Jim Halpert

Jim Halpert
Biographical Information
Gender	Male
Professional Information
Occupation	Sales Representative/Assistant Regional Manager
Production Information
First	Pilot
Last	Ongoing

James Duncan "Jim" Halpert, is a fictional character played by John Krasinski in the television series The Officem and was originally based on Tim Canterbury in the UK version of ''The Office''. He is a Salesman at Dunder/Mifflin Sabre.

Character profile

Jim's relationship with Pam is occasionally the subject of office speculation, which was particularly uncomfortable when Pam was engaged to Roy Anderson, a Dunder Mifflin warehouse worker. It was revealed (in a deleted scene) that Jim and Pam went out for lunch together when they first met and had an amazing time, until Jim found out that she was already engaged to Roy. In the Dundies episode, Pam kisses Jim in front of everyone during the awards ceremony. But as Pam was both happy that she hadn't received another award for "Longest Engagement" and also slightly drunk after sneaking drinks from other tables (which resulted in her being forever banned from Chili's), she and Jim never brought it up again. For several months, Jim dated a purse salesgirl named Katy but Jim broke up with her on a company "booze cruise" after watching Roy suddenly announce to the whole ship, "It's time to set a date, babe" (for his wedding to Pam). Dejected, Jim privately reveals his feelings for Pam to his boss, Michael Scott, who in an uncharacteristically serious moment encourages Jim to "never, ever, ever give up".

From this point, Jim develops a seemingly unsteady attitude toward Pam's impending nuptials. On the one hand, he asks out Brenda, a corporate office employee who came along for the Booze Cruise; he also tells Kelly that if the guy she has a crush on doesn't like her, she should just forget about it and move on, indicating that he has done the same. On the other hand, he gets upset when he sees Pam and Roy eating lunch together, and most tellingly, becomes so depressed hearing Pam discuss the wedding that he calls a travel agency and schedules a trip to Australia, deliberately making himself unable to attend the wedding.

Feeling bored by work and tortured by his situation with Pam, Jim investigates a transfer to Dunder Mifflin's branch in Stamford, Connecticut. After Jan confirms that he has got the transfer, Jim confesses his love for Pam in the season two finale "Casino Night". Pam, whose wedding to Roy is all planned out and just weeks away, clearly shows her anguish but gently turns him down, yet he returns to kiss her minutes later. We learn at the start of season three that both of them had wanted to kiss for quite a long time, but Pam again told Jim of her intentions to go ahead with the wedding.

Season 3

At the start of season three, Jim has already transferred to the Stamford branch and received a promotion in the process. (In the episode "Diwali", the title on his nameplate reads Asst. Regional Manager.) Jim has trouble fitting in—a few months into his tenure at Stamford, he admits he doesn't think the other employees even know his name. Even their favorite recreation activity (playing Call of Duty during work hours) frustrates Jim, as he proves to be spectacularly inept at the game.

When Jim meets up with Michael at a paper distributors' convention, he tells Michael that he considers him a "great boss" and admits that he only transferred because Pam rejected him. Jim has learned that Pam called off her wedding, but chooses to remain in Stamford. Things begin to look up for Jim as he befriends salesperson Karen Filippelli, and when the company board of directors decides to close the Scranton branch, Jim is appointed to the number two position at the newly created "Dunder Mifflin Northeast". However the company's plans change when Stamford regional manager Josh Porter accepts an upper management position at Staples. The Stamford branch closes, with a few employees being offered a transfer to Scranton. The offer to Jim to be Assistant Regional Manager stands, though now he must relocate back to Scranton. Jim is disgusted by Josh's disloyalty, saying an interview: "Say what you will about Michael Scott, but he would never do that." Jim is at first unwilling to return to Scranton because of Pam but eventually decides to do so. Karen, who has grown fond of Jim and wishes to pursue a relationship with him, also transfers to Scranton.

In Scranton, Jim's and Pam's reunion is awkward. Pam is overjoyed, but Jim is clearly uncomfortable. He lets Pam know that he is seeing someone, and gradually Karen is introduced as his girlfriend.

