall. It was written by Larry Wilmore and directed by Paul Feig...
" and "Traveling Salesmen
Traveling Salesmen (The Office)
"Traveling Salesmen" is the thirteenth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired January 11, 2007. It was written by Michael Schur, Lee Eisenberg, and Gene Stupnitsky and directed by Greg Daniels. This is the first episode to use an abbreviated title sequence, presumably...
" dancing to their music.
Commercial Real Estate
Encouraged to invest in real estate by Jo, the new owner of Dunder Mifflin, Dwight decided to buy the office park. He has shown entrepreneurial traits like converting the building lobby into a coffee shop, and organizing a barn maze before Halloween where kids pay to play.Coworker relations
In "Drug Testing", Dwight says that he likes the people he works with, "with four exceptions", leaving it up to the audience to make educated guesses about whom these four exceptions are. The four are most likely Jim, Ryan, Meredith and Toby because of Michael's hatred of Toby.Angela
Towards the middle of Season Two, Dwight develops a secret relationship with Angela MartinAngela Martin
Angela Noelle Martin is a fictional character from the US television series The Office played by American actress Angela Kinsey. She is an original character, and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office.-Overview:...
. Pam begins to suspect a relationship between Dwight and Angela in the episode "E-mail Surveillance
E-mail Surveillance
"E-mail Surveillance" is the ninth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifteenth episode overall...
" by observing their interactions, suspicions which are strengthened in "The Injury
The Injury
"The Injury" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office—the show's eighteenth episode overall...
" and "Conflict Resolution" and confirmed by "Traveling Salesmen", where Angela confides in Pam about her relationship, using code names. Ryan discovers the relationship between the two when he overhears a coded conversation between the two in the kitchen while Jim discovers the relationship while coming out of the office bathroom after quitting time to find Dwight and Angela kissing, although on an earlier occasion he unwittingly glimpsed Angela lying in Dwight's hotel room dressed in lingerie, but mistook her for a prostitute. On most occasions, Dwight and Angela will only talk at work in the kitchen, and when facing opposite directions.
In the episode "Fun Run
Fun Run
"Fun Run" is the fourth season premiere of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's fifty-fourth episode overall...
", Angela asks Dwight to care for her sick cat, Sprinkles. Instead of caring for the cat, Dwight feels he should put Sprinkles out of its misery
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
and feeds it antihistamines until it falls asleep and then places the sleeping but not dead cat in Angela's freezer. This backfires, and Angela breaks up with him. Jim, on a visit to Dwight's beet farm, finds Dwight sitting alone at night, contemplating Angela's cherub figurine and moaning in anguish.
In the fourth season finale "Goodbye, Toby
Goodbye, Toby
"Goodbye, Toby" is the fourth season hour-long finale of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's seventy-first episode overall...
", Dwight is obviously hurt when Angela's boyfriend, Andy Bernard, proposes to her. However, in the final scene of the episode (and the season), coworker Phyllis Lapin-Vance comes back into the office following Toby's farewell party and catches Dwight having sex with Angela, strongly indicating a reconciliation between the two is possible.
In the fifth season Premiere, "Weight Loss
Weight Loss (The Office)
"Weight Loss" is the fifth season premiere of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's seventy-third episode overall. Written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, and directed by Paul Feig, the episode first aired as a single 60 minute show in the United States on...
", Dwight and Angela have resumed a covert relationship, using a storage room in the warehouse to have sex whenever Angela finds Andy too unbearable. In "Business Ethics
Business Ethics (The Office)
"Business Ethics" is the third episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office, and the show's seventy-fifth episode overall...
", it is revealed that it takes Dwight nineteen minutes and forty-eight seconds to make love to Angela. In "Crime Aid
Crime Aid
"Crime Aid" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office, and the show's seventy-seventh episode overall. The episode aired in the United States on October 23, 2008 on NBC....
", Dwight once again becomes depressed when Andy and Angela have set a date for their wedding. Dwight gives Angela an ultimatum: call off the engagement or lose him. She ultimately says no to him.
Phyllis eventually tells everyone, apart from Andy, about Angela's affair with Dwight; Michael steps in and tells Andy when Angela fails to do so. A duel
The Duel (The Office)
"The Duel" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 84th overall episode. In the episode, Andy learns his fiancee Angela is having an affair with Dwight, and the two challenge each other to a physical fight to win her affections...
between Dwight and Andy takes place when both realize that Angela has been lying to them, and neither one ends up with her. For quite some time afterwards, Dwight and Angela avoid each other; however, later episodes have hinted at a possible future for the couple. In the season 6 episode "The Delivery
The Delivery (The Office)
"The Delivery" is a two-part episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office. Since it is an hour-long episode, it is considered to be the 17th and 18th episodes in the season's episode count...
