The Office is known for its unforgettable characters, from the eccentric boss Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) to Angela (Angela Kinsey), who often passes harsh judgments. But among the Dunder Mifflin crew is a character who rarely takes the spotlight, despite being the most mysterious of them all—Creed Bratton.
Interestingly, the actor who plays him also goes by the name Creed Bratton. As the oldest and longest-tenured employee at Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch, Creed becomes a key part of the show, even though he almost got written out in Season 2.
While Creed doesn’t always play a big role or understand what’s going on, his storyline has one of the most fascinating conclusions.
The series is beloved for its unpredictable characters, and Creed is perhaps the biggest surprise of all. Throughout the show, he sits at the back of the office, working as the quality assurance manager.
His hobbies include growing mung beans and writing a blog called “Creed Thoughts”—a blog so outlandish that Ryan Howard (B. J. Novak) feels the need to protect the public from it. Creed frequently makes strange comments that seem disconnected from reality, making him a mysterious figure.
His coworkers mostly ignore him, viewing him as an odd but harmless old man. However, beneath the surface, Creed has been hiding a dark secret throughout the nine seasons.
Where Does ‘The Office’ Leave Creed?
While The Office finale shows what the future holds for many characters, Creed’s ending stands out. Dwight Schrute (played by Rainn Wilson) explains that Creed tried to fake his own death before the police arrived looking for him. As it turns out, Creed had quite a past as a member of the 60s band The Grass Roots.
Over the years, he has been a wanted man with accusations including drug dealing, trafficking illegal animal meats, and even stealing LSD from the military. Despite running from his past, that’s not the last we see of Creed.
In one memorable scene, past and present Dunder Mifflin employees sneak back into the office during a PBS documentary event. When they enter, they find that Creed, now bearded, is already there, living in a closet. As the night comes to a close, Creed reflects on his time at Dunder Mifflin. However, his past eventually catches up to him, and the police take him away.
While crime is not a completely foreign concept in The Office, the twist involving Creed’s capabilities is unique. Those paying close attention might have guessed that Creed had a shady past, but most of the time, he seems like just another distracted employee. Yet his criminal history proves that he can be surprisingly effective when needed.
What Happens to Creed After ‘The Office’?
The Office concludes with a “life goes on” attitude for most characters. Dwight and Angela begin their married life, with Dwight fulfilling his dream of becoming the Regional Manager. Andy (played by Ed Helms) bounces back from hitting rock bottom, finding internet fame and a job at his former school.
Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) plan to leave Dunder Mifflin behind, as Jim pursues a more fulfilling career. But Creed’s ending stands apart, as it doesn’t share the same happy conclusion the other characters get.
Considering what we know about Creed—which admittedly isn’t much—it’s safe to assume that he is guilty of the accusations against him. After all, innocent people don’t fake their deaths and go into hiding. With his arrest, it seems logical that Creed’s next destination would be prison.
However, the actor Creed Bratton has his own theory about what happens to his character. In a 2019 interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Bratton suggested that Creed never stayed in jail for long.
He speculated that Creed would have used a skilled defense attorney to earn pity, weaseled his way out of prison, and continued living his shady life. Given Creed’s ability to evade the law for so long, it’s entirely possible that he could have escaped justice once again.
The Office is available for streaming on Peacock in the U.S.
