The Office: 10 Best Characters Only In One Episode

10. Ed Truck

Episode: Season 2, Episode 14 - "The Carpet"

Portrayed By: Ken Howard

In "The Carpet," we are introduced to Michael's former boss, Ed Truck. Michael was feeling low due to the fact that his employees didn't see him as a friend, no matter what he tried, so he went to his former boss and mentor for some advice.

When Ed tells him that because he's their boss, they won't ever see him as a friend, Michael refuses to accept it. Ed's advice was to let "your workers be your workers, your family be your family, your friends be your friends," but Michael wasn't having any of it.

The episode reveals a lot about why Michael acts the way he does when more of his past while working with Ed is revealed. Michael described Ed as the opposite of fun, and he noticed that when he walked by his coworkers, they pretended to be busy working.

Michael wanted to be the exact opposite, which is why he has his nose in everyone's business, trying to become their friends while maintaining minimal distance as their boss. Ed didn't return for another episode, but he was brought up in the season three episode "Grief Counseling," when it's revealed that he died.