The Surprising Twist Behind Creed Bratton's Iconic Role on The Office
Creed Bratton's unexpected journey to The Office made him a beloved character Discover the fascinating story of how he stumbled into the role and became a fan favorite
Summary
Creed Bratton's character in The Office was a happy accident, as he wasn't originally planned for the show, but a mistaken identity led to his first speaking role.
Creed's eccentric and enigmatic actions, such as attending the Halloween party drenched in blood, endear him to fans and make him an invaluable asset to the show.
In a remarkable parallel, Creed Bratton's audacious decision to embrace and portray his character's shenanigans aligns with the unpredictable mannerisms that his character embodies. His unintentional involvement turned out to be pivotal to The Office's triumph.
Creed Bratton's role in The Office was a happy accident, as his character was not originally planned for the show. Throughout the nine seasons, he gained notoriety for his eccentric behavior as the Quality Assurance Manager at Dunder Mifflin, the author of Creed Thoughts, and occasional kleptomaniac. While not based on any character from the UK version, Creed Bratton has become a beloved fixture of the popular sitcom. However, his name may not have become part of American sitcom history if it weren't for one particular incident.
Creed Bratton, portrayed by Creed Bratton in The Office, holds the position of Quality Assurance Manager at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. He simply walked into the building one day and started working, and he has been a regular presence at Michael Scott's chaotic paper-selling branch ever since. Strangely enough, nobody in The Office, including Creed himself, knows exactly what his job entails. Creed is a mysterious figure, claiming to have been born in 1925 despite evidence to the contrary on his passport. He possesses extensive knowledge of medical narcotics and shares that the last person who stole from him also had the name Creed Bratton. Despite his enigmatic nature, Creed is an integral part of The Office and delivers many hilariously unforgettable moments.
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How Creed Bratton Ended Up On The Office
If it weren't for a clever moment of Creed Bratton seizing an opportunity during the "Diversity Day" episode, his beloved character might have never existed on The Office. The true Creed Bratton shared in an interview with The Office's Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela) on their podcast, Office Ladies, that he was mistaken by an Assistant Director for a speaking role and encouraged to interact with Phyllis. Despite Phyllis's attempts to correct the Assistant Director, Creed motioned for her to go along with it, resulting in his first speaking part.
How Creed Bratton Became A Fan Favorite In The Office
: Once the mistake was discovered, it was already too late and Creed Bratton had become a speaking character on The Office, thus entitling him to a higher wage. Ironically, this bold and cheeky career move mirrors the antics of the fictional Creed Bratton on the show, suggesting that there may be more similarities between the real-life and fictional versions of Creed Bratton than meets the eye.
Although inadvertently added to the speaking character's roster, Creed Bratton's appearance on The Office almost didn't happen. In the episode "Halloween," Creed had his first significant speaking role alongside Steve Carell, where Michael Scott had to dismiss someone but struggled to choose who. The show's actual producers also faced a dilemma of their own: deciding between Creed or Devon Abner to be eliminated from their cast. In a further reflection of Michael Scott's trouble, they went to the extent of filming two alternate endings for the episode.
Thankfully, luck was in Creed's favor when Devon received a theater contract and voluntarily left the show. Creed remained a part of The Office's cast for season 2 and continued to evolve. As time went on, Creed Bratton became even more eccentric and outrageous. He once showed up to a Halloween party wearing a blood-stained shirt, which he deemed as "perfect timing." He frequently eluded the Scranton PD and dropped hints about his fascinating past. Perhaps the most notable aspect of Creed is that he appears to be a happy accident.
Upon arriving at Dunder Mifflin, Creed simply started working, leaving everyone confused about his origins and how he ended up there – much like real-life Creed Bratton's journey to The Office. Creed lives by his own set of rules and is incredibly unpredictable, qualities that the actual Creed Bratton utilized to secure his role on the show. In hindsight, it's difficult to imagine The Office's success without the unforeseen inclusion of Creed Bratton. He is the distinct, unhinged, and shamelessly unique presence that keeps both the audience and his colleagues at Dunder Mifflin guessing. The story of how he joined the show serves as undeniable proof.