", Dwight, witnessing Jim and Pam talk to customers about their unborn child, decides that he wants a child and asks Angela to be the mother. They sign an elaborate contract including eating guidelines for Angela to follow when she is pregnant, and how the baby will be raised. While Angela seems excited by the reconciliation, Dwight doesn't appear to share her romantic feelings. When Dwight develops an interest in Pam's friend Isabel, he tells Angela to forget about the contract; this infuriates Angela and she sues him in small-claims court. When an arbitrator tells them that the contract is valid and would involve a $30,000 settlement (because it would be illegal to force Dwight and Angela to procreate), Dwight cuts a deal with Angela for five sessions of sex. He then proceeds to abuse his genitals in an effort to sterilize himself, and curtly fends off Angela's efforts to be romantic during Session 6 in "The Chump". In Season 7, the deal continues for a while, but a combination of both Dwight and her having mixed feelings about it, and Angela's meeting of a handsome (though possibly closeted gay) State Senator leads her to void the pact in WUPHF.com
WUPHF.com
"WUPHF.com" is the ninth episode of seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 135th episode overall. Written by Aaron Shure and directed by Danny Leiner, the episode aired on NBC in the United States on November 18, 2010...
. Dwight looks visibly distraught when he sees the now-defunct document.
Michael
Dwight generally worships Michael, viewing him as a model for success, and often jumps in on Michael's ill-conceived schemes. With the enormous exception of going over Michael's head to vie for the manager's job in "The Coup", his loyalty to his boss rarely flags. Despite this, Michael often dismisses Dwight and often appears embarrassed by his antics; for much of the series, he also refuses to promote Dwight from "Assistant to the Regional Manager" to "Assistant Regional Manager." Several times throughout the series, however, it is revealed that Michael does care about Dwight's feelings, and the two sometimes share bonding moments, cracking jokes together. In "Training DayTraining Day (The Office)
"Training Day" is the twentieth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office and the show's 146th episode overall. Written by Daniel Chun and directed by Paul Lieberstein, the episode aired on April 14, 2011, on NBC...
", Dwight is sad when the open branch manager position goes to Deangelo Vickers
Deangelo Vickers
Deangelo Jeremitrius Vickers is a fictional character in the television series The Office. Played by actor Will Ferrell, Vickers was Michael Scott's replacement as Branch Manager during the end of Season 7, since Michael was moving to Colorado with his fiancee Holly...
, and when he learns that Michael did not even recommend him for the job, he snubs Michael and heads off to a meeting Vickers has called, leaving Michael standing outside by himself. In "Goodbye, Michael
Goodbye, Michael
"Goodbye, Michael" is the twenty-second episode of the seventh season of the American comedy series The Office and the show's 148th episode overall. The episode was written by series developer and executive producer Greg Daniels and was directed by Paul Feig. The episode originally aired on April...
", Dwight is still mad at Michael, but his hostility turns into heartfelt appreciation as Michael hands him the recommendation letter. At first the letter does not seem to impress Dwight at all, (believing it was a cruel prank) but as he reads through he realizes that Michael truly cares for him all this time. They are later seen engaging in a friendly paintball fight and Dwight's loyalty to Michael is once again secured.
Ryan
Dwight feels threatened by RyanRyan Howard (The Office)
Ryan Bailey Howard , played by B. J. Novak, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom The Office. He is based upon Ricky Howard from the original version of The Office , but his role is significantly expanded and he is a main character.-Character profile:Little is known about Ryan's...
, to whom Michael often assigns personal tasks, and he continues to resent Ryan, a temp, throughout the second season, often addressing him as "Temp," even after Ryan took Jim's job. In the beginning of season 2, Dwight's friendship with Michael was slightly torn during one of the episodes when Michael must evaluate Ryan. Dwight remained cautious. Dwight takes Ryan under his wing for his first sales call, although they get off to a rough start when Dwight has him undergo a series of bizarre initiation rituals. But soon after, Dwight takes Ryan on his first meeting, which ends in disaster and the two later egg the potential customer's building out of spite. During season 4, Dwight along with Michael, comes to Ryan's rescue when they visit him in New York City when he gets into a scuffle. The two later team up in season 6 when Dwight plans to take Jim down as branch co-manager.
