From sketch comedy troupes to swimming with sharks, John Krasinski really has done it all.

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John Krasinski has slowly but surely become known as one of Hollywood’s real-life heroes. But if you thought he couldn’t possibly get any more likeable, then think again. From his teenage crush on Molly Ringwald to his penchant for finding co-star roles for his family, here are 40 facts about the former star of The Office that help prove how awesome he truly is.

40. He has an impressive secret talent

If there’s ever a Thunderbirds remake, John Krasinski should be a shoo-in to play one of the parts. While appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2011, you see, the actor showed off a hidden talent that only his co-stars on The Office had previously seen. And that was the uncanny knack of moving around like a puppet on a string!

39. He sometimes played the monster in A Quiet Place

Krasinski appeared to do everything but the catering while filming A Quiet Place. That’s because not only did he co-write, star in, direct and executive produce the horror movie, but he also played the monster in several scenes too. In fact, the multi-talented star used the latest in motion-capture technology to scare both the characters and audiences alike.

38. He shot The Office’s opening credits

Krasinski certainly did his research while preparing for his role in The Office. In fact, the star visited the Pennsylvania town of Scranton in which the sitcom was set to get a feel for the area and even talked to several people familiar with the ins and outs of the paper supply business on a daily basis. The footage he shot of local landmarks while in town was later used as part of the show’s famous opening credits too.

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37. He wed Emily Blunt at an A-lister’s estate

The nuptials of John Krasinski and Emily Blunt already qualified as gossip-column fodder just because of who they are. But the fact that when the couple walked down the aisle in 2010 it was at a Lake Como estate owned by none other than George Clooney only added to the showbiz allure. Krasinski had forged a friendship with the Oscar-winning actor after he appeared in Clooney’s period sports movie, Leatherheads.

36. He was originally told to audition for another The Office character

“This dude’s done nothing; he’s lucky to be coming in.” That was the annoyed response from The Office’s casting team upon learning that Krasinski wanted to audition for a character different to the one he’d been told to read for. As it turned out, the actor was initially supposed to audition for the part of Dwight Schrute. But he evidently managed to persuade the behind-the-scenes team that he was perfect for the role of Jim Halpert instead.

35. He interned on Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Krasinski has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien as a guest several times since his acting career took off. But before rising to fame on The Office, the star also worked behind the scenes on the flame-haired comedian’s talk show. As an intern on the scriptwriting team, in fact, Krasinski penned many of the zingers O’Brien delivered to camera at the start of the show.

34. He’s the shortest of his three siblings

With a height of 6’3” you might expect The Office star to be the tallest of the three Krasinski brothers by quite some distance. But in fact he is actually the shortest. Yes, one of his siblings stands approximately three inches taller than him, while the other is a whopping 6’10”!

33. His first on-screen kiss was on The Office

Krasinski had appeared in numerous films and TV shows before landing his breakthrough role in The Office. But prior to his stint in the hit sitcom he’d never had to pucker up on screen. This meant that Jim’s smooch with Jenna Fischer’s Pam was the first time that Krasinski had ever locked lips with a co-star in front of the cameras.

32. His childhood crush was a Brat Pack star

Krasinski grew up in the 1980s, which means he no doubt watched several of the Brat Pack films that helped to define the decade. And one of its leading ladies in particular made quite the impression on the young Krasinski. Indeed, the star has admitted that as a teen he fell pretty hard for Pretty in Pink star Molly Ringwald.

31. He’s been named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive

Krasinski has appeared on People’s annual list of the “Sexiest Men Alive” on no fewer than three occasions. It’s perhaps no surprise that he of course made the poll in 2018 after getting ripped for Jack Ryan. But he’d also twice reached the Top 100 in the “Noughties” when he was still far more renowned for playing The Office’s loveable prankster Jim.

30. His guilty pleasure is TV dating shows

You might not expect this from the man whose resume includes critically acclaimed fare such as The Office, Manchester by the Sea and A Quiet Place. But Krasinski sometimes likes nothing more than lying on the sofa watching trashy reality TV. Yes, the star has admitted that one of his guilty pleasures is enjoying dating shows such as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

29. He’s lifelong friends with a fellow comedian

Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts, can boast not just one but two successful comic actors as former pupils. And they both graduated in the same class! Yes, Krasinski and his fellow The Office co-star B.J. Novak first met during their high school years and developed both a long-lasting friendship and a regular working relationship.

28. He studied at the Royal Shakespeare Company

Krasinski certainly put the effort in when it came to honing his craft. You see, the star studied drama at Connecticut’s National Theater Institute and New York City’s The Actors Center. And what’s more, he traveled to the other side of the Atlantic to develop his talents even further at the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company.

