When John Krasinski stopped by “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Thursday, the “Jack Ryan” star revealed that his young daughters Hazel and Violet think he works in an actual office — rather than having launched an actual acting career on “The Office.”
“The reason I think that is because I was walking them to school one day, and this guy came up, and he was very nice, he went, ‘John, from ‘The Office’!’” Krasinski told Colbert. “I went, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘Oh my God, it’s so good to see you,’ and I said, ‘Thanks,’ and he kept walking.”
Krasinski said one of his kids then asked him if he worked with the man, which Krasinski denied. When she asked him why he was lying to her, he assured her he wasn’t, only for her to adamantly maintain: “No, he just said he knows you from the office.”
While the Emmy Award-winning NBC show famously launched Krasinski’s career, he told Colbert that his daughters have only just started watching the show. His wife, Emily Blunt, suggested he show them the pilot, at which point things only soured further.
“They were watching the first episode, and my oldest, it turns out she’s a screen talker-atter, so she’s talking to the screen,” Krasinski told Colbert. “When Steve [Carell] fired Jenna [Fischer], she goes, ‘What are you doing?’ Then she goes, ‘You’re a horrible person.’”
Krasinski said he joked: “You should meet Steve Carell.”
“My 6-year-old kept asking, ‘Is that you?’” Krasinski added. “And she says, ‘You look very different.’ I was like, ‘I’ll try not to take that as a hurtful thing,’ but sure, I say, ‘No, that’s me, I was just playing a character,’ and she went, ‘Pfff, that’s not you…That guy looks a lot like you, though!’”
“The Office” aired for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013 before Krasinski went on to become an action star with roles in the “Jack Ryan” series and Michael Bay’s “13 Hours.” He delved into directing with 2018’s Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place,” in which he co-starred with his wife.
“I think my kids thought she had married me out of charity,” Krasinski told Colbert. “Like, ‘You’re so nice to marry an accountant.’ Because they don’t know what I do.”
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Sign up for Peacock to stream NBCU shows.