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

vt-author-image

By James Kay

Article saved!Article saved!

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 some of those actors who have sadly passed away:

Hugh Dane

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.49.12.jpg Hugh Dane. Credit: NBC / The Office

Patrice O'Neal

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.50.01.jpg Patrice O'Neal. Credit: NBC / The Office

Ken Howard

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.50.20.jpg Ken Howard. Credit: NBC / The Office

Ranjit Chowdry

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. 

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.50.52.jpg Ranjit Chowdry. Credit: NBC / The Office

John Ingle

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.51.20.jpg John Ingle. Credit: NBC / The Office

Peggy Stewart

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.52.20.jpg Peggy Stewart. Credit: NBC / The Office

Connie Sawyer

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.52.45.jpg Connie Sawyer. Credit: NBC / The Office

Hansford Rowe

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.53.12.jpg Hansford Rowe. Credit: NBC / The Office

George Ives

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.53.39.jpg George Ives. Credit: NBC / The Office

Brad William Henke

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.54.03.jpg Brad William Henke. Credit: NBC / The Office

Alan Fudge

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.54.27.jpg Alan Fudge. Credit: NBC / The Office

Georgia Engel

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.54.59.jpg Georgia Engel. Credit: NBC / The Office

Cloris Leachman

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.55.44.jpg Cloris Leachman. Credit: NBC / The Office

Weston Nathanson

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

He died in 2023, aged 84.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.56.15.jpg Weston Nathanson. Credit: NBC / The Office

Swati Chokalingam

Swati Chokalingam played Kelly's mother in the show, but she sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2012. Kelly's parents were portrayed by Mindy Kaling's actual parents.

Following the death of her mother, Kaling - who played Kelly - became an ambassador for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.56.42.jpg Swati Chokalingam. Credit: NBC / The Office

Nick Lashaway

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.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.58.17.jpg Nick Lashaway. Credit: NBC / The Office

Mark York

Mark York played William "Billy" Merchan, the owner of the building where The Office is set.

York, who was involved in a car accident in 1995 that led to him being a wheelchair user, passed away in 2021 at the age of 55.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.58.46.jpg Mark York. Credit: NBC / The Office

Dan Cole

Dan Cole appeared in the season two episode "Valentine's Day" as the branch manager of Dunder Mifflin Buffalo. He appeared in two further episodes after this.

Cole passed away in 2024 at the age of 60 after a prolonged illness. 

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.59.12.jpg Dan Cole. Credit: NBC / The Office

Ed Lauter

Ed Lauter played Sam Stone Sr., an elderly man whom Dwight and Andy were keen to win the business of. Sadly for them, it was Stone's son who was actually in charge of the business.

Lauter passed away in 2013 at the age of 74.

Screenshot 2025-08-27 at 12.59.32.jpg Ed Lauter. Credit: NBC / The Office

Featured image credit: NBC / The Office