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27. Time Magazine named him as one of the world’s most influential people

Krasinski once made the Top 100 of Time’s rather prestigious list. In 2018, in fact, the magazine placed the star in its annual survey of the world’s 100 most influential people. And the accompanying write-up was penned by Krasinski’s friend and fellow A-lister Chris Pratt.

26. His real parents appeared in License to Wed

Krasinski sure does like to keep things in the family. As well as appearing alongside wife Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place, the star shared the screen with his real-life mother and father in License to Wed. Yes, in the 2007 rom-com, the parents of Krasinski’s character are portrayed by the actor’s actual parents, Mary and Ronald.

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25. He once taught English in Costa Rica

Before starting his course at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, Krasinski gained experience of what it is like to be on the other side of the classroom. So, while living in Costa Rica for several months as a teen, the Ivy League student earned some extra money at a local high school by teaching English. In fact, Krasinski initially planned to dedicate his entire career to teaching before getting the acting bug.

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24. He and Blunt had an unusual first date

A gun range doesn’t seem like the ideal destination for a first date that would later blossom into a relationship and eventually marriage. But that’s exactly where Krasinski took Emily Blunt after being introduced by a mutual friend. The pair would later showcase their weaponry skills in A Quiet Place too.

23. He’s a regular voice actor

Chances are you’ve heard Krasinski’s voice in several animated hits without ever realizing it. After all, the star has lent his voice to several cartoons over the years, including Monsters University, Monsters vs. Aliens and the English-language translation of The Wind Rises. He also provided the voice for Secretariat in the distinctly family-unfriendly small-screen series Bojack Horseman.

22. He auditioned for Captain America

Krasinski famously honed his physique to star in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. But the star was less confident about his muscled frame when he auditioned to play Captain America. The actor has even admitted that as soon as he saw Chris Hemsworth going up for the same role he knew he was onto a loser. Of course, Hemsworth also lost out to Chris Evans.

21. He’s a former basketball coach

Turns out that Krasinski is also quite the talent on the basketball court. While studying at Brown University, you see, the star spent some of his spare time coaching various youngsters living in Rhode Island on how to shoot hoops like a pro. Krasinski would later showcase his sporting skills on screen when he played a footballer in Leatherheads.

20. He never used to be a horror fan

Krasinski may have made one of the most acclaimed horrors of his generation with A Quiet Place. Yet the star admits that before working on the 2018 picture, he wasn’t particularly a fan of the genre. However, he’s since developed a passion for all things spooky and now counts himself as something of a horror aficionado.

19. He made his acting debut in Annie

Krasinski made his big-screen debut in 2000’s State and Main, while his first TV role was in a 2003 episode of Ed. However, the future star kicked off his acting career in an altogether smaller-scale production. Indeed, Krasinski first showcased his dramatic talents in a sixth grade production of Annie playing Daddy Warbucks.

18. He’s responsible for Lip Sync Battle

Long before James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, Krasinski helped to create another monster hit that spawned from a late-night talk show. Alongside Stephen Merchant, the star actually created the concept of Lip Sync Battle for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. And the segment proved to be so popular that it later became a show in its own right. Krasinski also appeared in one particular episode, competing in a battle against Anna Kendrick.

17. He’s a lifesaver

Krasinski may have once missed out on the part of Captain America, but he’s actually something of a real-life superhero anyway. As a teen, the star just happened to be in the vicinity when a riptide swept away a young girl at Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio Beach. Without thinking, Krasinski reportedly dived into the sea to rescue her and ultimately save her life.

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16. He’s neighbors with Matt Damon

Krasinski and his family are neighbors with Matt Damon, having bought a swanky apartment in the same Brooklyn building as the Oscar winner in 2019. Both parties already knew each other, mind you, as they’d worked together in Promised Land. Krasinski actually served as both screenwriter and supporting actor in Gus Van Sant’s environmental drama, while Damon took the leading role.

15. He’s been fired nine times

Like most wannabe actors, Krasinski took several odd jobs to make ends meet before finding fame. But he wasn’t exactly the most reliable employee. In fact, he’s gotten fired from nine different jobs in total. Krasinski told TV’s Today that while working as a bartender he was even given his marching orders on the spot after inadvertently causing a drunk customer to throw up.

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14. He nearly blew his The Office audition

Krasinski apparently managed to offend The Office’s creator before he’d even auditioned for his role as Jim. While waiting to appear in front of the casting team, you see, the star got talking to Greg Daniels about how U.S. remakes often pale in comparison to the U.K. originals. Unbeknownst to Krasinski at the time, though, Daniels just happened to have penned the American version of The Office.