Jim
Dwight is frequently the victim of practical jokes by coworkers Jim HalpertJim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
and Pam Halpert, though he remains oblivious to Pam's involvement. As a result of this, Dwight and Jim have an ongoing feud that reaches a head in "Conflict Resolution", when Dwight threatens to quit unless Jim is transferred. Professionally, Dwight wins the 2005 Salesman of the Year Award, though this is likely due, at least in part, to his stealing Jim's largest client. Dwight's stolen sale deprived Jim of his biggest commission of the year.
Somewhat surprisingly, Dwight was regretful during "Initiation" as he told Ryan he and Jim never got along, and since that point and Jim's return from Stamford they have generally gotten along better. Jim is annoyed when Andy replaces Dwight in the brief time Dwight has quit. Jim even consoled Dwight during the painful aftermath of his breakup with Angela, although Dwight maintains a supercilious attitude towards Jim. In addition, as shown in "Traveling Salesmen," Jim and Dwight make an incredibly efficient sales team, functioning well as a duo and thinking similarly in their tactics. The two were paired together when they began as traveling salesmen at the company. Dwight did plan to demote Jim from the Assistant Regional Manager spot and make his life a living hell during "The Job
The Job (The Office)
"The Job" is the third season finale of the U.S. version of The Office, and the show's 52nd and 53rd episode overall. It aired in the United States on April 19, 2007 on NBC. It is the season's second hour-long episode...
" but Jim mocked his plans and they did not produce any concrete impact on Jim.
Dwight's relationship with Jim mellows somewhat in later seasons, and they sometimes cooperate effectively on sales calls or running the office in Michael's absence. However, when Jim is promoted to co-manager, Dwight's enmity returns to full force and he conducts an ongoing campaign to depose Jim, who eventually resumes his old job as sales representative, pleasing Dwight who (wrongly) believes that his "diabolical plan" forced Jim to resign.
Jim and Dwight team up in "Todd Packer
Todd Packer (The Office)
"Todd Packer" is the eighteenth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 144th episode overall...
" to try to get rid of Todd Packer after he returns to the Dunder-Mifflin offices and takes Dwight's desk. The two at first can't agree on a plan, but eventually trick Packer into thinking he's got a job in Tallahassee. Michael tries to derail their scheme but changes his mind after Packer insults Holly.
Andy
As a result of the Scranton-Stamford merger, Dwight loses his number two position to Jim and engages in an ongoing battle with new salesman Andy BernardAndy Bernard
Andrew "Andy" Baines Bernard is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. The character is highly insecure, yet egotistical, constantly mentioning his education at Cornell University...
to gain Michael's favor for "third-in-command". The struggle comes to a head in "Traveling Salesmen
Traveling Salesmen (The Office)
"Traveling Salesmen" is the thirteenth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired January 11, 2007. It was written by Michael Schur, Lee Eisenberg, and Gene Stupnitsky and directed by Greg Daniels. This is the first episode to use an abbreviated title sequence, presumably...
". In Season 4, Andy and Dwight work well together as a sales team, but Andy's successful pursuit of Angela after she broke up with Dwight was annoying to him. When Andy gets engaged to Angela, Dwight is greatly upset by this, and embarks on an affair with Angela. This affair culminates in a short-lived fight between Andy and Dwight when they find out Angela has lied to both about sleeping with them. However by season 5, Andy and Dwight become friends and discover they both share a mutual interest in music and hunting.
Other office staff
Although Pam is often involved in Jim's pranks on Dwight, Dwight has at certain times displayed a curious sense of protectiveness towards her. In "Back from VacationBack from Vacation
"Back from Vacation" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the US version of The Office. It aired on January 4, 2007 on NBC and was the first episode to air after the winter hiatus. It was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Julian Farino....
" and "Diwali
Diwali (The Office)
"Diwali" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series The Office—the show's 34th overall. Written by Mindy Kaling, who also acts in the show as Kelly Kapoor, and directed by Miguel Arteta, the episode first aired on November 2, 2006 on NBC, twelve days after the...
", he comforts a tearful Pam, and in "China
China (The Office)
"China" is the tenth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office and the shows 136th episode overall. Written by Halsted Sullivan and Warren Lieberstein, and directed by Charles McDougall, the episode aired on December 2, 2010 on NBC.-Synopsis:When Michael...
