The Office (US) actors you may not know have passed away since starring in series

The Office is arguably one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, as millions of people still enjoy it over a decade after it finished.

The cast was a huge part of what made it so entertaining for viewers, but sadly, we have lost some of them since the conclusion of the show.

Here are those actors who have sadly passed away:

Although he didn't have a huge speaking role in the show, Dane portrayed the security guard of the office building, Hank Tate. He popped up in various episodes throughout the series, notably during season four's "night out" episode, where the primary cast struggles to remember his name.

Dane sadly passed away in 2018 from pancreatic cancer; he was 75.

Patrice O'Neal played Lonny Collins, a recurring character in the warehouse. If you're struggling to place the character name, it's because Michael referred to him as "Sea Monster."

Outside of The Office, O'Neal was a stand-up comedian. He sadly died in November 2011 from complications due to a stroke. He was 41.

Ken Howard only appeared in one episode of The Office, but his presence was felt in the early seasons. Howard played Ed Truck, the old regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton.

He appeared in season two, but his lasting impact was in season three when Michael struggled to come to terms with his death, after Creed explained that Ed Truck was decapitated.

Howard died in March 2016 at 71 years old.

Ranjit Chowdry only appeared in a few episodes, yet each of his lines were incredibly quotable. Chowdry played Vikram, who met Michael when he was forced to become a telemarketer to get some extra cash. Michael then later attempted to hire Vikram for the Michael Scott Paper Company, which ultimately didn't pan out.

Chowdry died in April 2020 after emergency surgery to correct a ruptured ulcer. He was 65 years old. 

John Ingle was in a single episode of The Office, yet without his character, Dunder Mifflin simply wouldn't exist. Ingle played Robert Dunder, co-founder of the company, and Michael sought his expertise when he felt that Ryan was discriminating against the older employees.

Ingle died in September 2012 at the age of 84 following cancer-related complications.

Peggy Stewart was introduced to The Office during Jim and Pam's wedding as Pam's conservative grandmother, Sylvia Beesly.

Stewart passed away in 2019, just weeks after her 96th birthday.

Another grandmother in The Office, Connie Sawyer, played Michael's "Nana Scott," whom he seeks financial investment from to get his new company off the ground.

Sadly for Michael, she was unwilling to invest as his business plan did not match her standards.

Sawyer passed away in 2019 at the age of 105.

Hansford Rowe is another actor who only had a brief part in the office, but left a very lasting impression. Playing Phyliss' father who stole the show at her wedding by walking down the aisle - much to the dismay of Michael who was in charge of pushing his wheelchair.

Rowe sadly died in a car accident in California in 2017 at the age of 93.

Another member of Phyliss' family was Uncle Al, portrayed by George Ives. After being kicked out of the wedding, Michael redeemed himself by finding Uncle Al, an elderly man with dementia, who had gone missing.

Ives died in 2013 at the age of 87.

Brad William Henke played one of the villains of The Office, after his character, Frank, vandalised Pam's mural and then attempted to assault her in the car park.

Henke, a former NFL player who appeared in Super Bowl XXIV for the Denver Broncos, had to cut his football career short in the 90's due to an injury.

Henke died in his sleep at the age of 56 in November 2022.

Alan Fudge played Alan Brand, the CEO of Dunder Mifflin, who steered the company into bankruptcy. Fudge passed away due to lung and liver cancer in 2011 at the age of 67.

Georgia Engel was involved in season eight of The Office after Erin decided she wanted to stay in Florida following a work trip. She decides to become a live-in maid to Irene, played by Engel.

She died in 2019, aged 70.

Cloris Leachman had one of the funniest parts of The Office, as she played Lily, a character in a romance film that Jim, Pam, and Andy watch together. Starring opposite Jack Black, the fake movie sure left a lasting impact on audiences.

Leachman died in 2021 at the age of 94.

Weston Nathanson played a small part as a Civil War archivist during season eight's episode "Gettysburg".

He died in 2023, aged 84.

Swati Chokalingam played Kelly's mother in the show, but she sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2012.

Following this, Mindy Kaling - who played Kelly - became an ambassador for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Nick Lashaway was another employee at the telemarketing company who was highly impressed by Michael.

Tragically, Lashaway lost his life in a car crash in Framingham, Massachusetts in 2016. He was 28,