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13. He was a member of a sketch comedy troupe

Krasinski certainly made the most of his time at Brown University. As well as working as a youth basketball coach, the star somehow found the time to develop his comic timing as a member of a sketch troupe. Indeed, Krasinski used to perform regularly with an outfit known as Out of Bounds.

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12. He once worked with Aaron Sorkin

Of course, not everything that Krasinski has worked on has turned to gold. For instance, the star once teamed up with Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to develop a drama set in the glamorous Los Angeles hotel known as the Chateau Marmont. But the project, which was set to air on HBO, failed to get off the ground.

11. His second child inspired A Quiet Place

Krasinski’s daughter Violet may well be worthy of a screenwriting credit on A Quiet Place despite the fact that she was only a baby at the time. After all, Krasinski admits that he was hugely influenced by the birth of his second child when it came to reworking the script. It’s apparently why the theme of fatherhood is so central to the horror movie’s story.

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10. He and Blunt still go out on weekly dates

Krasinski and Blunt have been married since 2010, but they still make the time to enjoy date nights at least once a week. Speaking to People in 2016, Krasinski said, “At the end of the day, it’s important to preserve your relationship. It’s really fun because I have an amazing wife who will also go out on dates with me. We don’t need much. We just go to dinner and talk and have no baby talk.”

9. He swam with sharks on his honeymoon

Krasinski and Blunt didn’t exactly opt for the most relaxed of honeymoon excursions. In fact, the pair signed up for a scuba diving lesson in which they had a close encounter with a school of grey reef sharks. And after this breathless moment, the pair were then greeted by a much friendlier face: a sea turtle.

8. He claims marriage is his greatest achievement

It seems that Krasinski is nothing but an old romantic at heart. Because despite all the box office success, critical acclaim and adoration of fans across the world, the star claims that marriage is the greatest thing he’s ever achieved. In fact, he and Blunt have repeatedly declared their love for each other publicly.

7. He was a massive Blunt fan before they met

Krasinski was certainly aware of Emily Blunt when he first met the actress. In fact, the star has admitted to watching one of her movies – The Devil Wears Prada – an astonishing 72 times before the pair began dating. In a rather honest move, Krasinski also told Blunt about his near-obsession with her filmography early on in their relationship.

6. He visited Blunt biweekly during the filming of Mary Poppins Returns

Krasinski sure racked up the air miles while his wife was filming Mary Poppins Returns. The star would actually fly from America to London every other weekend to visit his leading lady, despite the fact that he was busy shooting his own series at the same time. Krasinski told newspaper USA Today in April 2018, “There’s no two- or three-week rule [for bringing the family together]. The kids get to dictate what the rule is, and the rule is when you’re gone, they’re sad.”

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5. His marriage angered a customs officer

Krasinski got into trouble with a customs official on one particular London trip – but not because of anything he was carrying. After failing to recognize the actor, it seems, the border worker asked him what he was doing in the country. Krasinski replied that he was visiting his wife, a certain Emily Blunt, who was shooting Mary Poppins Returns at the time. The incredulous customs officer then apparently seemed to feel that Krasinski was punching way above his weight but angrily waved him through.

4. He has an online bromance with Ryan Reynolds

A Quiet Place also kickstarted a budding online bromance between Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds. The latter seemingly couldn’t stop singing its praises on Twitter after watching it twice in seven days, joking that its two main stars were now his new parents. Krasinski then replied, “Thank you son. Your mother and I are so proud.” In return, the Deadpool actor proudly showed off a fan-made doctored image which featured an unusually small-looking Reynolds posing with the couple at a premiere.

3. He was “mindtricked” into making the A Quiet Place sequel

Krasinski never planned for A Quiet Place to get a sequel. But following its massive success, he accepted that Paramount would want a second helping. He initially turned down the offer to take on the same screenwriting role he had with the original, in fact. But after he let slip that he had a small idea about its premise, Krasinski jokingly claimed that he was “mindtricked” by the studio into penning its script.

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2. He very nearly quit acting before The Office

Krasinski’s acting career very nearly finished before it had even begun. Frustrated with having to take on odd jobs to earn money while auditioning for roles, the star had once been set to pack in his Hollywood ambitions. But after some encouraging words from his mother, Krasinski gave himself a little more time to achieve them. And just three weeks after his crisis of confidence, he landed his star-making role in The Office.

1. He co-hosted a fundraiser for Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren sure had some A-list backing for her bid to represent Massachusetts as a senior U.S. Senator. Indeed, in 2012 the Democrat was the beneficiary of a fundraising event which featured no less than three celebrity hosts. These included the Oscar-winning longtime friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and a certain actor by the name of John Krasinski.