Rainn Wilson is a popular comedic actor who is best recognized as Dwight Schrute from the NBC sitcom, The Office. He has also worked on numerous other successful projects such as Full Frontal, Six Feet Under, Galaxy Quest, Almost Famous, Mom, The Boy, and more. He has even voiced numerous fan-favorite characters in many animated projects over the years.
Well, thanks to his success as an actor, Rainn has gained many fans around the world. And many people are eager to know more about Wilson. So, in this biography, we will take a look at his childhood, career, family, fatherhood, and more.
What Was Rainn Wilson’s Childhood Like?
The Office star was born Rainn Percival Dietrich Wilson in Seattle, Washington on January 20, 1966. Rainn Wilson’s parents Shay Cooper and Robert G. Wilson separated when he was very young. He lived with his dad and stepmother, Kristin in Nicaragua from age three to five before moving back to Seattle after their divorce. His father was a business consultant, artist, and novelist while his mother worked as an actress and yoga teacher.
As for his education, Wilson was enrolled at Kellogg Middle School and Shorecrest High School in Washington. He then transferred to New Trier High School in Wilmette, Illinois, and graduated from there. The family moved to the city to serve at the Baháʼí National Center. Rainn has continued to follow his Baháʼí Faith.
Following his graduation from high school, the Seattle native enrolled at Tufts University before transferring to the University of Washington in his hometown. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in drama in 1986. He then graduated with an MFA in acting from New York University’s graduate acting program.
When Did Rainn Wilson’s Career Start?
While still completing his studies, Rainn Wilson became a member of The Acting Company and was involved in numerous theatrical productions in New York. He also drove a moving van at the time to make ends meet. Moreover, Rainn’s early career was extensively in the theater world with him performing with the Ensemble Studio Theatre, the Roundabout, The Public Theater, and more. He was also nominated for numerous awards throughout his time at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Following a long and successful theater career, Rainn made his on-screen debut in an episode of the show, One Life to Live in 1997. He then had brief roles in movies such as The Expendables, Galaxy Quest, Almost Famous, and When Billie Beat Bobby. He was then cast to play the lead role of Bill Hudley in the 2003 movie House of 1000 Corpses and also played varied roles in America’s Sweethearts, Full Frontal, Sahara, Blue in Green, and Wheelmen among others.
During this time, Wilson also made brief appearances in television shows such as Dark Angel, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, MDs, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Monk, and Numb3rs. He also played the character Arthur Martin in Six Feet Under from 2003 to 2005.
Then in 2005, Rainn was cast as Dwight Schrute in the mockumentary sitcom, The Office. The show was a huge success and ran till 2013, and Wilson appeared in all of the seasons. Moreover, he was nominated for and won numerous awards with the cast of the show and even directed a few episodes. Moreover, to this day, Rainn is remembered as a neurotic office worker. In between playing Dwight in The Office, Rainn also appeared in numerous movies and television series, a few of which are listed below:
- The Life Coach
- My Super Ex-Girlfriend
- The Last Mimzy
- Juno
- Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
- Reno 911!
- Hesher
- Peep World
- Few Options, All Bad
- Family Guy
Following the success of The Office, Rainn Wilson’s career continued on with appearances in Backstrom, Cooties, The Stream, The Boy, Army of One, Permanent, Star Trek: Discovery, The Meg, Blackbird, Don’t Tell a Soul, and more. A few of his recent projects include Utopia, Mom, Dark Winds, Jerry and Marge Go Large, Solar Opposites, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He has also voiced many animated characters over the years such as Lex Luthor in numerous DC series and Gallaxhar in Monsters vs. Aliens.
To this day, The Office star has worked on over 90 acting projects. This makes it plausible that Rainn Wilson’s net worth is estimated to be around $14 million. Moreover, he already has many movies at various stages of production. This shows us that his earnings and fortune will undoubtedly increase in the coming days.
Who Is Rainn Wilson Married To?
Talking about the personal side of The Office star’s life, he is happily married and has also welcomed a son with his partner. Rainn Wilson’s wife is Holiday Reinhorn, a fiction writer known for her short stories. The pair met in an acting class at the University of Washington and started dating soon after. They tied the knot in 1995 on Kalama River in front of friends and family.
Rainn and Holiday welcomed their only child, a son named Walter McKenzie Wilson, in 2005. The pair are very private about their lives and prefer to keep themselves away from the spotlight. Well, we wish the family all the love and happiness in the future.