Retro-Cast: Who Would Star In The Office If It Were Filmed In The 1970s

The US version of The Office is one of the most successful and beloved sitcoms in recent history. Here’s how it would have been cast in the ’70s.

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Debuting in 2005, the US version of The Office has become one of the most successful and beloved sitcoms in recent history. While the show is undoubtedly hilarious, the outstanding cast of characters is one of the main reasons why fans continue to rewatch the show over and over again.

The Office was able to catch lightning in a bottle with its cast, picking the perfect actors to play off each other and demonstrating tremendous on-screen chemistry in their friendships and rivalries. Many members of the show’s cast have gone on to stardom, but the majority of them were up-and-coming comedians when the show started. If The Office had debuted in the 1970s instead of the 2000s, the cast could have included some of the greatest comedians of all time.

10 Sherman Hemsley As Stanley

Played by Leslie David Baker, Stanley Hudson is a character who mostly stays out of the office antics and spends his time doing crossword puzzles until he gets to go home. Stanley typically fluctuates between apathy and anger in the office, except, of course, on Pretzel Day.

No comedian from the 1970s could better capture Stanley’s cantankerous attitude than television icon Sherman Hemsley. Sherman Hemsley is best known for his portrayal of loveable grump George Jefferson in All in the Family and the spinoff The Jeffersons.

9 Lynda Carter As Jan

Jan Levinson begins The Office as the Vice President of Northeast Sales at Dunder Mifflin and serves as Michael Scott’s supervisor. They eventually become romantically involved and prove to have an unhealthy relationship, due in part to Jan’s tendency to try to control Michael.

The role of Jan requires someone who can be strong and confident but with a darker side. Perhaps no actress better conveyed strength and confidence on television in the 1970s than Lynda Carter. Best known for her lead role in Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter is a talented actress, singer, and model.

8 Lloyd Haynes As David Wallace

As Dunder Mifflin’s Chief Financial Officer, David Wallace has the unfortunate responsibility of supervising Michael Scott. Michael also tends to contact David Wallace more frequently than he would like, forcing David Wallace to act as the voice of reason, doing his best to keep Michael in check.

For the role of David Wallace, actor Lloyd Haynes would have brought the perfect balance of seriousness and comedy. Best known for his role in the dramatic-comedy show Room 222, Lloyd Haynes appeared on numerous television shows, including Star Trek: The Original Series, Batman, and The Fugitive.

7 Don Rickles As Creed

Creed Bratton is the office wild card, routinely befuddling his coworkers with his odd behavior and strange comments. His past is mostly a mystery, but many of the hints the audience is given suggest that he is a nefarious trouble maker with a history of lawbreaking and darkness.

As arguably the most famous insult comic of all time, Don Rickles could have brought his signature putdowns and mean-spirited comments to the role of Creed. In the 1970s, Don Rickles starred in shows such as The Don Rickles Show and CPO Sharkey, while modern audiences will recognize him as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise.

6 Cheech Marin As Oscar

Oscar Martinez is one of the accountants at the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. He is considered the office smart guy and often feels the need to prove his superior intelligence by correcting and one-upping his coworkers. However, despite his intellect, Oscar is not above participating in office drama and antics.

Since the 1970s, Cheech Marin has had a great cultural impact and also acted in an incredibly diverse filmography. Appearing in the duo Cheech & Chong, Pixar movies, and collaborations with director Robert Rodriguez, Cheech Marin has proven that he could easily have played a smart but ridiculous character like Oscar.

5 Richard Pryor As Darryl

Darryl Philbin is the foreman of the warehouse at the Scranton branch, overseeing an essential aspect of the company’s sales process. At work, he is often professional and takes safety in the warehouse seriously. But over the course of the show, the audience gets to see more of his personality, discovering that he is funny, cool, and a great friend.

As one of the biggest comedians of the 1970s, Richard Pryor undoubtedly had both the comedic chops and acting ability to play Darryl. Watching Pryor mock Michael Scott and embarrass him in front of the warehouse staff would have been a treat for audiences. Richard Pryor appeared in films such as Superman III, Silver Streak, and he also worked as a writer on the show Sanford and Son.

4 Mary Tyler Moore As Pam

Over the course of The Office’s 9 seasons, Pam Beesley underwent one of the show’s biggest character arcs as she began as a shy and timid receptionist who was stuck in a bad relationship and became a confident saleswoman and mother who was not afraid to pursue her dreams and was part of the show’s most aspirational relationship.

In the 1960s, actress Mary Tyler Moore established herself as a star in The Dick Van Dyke Show before taking her career to the next level in the 1970s with The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Bubbly, funny, and sweet, but with undeniable confidence, Mary Tyler Moore could have convincingly brought Pam’s story arc to life.

3 Dick Van Dyke As Jim

In most episodes of The Office, Jim Halpert serves as the straight man, balancing out the ridiculous antics of Michael and Dwight. He is a wholesome and good-natured, if somewhat mischievous, character that endeared himself to audiences with his sarcasm and fourth-wall-breaking looks that acknowledge the absurdity of his coworkers.

The perfect blend of wholesomeness, humor and leading man ability in the 1970s was Dick Van Dyke. With leading roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dick Van Dyke cemented himself as the quintessential loveable everyman.

2 Dan Aykroyd As Dwight

As the Assistant to the Regional Manager, Dwight Schrute takes his job at Dunder Mifflin very seriously, often going too far in his quest for power. As Michael’s right-hand man and Jim’s main rival, he is at the center of many of the show’s most ridiculous moments.

The role of Dwight requires an actor who can capture the character’s intense personality, nerdy interests, and comedic timing. As evident in his work in Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, and Saturday Night Live, Dan Aykroyd would have the ideal choice to bring an over-the-top character like Dwight to life.

1 Bill Murray As Michael

Possibly the most important role in The Office is that of Michael Scott. Michael is the manager of the Scranton branch and the main catalyst for many of the hijinx that occur in the office. He is the heart of the show, simultaneously appearing as one of the sweetest and funny characters while also being one of the most annoying and frustrating characters as well. He is desperate for love and acceptance and views his coworkers as his family.

If The Office had been filmed in the 1970s, only one actor had the charisma and comedic ability to pull off the fine balance of love and hate that viewers are supposed to have for Michael. Bill Murray is a legendary comedian who can play ridiculous or obnoxious characters. In films like What About Bob? and Caddy Shack, audiences cannot help but love thanks to the actor’s charm and heart.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/the-office-retro-casting-1970s-actors/