Which actor plays David Brent in The Office (UK)?

Ricky Gervais plays David Brent in The Office (UK).

Gervais created the series with Stephen Merchant and also co-wrote and co-directed it. His performance as Brent is central to the mockumentary’s humour: Brent sees himself as an entertaining, caring and highly respected manager, while his colleagues usually experience him as insensitive, self-important and painfully embarrassing.

David Brent is the general manager of Wernham Hogg’s Slough branch, the fictional paper company where the series is set. His attempts to impress staff, win approval from senior managers and prove that he is naturally funny drive many of the show’s most memorable scenes.

The other listed actors are also important members of the cast, but they play different characters. Mackenzie Crook plays Gareth Keenan, Martin Freeman plays salesman Tim Canterbury and Stephen Merchant appears as consultant and colleague figures rather than David Brent. Brent later returned in the 2016 film David Brent: Life on the Road, again portrayed by Gervais.