" he secretly allows Pam to save face
Face (sociological concept)
Face, idiomatically meaning dignity/prestige, is a fundamental concept in the fields of sociology, sociolinguistics, semantics, politeness theory, psychology, political science, communication, and Face Negotiation Theory.-Definitions:...
when she feels vulnerable about her job abilities. The two even become friends after he suffers a concussion in "The Injury
The Injury
"The Injury" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office—the show's eighteenth episode overall...
". In the season 6 episode The Delivery
The Delivery (The Office)
"The Delivery" is a two-part episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office. Since it is an hour-long episode, it is considered to be the 17th and 18th episodes in the season's episode count...
, Dwight shows more signs of his begrudging friendship with Jim and Pam during Pam's pregnancy. In the episode, he is sent to the Halperts' house to retrieve Pam's iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
while they are at the hospital. Instead of finding the iPod and bringing it back to her, Dwight decides to completely rebuild and repaint their kitchen. He also advises Pam on how to keep her daughter Cece quiet, during "Viewing Party
Viewing Party
"Viewing Party" is the eighth episode of seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 134th episode overall. Written by Jon Vitti and directed by Ken Whittingham, the episode aired on NBC in the United States on November 11, 2010.-Synopsis:The office employees...
", by relating his child rearing experiences. Dwight's odd friendship with Pam is explored again in "Doomsday (The Office)
Doomsday (The Office)
"Doomsday" is the sixth episode of the eighth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 158th episode overall...
". At this point, Pam seems to be the only one in the office who is able to understand Dwight's inner feelings, as she successfully convinces him to deactivate the doomsday machine. It is implied at the end of the episode that Dwight, despite his outward contempt for his coworkers, truly cares about them.
Dwight has an odd relationship with Phyllis, treating her badly (abandoning her across town so she'd lose weight by walking back), but also well (bidding to win a hug from her at the auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
and massaging
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
her back when she injured it from dancing). He has a rare interaction with Creed
Creed Bratton
Creed Bratton is an American actor and musician, a former member of The Grass Roots...
when he suspects Jim Halpert to be a vampire and he asks Creed if he could make a wooden stake for him in less than an hour. Dwight has low opinion of Meredith Palmer
Meredith Palmer
Meredith Elizabeth Palmer is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. She is played by Kate Flannery. She is an original character and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office....
and once caused her to get bitten by a bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
. During "Todd Packer
Todd Packer (The Office)
"Todd Packer" is the eighteenth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 144th episode overall...
", he cheers up Kevin
Kevin Malone
Kevin Jaye Malone is a character in the United States television series The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. Kevin's counterpart in the UK series is Keith Bishop.-Biography:...
upon witnessing Todd insult Kevin with a fat joke, by telling Kevin that he'd be a prominent fighter in sumo wrestling. However, during "Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
"Dwight K. Schrute, Manager" is the 24th episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office and the show's 150th episode overall. The episode was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Troy Miller. It originally aired in the United States on May 12, 2011...
", all bets are off when Dwight takes over as acting manager and imposes a dictatorial management style on the staff. When he accidentally fires off a gun and makes Andy lose temporary hearing, the staff blackmails Dwight with multiple requests. Among them, Dwight has to give a back massage to Kevin, which disgusts him.
Romantic relationships
A subtle running joke throughout the series is Dwight's surprising success with attractive women, with Michael often failing to "hook up" at the same time. Despite Dwight's unusual appearance and mannerisms, he manages to attract women who usually develop stronger feelings for him than vice versa. Michael ScottMichael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
has even pointed out how socially weird Dwight is being, only for the woman to brush it off. In "Night Out
Night Out
"Night Out" is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's sixty-eighth episode overall. The episode was written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Ken Whittingham. It first aired in the United States on April 24, 2008 on NBC...
", Dwight hooks up with a women's basketball player, while Michael fails in his attempts with a couple of women. As Michael and Dwight leave the club, the woman calls out for Dwight to call her, which he says to Michael that he will not do. In "Niagara
Niagara (The Office)
"Niagara" is an hour-long episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office. It is the 4th and 5th episodes in the season's episode count and the 104th and 105th episode of the series overall. The episode was written by executive producer Greg Daniels and Mindy Kaling, and was...
