Rainn Percival Dietrich Wilson (born January 20, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, producer, writer, and director best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on NBC's American adaptation of The Office (2005–2013), for which he received three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

He made his film debut in Galaxy Quest (1999), followed by supporting parts in Almost Famous (2000), Steven Soderbergh's Full Frontal (2002), and House of 1000 Corpses (2003).

In 2009, he was heard in the animated science fiction film Monsters vs. Aliens as the villain Gallaxhar, and voiced Gargamel in Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017).

[8] He transferred to and graduated from New Trier High School after his family moved to Wilmette, Illinois, to serve at the Baháʼí National Center.

He played one of the eight chorus members in Richard Foreman's 1996 production of Suzan-Lori Parks' Venus,[12] and was nominated for three Helen Hayes Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his work at the Arena Stage.

Wilson first appeared onscreen in 1997 in an episode of the soap opera One Life to Live, followed by a supporting role in the television film The Expendables (1999).

[13] He made his feature film debut in Galaxy Quest (1999), followed by a minor supporting role in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (2000).

[15] Beginning in 2003, Wilson played Arthur Martin, an intern at Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home in HBO's Six Feet Under, earning a Screen Actors Guild award for best drama ensemble for the series.

He guest-starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Entourage,[16] Monk, Numbers, Charmed, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job, and Reno 911!.

In August 2010, he appeared in the music video for Ferraby Lionheart's "Harry and Bess" and Andy Grammer's "Keep Your Head Up" as the "creepy elevator guy".

"[20] For his role of Paul, the bereft father, in Hesher (2011), Roger Ebert said of Wilson's work: “He has that rare quality in an actor, an uncanny presence.

Yes, they can get worked up, they can operate on high, but their passive essence is the point: dubious, wise, sadly knowledgable [sic], at an angle to the throughline.

[28] He has voiced Lex Luthor in various DC animated films, including The Death of Superman, Reign of the Supermen, Batman: Hush, and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.

[citation needed] On October 10, 2019, he was featured in the 30-minute YouTube documentary Laughing Matters, created by SoulPancake in collaboration with Funny or Die, wherein a variety of comedians discuss mental health.

Wilson played Trevor Wells, the recurring therapist to Bonnie (Allison Janney) on nine episodes of the CBS sitcom Mom.

[35] Wilson's other streaming credits include a role in Jerry & Marge Go Large for Paramount+,[36] and a loose depiction of Dr. Demento in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

[38] In February 2025, Wilson is set to portray Caldwell B. Cladwell in Urinetown at New York City Center as a part of their Encores!

Wilson also competed in Chess.com's PogChamps 3 chess competition, finishing in second place after a tiebreaker game with French streamer Sardoche [fr].

[53] On Bill Maher's Real Time, Wilson described himself as a diverse independent, having voted for Republican, Green and Democratic candidates.

[54] Wilson's charitable works include fundraising for the Mona Foundation, a Bahá’í-inspired charity operating in developing countries.