What role did The Office star David Denman play in The Recruit? Character explored in depth

What role did The Office star David Denman play in The Recruit? (Image via Lifetime)
What role did The Office star David Denman play in The Recruit? (Image via Lifetime)

David Denman, who was a part of The Office cast for multiple seasons, plays a pivotal role in Netflix’s The Recruit. The spy adventure series tells the story of Owen Hendricks, played by Noah Centineo, a new lawyer recruited by the CIA who gets involved in an international conspiracy.

The Office fans recognize David Denman for playing Roy Anderson, a warehouse worker and Pam’s ex-fiance in the NBC sitcom. In The Recruit, the actor stars as Kevin Mills, the President's Chief of Staff.

Though Mills works in The White House, he has some personal motives and seeks Owen’s help in achieving them. David appears in only three episodes of the show but is able to leave a mark with his impressive performance.


David Denman stars as Kevin Mills in The Recruit

David Denman is introduced as Kevin Mills in The Recruit season 1, episode 5. The Chief of Staff is known by the nickname Not Bob, which is also tied to former CIA asset Max Meladze’s past. Mills becomes central to the show’s narrative when Owen discovers that some shady dealings are going on within the agency.

Mills calls Owen to the White House to warn him that his name has been leaked inside the CIA, which could put him in danger. He denies being Meladze’s handler and tasks Owen with finding out who leaked the information.

Things get messier when Owen learns that Xander, an agent connected to Mills, has been misusing his alias for unauthorized work. When Xander dies under suspicious circumstances, Mills rushes to protect his own reputation.

He even visits the CIA's general counsel, Walter Nyland, to make sure no one finds out about his link with Owen and wants to stay out of the chaos. Mills does not share the full details about his involvement in the conspiracy, but his actions show he is good at playing political games.

He uses his influence only when it is absolutely necessary. For example, in The Recruit season 1 episode 6, Owen asks for his help with a subpoena. Though Mills agrees, he asks for information about the OGC in return.

Throughout his journey, Mills tries to balance between politics and espionage. He keeps a calm attitude, even when tensions rise around him, and is focused on protecting his position. However, it remains unclear whether he truly cares about the agency or is only concerned about his personal gains.


David Denman starred as Roy Anderson on The Office

Before joining The Recruit, David Denman was an integral member of The Office cast. His character, Roy Anderson, gets into the spotlight as he acts as an obstacle in the love story of Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly.

David has also made appearances on several other television shows, including the Netflix psychological thriller Eric, the Amazon Freevee police procedural Bosch: Legacy, and the HBO crime miniseries Mare of Easttown.

The actor’s film credits include The Equalizer 3, Rebel Ridge, Power Rangers, and After Earth. David talked about why he wanted to be a part of The Office cast on the Office Ladies podcast and revealed he had loved the British version of the show:

“I watched it [the British version] and I was like, 'Oh, my god, this is genius.' And there was, you know, a couple of guys my age on the show. And I called my agent and I was like, 'Hey, I hear they're doing an American version of The Office... I'd love to get in on that.”

In 2022, he joined The Recruit, playing a starkly different character than the one he played in the NBC sitcom, and showcased his versatility. It has not been confirmed if David will be seen in the second installment of the show.

The Recruit season 2 premieres on Netflix on January 30, 2025.

Edited by Anshika Jain
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