", Michael and Dwight compete for the attention of Pam's best friend, Isabel. When Dwight starts talking about his farm, Michael tries to explain that no one can connect with his experiences as farmer, only for Isabel to become interested in Dwight's horses. Dwight ultimately manages to sleep with her, and she even begins to develop deeper feelings for him which he does not return, although it is finally hinted in "The Delivery" that Dwight might have more intimate feelings for her than he originally let on. They meet again at the bar in "Happy Hour
Happy Hour (The Office)
"Happy Hour" is the 21st episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 121st episode overall. It originally aired March 25, 2010 on NBC....
", and bond further, kissing at the end of the episode. In a chat at OfficeTally.com, Mindy Kaling noted that Dwight is not a typical "nerd" character, that he is a "farmer and kind of strapping and tall", and it generally makes sense that he does well with the opposite sex.
Character reception
The Dwight Schrute character has had a very positive reception, and is often cited as one of the most popular characters on the show. According to Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
he is one of the "greatest sidekicks." In TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
's list of the top 100 characters in television history, Dwight was ranked 85th. In an ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
interview with Rainn Wilson, the interviewer commented that "Words barely describe Dwight Schrute, the suck-up salesman and assistant to the regional manager of the Scranton branch for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company..." and "Dwight, as played by the 41-year-old Wilson, has become one of the breakout characters in television comedy. Dwight is a survivalist geek, a student of karate who likes to shoot a crossbow and watch "Battlestar Galactica" on television. And he takes himself very, very seriously..." E! News
E! News
E! News, previously known as E! News Daily and E! News Live, is a nightly entertainment newsmagazine program airing on E!: Entertainment Television. The program debuted on September 1, 1991 and talks about Hollywood celebrities and gossip...
commented that Rainn Wilson should be nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for his performance of Dwight, commenting: "...Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now, Dwight Schrute? Oh, only the ten million-plus people who watched as you pepper sprayed the living daylights out of Roy for trying to pop Jim in the face last night. My God, have I missed you, man. Mr. Schrute, you are the reason I love my job, my friend. It is the selflessly heroic actions of a man such as you that make television a nice place to be on a Thursday night. You may just be an everyday citizen who does not accept prizes for being a citizen, but you'd best be accepting a supporting actor Emmy nod this year, because, hot damn if you don't deserve it."
Another positive review of the character was given by PopMatters, an online entertainment news site. The review stated:
"One of the show’s ironies is that Michael and Dwight, hapless though they might be within the office or in most social settings, are actually top salesmen...Undeterred, or unaware of any of this, Dwight carries on with his dreams of grandeur, even instituting a reward system called “Schrute Bucks” for employees who please him during a brief but tyrannical reign as branch manager...Dwight approaches sales with the same militaristic fervor as everything else in his life, and it pays off for him (maybe that’s one of the reasons why, when Jim gives Dwight one of Benito Mussolini’s speeches to deliver when he accepts a sales award in Season Two, Dwight delivers it so enthusiastically that he gets a standing ovation)..."
The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada (band)
The Devil Wears Prada is an American metalcore band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed in 2005, they are currently signed to Warner Music Group...
has a song titled "Assistant to the Regional Manager" which they indirectly associate with Dwight by way of a T-shirt designs which strongly resembles him. It is named "Guy Wearing Tie."
Bobblehead doll
In the episode Valentine's DayValentine's Day (The Office episode)
"Valentine's Day" is the sixteenth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's twenty-second episode overall. Written by Michael Schur and directed by Greg Daniels, the episode first aired in the United States on February 9, 2006 on NBC...
, Dwight is given a bobblehead doll
Bobblehead doll
A bobblehead doll, also known as a bobbing head doll, nodder, or wobbler, is a type of collectible toy. Its head is often oversized compared to its body...
as a Valentine's gift from Angela. Following the episode, fans of the show petitioned NBC to make the bobblehead doll available for purchase on their online store. NBC responded by creating an initial run of 4,000 bobblehead dolls, which sold out almost immediately. The creator of the show, Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
, joked about the bobbleheads, saying "Yes, they are fun, but they also serve a business purpose. People who want to manage by consensus can buy six and keep them nodding all the time to whatever they say." The item is currently sold on Amazon and the NBC store. In 2010 Hallmark released a smaller talking version of the doll as part of their 2010 Christmas Keepsake Ornament selection.
