David Denman is a character actor who, throughout the late ‘90s and into the 2000s, took on a diverse array of roles both on television and in feature films. Among his most memorable performances are that of the blue-collar worker Roy Anderson on The Office (NBC, 2005–2013) and his role as a divorced father on Parenthood (NBC, 2010–2015).
Born on July 25, 1973, in Newport Beach, California, David Denman experienced a childhood marked by several relocations before his family finally settled in Fountain Valley. It was there that he first got involved with the drama program at Fountain Valley High School, an experience that ultimately sparked his passion for acting.
After participating in the summer training program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, Denman went on to attend the prestigious Juilliard School’s Drama Division. He graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and quickly began landing television roles soon after. His screen debut came later that same year in an episode of ER (NBC, 1994–2009).
Denman made his feature film debut in 2000, playing a deaf football player in the Keanu Reeves comedy The Replacements. Over the next few years, he balanced his time between television and movies, appearing in projects such as Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2003) and a recurring role on Angel (The WB, 1999–2004), where he portrayed a demon intent on summoning the all-powerful “Devourer” to Earth.
His breakout moment came in 2005 when he was cast as Roy Anderson, Pam Beesly’s former fiancé on The Office. At first, Denman’s character was depicted as somewhat of an immature figure, struggling to cope with Pam’s rejection. However, over the course of the series, Roy’s character evolved, and by the time of his final appearance in Season 9, he was shown as a mature and successful individual.
David Denman shared in a 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy, thanks to the ensemble cast of The Office. The show’s immense popularity also opened more doors for him, leading to increasingly significant guest appearances on TV series and in films. He even had the opportunity to headline a Fox sitcom titled Traffic Light in 2011.
Following supporting roles in After Earth (2013) and Jobs (2013)—where he played Al Alcorn, the computer scientist behind the creation of Pong—Denman returned to television with a recurring role on Parenthood as Ed, a man who briefly dates Julia Braverman-Graham (Erika Christensen) during her separation from her husband Joel (Sam Jaeger).
In 2015, Denman took on the role of a sniper in Michael Bay’s 13 Hours, an action-packed dramatization of the 2012 terrorist attack on an American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
When it comes to David Denman’s filmography, fans and critics alike have noticed a clear standout in his career. David Denman’s highest rated movie so far is Rebel Ridge (2024), which has received strong praise for its gripping storyline and powerful performances. On the other hand, David Denman’s lowest rated film appears to be Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? (2016), a comedy that didn’t quite resonate with audiences or reviewers. While David Denman has taken on a variety of roles over the years, these two films mark the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of critical reception. Still, David Denman continues to be a versatile actor, and many are curious to see what project he’ll tackle next.