Toby Flenderson
| Toby Flenderson | |
|---|---|
| File:PaulLieberstein.PNG | |
| First appearance | Pilot |
| Created by | Greg Daniels |
| Portrayed by | Paul Lieberstein |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | Human Resources Representative |
| Family | Sasha (Daughter) |
Toby Flenderson is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Paul Lieberstein. He is an original character, and has no equivalent in the British version of the show.
A Bishop O'Hara High School alumnus, Toby is the human resources representative for the Scranton branch of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. Since Toby actually works for corporate, he does not answer to Michael Scott, the regional manager. Toby is divorced, drives a Saab 9-2x wagon, has a young daughter named Sasha who adores Michael, and went to Amsterdam for an undetermined amount of time after his divorce. Toby joins the others occasionally to conduct business, such as reviewing the company's sexual harassment policy and mediating conflict between employees. Toby prefers to let angry employees vent to him, after which they feel better and the conflict eventually settles down and solves itself. Using the excuse that he was allergic to his desk, Toby moved locations to escape Kelly's constant talking.
Toby is generally a friend of everyone around the office except Michael, who views Toby as his sworn enemy. As Michael sneers, "Toby is in HR (Human Resources), which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family." Michael once said that "Toby Flenderson is everything that is wrong with the paper industry." Though he seems increasingly frustrated with Michael, Toby is actually quite demure, and calmy deals with Michael in a professional manner. Michael, however, is much more blunt with Toby, stating, "I hate so much about the things that you choose to be." In the episode "The Convict," Michael jokes that Toby is a 'convicted rapist'. Toby avoids office activities whenever possible and, like the rest of the staff, only tolerates Michael. When Michael speaks with employees as to why they want to leave or have left the Scranton branch, the first thing he asks if it was because of Toby, to which everyone replies no. After discovering that Pam was dating again after breaking off her engagement to Roy, Toby attempts several times to ask her out, but Pam either didn't notice him asking, or he was interrupted by co-workers and phone calls.
When Jim Halpert returns from the Stamford branch, Toby attempts to greet him as "one of the guys" using a fist-bump, but Jim's questioning reaction to such a breach of Toby's usual mannerisms as someone who cannot fit in led him to back off and offer the standard handshake instead, with muttered apologies for the attempt at friendship. When the news came that the Scranton branch might be closing, Toby says to the camera that if he did get a severance package, he saw himself selling his house, moving to Costa Rica, and learning how to surf. But since the branch does not close, Toby says, "Costa Rica will still be there...when I'm 65." Everyone gets a Christmas bathrobe from corporate but they are one short so Dwight takes Toby's, who is saddened but eventually gets one back courtesy of Pam.