Résumé
In "Halloween", Jim and Pam uploaded Dwight's resume to "Monster.comMonster.com
Monster.com is one of the largest employment websites in the world, owned and operated by Monster Worldwide, Inc. Monster is one of the 20 most visited websites out of 100 million worldwide, according to comScore Media Metrics...
, Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
, and Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
." A producer actually did create a Monster account for Dwight and uploaded his résumé a month before the episode aired. It can be found by employers with resume database access who search for salesmen in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. The résumé stated that he was willing to relocate to another state, wanted a salary close to $30,000 (USD), desired the job title of regional manager, was currently "Assistant to the regional manager", and had a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
. The posted résumé also stated: "My time spent at Dunder Mifflin was very enjoying. I had the opportunity to learn from an experienced and talented boss. My branch consistently was one of the top sellers of the company..."
Schrute Farms
In "Money", Pam refers to a TripAdvisorTripAdvisor
TripAdvisor.com is a travel website that assists customers in gathering travel information, posting reviews and opinions of travel-related content and engaging in interactive travel forums. It is part of the TripAdvisor Media Group, operated by Expedia, Inc. TripAdvisor is a pioneer of...
page for Dwight's bed and breakfast. This can be found by searching for Schrute Farms. Jim and Pam discover that Dwight is running the Schrute Farm as an "agritourism
Agritourism
Agritourism, as it is defined most broadly, involves any agriculturally-based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. Agritourism has different definitions in different parts of the world, and sometimes refers specifically to farm stays, as in Italy...
" Bed and Breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
. They spend the night there, taking part in table-making demonstrations, beet wine-making, and distributing manure
Manure
Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...
. That night, however, Jim finds Dwight moaning in depression over Angela. The Trip Advisor page said:
"Schrute Farms is the number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We offer the finest accommodations for the casual traveler and/or beet enthusiast. Come join us and experience majestic Schrute Farms."
Jim and Pam ("JandP2") also posted a review, which can be seen on the reviews page. It read: "The architecture reminds one of a quaint Tuscan beet farm, and the natural aroma of the beets drifts into the bedrooms and makes you dream of simpler times. You will never want to leave your room. The informative lecture will satisfy all your beet curiosity, and the dawn goose walk will tug at your heart strings. Table making never seemed so possible. Great story to tell your friends. Plenty of parking! The staff’s attention to detail and devotion to cleanliness was limitless. From their enthusiastic welcome to the last wave good-bye, Schrute Farms delivers."
An angry Angela also put a review up, and mentioned the death of her cat as a main cause for the review. It said: "I have to warn people about the proprietor of Schrute Farms—he may portray himself as a gentleman farmer, but he is not what he seems! He killed my cat, Sprinkles! Who knows what he might do to you or your loved ones..."
According to Dwight, during the Civil War, while the battle of Gettysburg was known for having the most deaths, the battle of Schrute Farms was known for having the highest DPA (deaths per acre). He also claimed it was the Northern-most battle during the Civil War. However, it was really a safe-haven for men who wanted relief from the war to focus on artistic lifestyles. It is insinuated that this was a camp for homosexual soldiers.
Melvin Fifer Garris is the only known soldier to write home from Schrute Farms during the Civil War.
Vice presidential bid joke
On the May 7, 2008 episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, US Senator and Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
presidential nominee John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
joked that Dwight Schrute would be his vice presidential candidate choice. Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
appeared on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
on May 14, 2008, and read to Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
a list of demands from Dwight in exchange for being vice president. Included in this list was being able to pilot Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
at any time, and only to be addressed as "Iceman" while piloting. He also demanded that Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is the main protagonist of the American television series 24. His character has worked in various capacities on the show, often as a member of the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit based in Los Angeles, and working with the FBI in Washington, D.C...
be immediately promoted to United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
, his bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
to include a foosball table and be zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
proof, and that the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
members be armed with nunchucks, throwing stars, and flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
s. Finally, he demanded a flamethrower, an Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
suit, and that fellow character Michael Scott
Michael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
be an "ambassador to Hawaii."
Dwight in academic research
Researchers at Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, Stanford and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
demonstrated that social outsiders, similar to Dwight's character, lead to better group decision making. Media accounts of their published study reported that having a Dwight Schrute around is good for business. Dwight was included in articles about the research by Time magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, Toronto Globe and Mail, The Salt Lake Tribune and Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
External links
- Schrute-Space—Dwight Schrute's "blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
" (NBC official website) - Schrute Farms B&B—Listing on TripAdvisor