‘The Office’ Star Craig Robinson Is Quitting Comedy to “Focus on Something Bigger”

When a dream comes true, and you’ve accomplished all that you wanted, who’s to say that you have to stick with it? You’re allowed to change careers, and start over however many times you’d like. Many actors and comedians have left the industry to fulfill another dream, like owning a business, going into politics, and more. The latest star to close their comedy chapter is The Office‘s Craig Robinson, who revealed in an Instagram post that he’s quitting to focus on his “true calling.” While the actor has a few projects still in the mix, they’re apparently the last for the Chicago native.

According to Variety, Craig shared the message with his fans and followers on Instagram in a video. The caption reads, “Life update: I’m officially quitting comedy to focus on my true calling. Stay tuned. I’m working on something huge. [looking eye emoji]” In the video, Robinson greeted his followers with “Hey, everybody!” and then began telling them about his next chapter. “Just wanted you to hear it from me: I am quitting comedy, but not for nothing. It’s been an amazing run, and y’all have been amazing and wonderful, but I’m following something bigger. So, thank you so much. I love you, and stay tuned.”

Fans in the comments couldn’t believe their ears, with some believing that the announcement was a joke. Many used GIFs of the actor in his best-known roles; some were clips of his Office character shedding a tear, while others used sad GIFs to show how much they’d miss the comedian on their screens. A few actors also commented on the post, including Scream star David Arquette, who wrote, “I hope it involves music! You’re brilliant at whatever you choose to do!” The official account for Laugh Factory Chicago also commented, writing, “Cannot wait to hear your flute album!”

Craig Robinson’s Best Performances, Ranked

Craig Robinson, one of this generations funniest actors, has starred in some iconic movies and television shows.

In a follow-up Instagram post, Robinson teased his new venture, not providing much information but asking for advice on how to build a business. The caption of this post reads, “Turns out having a dream and building a business with your friends are two VERY different things. I can’t go into detail just yet, but for real though, any help would be huge.” In the video, the actor states, “Hey, guys! Big shoutout to all my small business owners. Hey, you guys got any advice for me while I’m trying to get my business afloat? I hit a few bumps in the road, and I sure would appreciate your guys’ tips. Thank you!”

Craig Robinson’s Iconic Role as Darryl Philbin in ‘The Office’

The Dunder Mifflin employees gather around a desk in The Office — NBC

It’s safe to say that the actor was never solely dependent on acting and comedy. Robinson is multi-skilled, with an MEd from Saint Xavier University and his own band, The Nasty Delicious. However, he did play some of the most iconic characters, including Darryl Philbin on The Office. The character went from recurring to starring in the mockumentary sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Darryl is the friendly but laid-back warehouse foreman who takes his job seriously, and eventually becomes friends with Andy. He has a daughter and, in the final season, quits his job to work at a sports company founded by Jim.

Source: Variety