Ed Helms

Helms was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother was a school administrator and his father was an attorney. He graduated from The Westminster Schools in 1992 a year after his Office co-star Brian Baumgartner. Originally a geology major, Helms graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in film theory and technology in 1996 and spent a semester as an exchange student at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

After graduating from Oberlin, Helms began his comedy and acting career as a writer and performer with New York City sketch comedy bands, and studied improvisation with the Upright Citizens Brigade troupe.

Helms concurrently worked as a trainee film editor at Crew Cuts, a post-production facility in New York City. While doing so, he recorded some rough voiceover scratch tracks that eventually led to paying voiceover work, which in turn led to finding a talent agent.

In addition to his acting work on The Office and in movies, Helms is also currently in a band called “The Lonesome Trio” with his friends Ian and Jake. They formed the band when they were in college, and still get together to play a few shows every year.