Move Over, Jim and Pam: This The Office Star Deserves Way More Recognition

Summary:

• One of the greatest things about NBC's The Office is the way that many members of the crew have moved from behind the cameras to the screen.
• However, there is one person in particular who shaped the way The Office was produced.
• Phyllis Smith, who portrayed Phyllis Lapin-Vance, first worked on the show as part of a casting team.

The success of NBC's The Office was not written in the stars, but rather the result of a series of happy coincidences and a few perfect decisions. The show had a very low budget and almost lost Steve Carell as Michael Scott, but managed to stay afloat and become one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time.

None of this would have been possible if it weren't for the cast and crew who work together every day to bring viewers the highest quality entertainment. Allowed to express themselves and act in ways they felt would benefit the show, The Office team set an example for many shows to follow.

Every cast and crew member's story is equally valuable, but Phyllis Smith's role in shaping The Office definitely deserves more attention.

How Did Phyllis Get in The Office?

While it's hard to imagine the iconic sitcom without Phyllis, her original role was behind the camera. As one of the casting associates, Phyllis Smith was one of the people who helped The Office build the perfect cast we know and love today.

It's safe to say that with anyone else running the show, The Office would not be the same show we all know and love. It might have turned out into something just as good, but it certainly wouldn't have been the same.

It was Phyllis' on-set personality that made the team build the whole character around her. Keeping the name the same, but changing the last name, Phyllis was added to the cast herself, and The Office actually just launched her own acting career.

Gentle and soft-spoken, but very sassy at times, Phyllis has captured the hearts of many viewers.

Her comedic timing and delivery proved to be so good that The Office wasn't the last project she appeared in. Her most notable roles include The OA 's Betty Broderick-Allen and the voice of Sadness in The Inside Out. The latter even earned the actress an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice in a Feature Production.

Interestingly enough, Phyllis Smith wasn't the only star of The Office to get her start behind the camera. One of the most beloved couples on the show, Kelly and Ryan, happened solely because of the borderline disastrous for HR, but perfect for the entertaining dynamic that then-writers Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak had off-screen.

If you're feeling nostalgic and want to dive back into The Office, you can stream the entire show on Peacock.