Jim settles back in at Scranton, but uses his promotion as an excuse to avoid his old interactions and pranks with Pam claiming that pulling pranks again would send him back to his old slacker lifestyle. However Jim does return to his old ways in time by focusing a few pranks on Andy Bernard, his ex-Stamford coworker, as well as on Dwight. However, the relationship between Jim and Dwight seems to improve slightly.

Toward the middle of the season it becomes clear that Jim's unresolved feelings toward Pam are affecting his relationship with Karen. Jim resists the idea of Karen moving out of the hotel in Scranton where she has been living since the merger and moving into a house two blocks away from his own because as he says, "it would be like we were living together." Jim only relents when Pam herself tells him he's being unreasonable (Pam is later seen by Dwight sobbing in the stairwell, distraught that her actions just pushed Jim closer to Karen). Karen, who had previously been oblivious to Jim and Pam's history, accidentally learns of Jim's feelings for Pam during a sales call with Phyllis. Karen then confronts Jim about it over coffee. Jim admits to having had a crush on Pam previously, but emphasizes to Karen that he is "really glad" that he's seeing her.

During a busy day, Jim decides to pull a prank on Andy, however Karen and Ryan are unwilling to aid him, so he turns to Pam, who becomes his accomplice. Their interaction during the prank causes Karen to feel threatened. She again confronts Jim, and this time he admits to still having feelings for Pam. Karen and Jim struggle to maintain their relationship, and although in Phyllis' Wedding, Jim hints that he would be interested if, hypothetically, Pam were interested in him, Jim then sees Pam leave the reception hand in hand with Roy, and declares, "Here's a non-hypothetical. I'm really happy I'm with Karen."

In "Cocktails", Roy reacts violently when Pam tells him she kissed Jim during "Casino Night." Roy then attempts to attack Jim at work in "The Negotiation", but the attack is thwarted by Dwight. Roy is fired, but when Pam assures Jim that it's over between her and Roy for good, Jim doesn't believe this and tells her so.

Jim and Pam's relationship becomes tense again in "Beach Games" when on a company outing at the beach, Pam confesses to Jim in front of the entire staff that he was the reason she broke off her wedding to Roy. She also states that she has missed their friendship since he left Scranton for Stamford. Later that night, Jim tells Pam that he feels as if he never really came back from Stamford, tacitly admitting that he has actively been fighting his feelings for her all year. However Jim's relationship with Karen and pending interview for a corporate position which would require his relocation to New York City still obstruct a potential romance.

In The Job, Jim, Karen and Michael each interview for the corporate position. Jim is also a Philadelphia 76ers because David Wallace says he doesn't if he can hire him for being one. During the interview he notices an affectionate note from Pam. After the interview he drives back to Scranton, leaving Karen in the city. Jim interrupts an interview with Pam to ask her to dinner, and after she accepts, he says "All right. Then... it's a date." In a webisode titled "Office Summer Vacation," found on NBC's website, Karen states that Jim "dumped her ass" and left her crying at a fountain.

Season 4

Season 4 shows a more relaxed Jim, owing to the fact that he has finally gotten together with Pam. Karen comes back to the office to confront him, but after initially asserting that she will stay in Scranton ("Fun Run'), she abruptly leaves the next day, and becomes the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Utica ("Branch Wars").

Pam and Jim initially attempt to keep their relationship status a secret from the documentary camera crew as well as their co-workers (though some of the latter suspect they're together, notably Kevin), but when the camera crew catch them together sharing a quick kiss while parked on the side of the street, they admit that they have been dating for a few months and are deliriously happy ("Fun Run"). In the episode "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", Toby reveals that Jim and Pam are dating to the office when he sees Pam kiss Jim on the cheek. The pair's union is welcomed by most people in the office, except Dwight who says both "could do better."

Michael takes interest in the relationship and repeatedly invites the couple for dinner with him and Jan, but Jim finds reasons to avoid accepting the invite, though he and Pam avoid suspicion of their disinterest by asking to have dinner on nights when Michael is busy. They eventually are forced to join Michael and Jan for a dinner party when Michael feigns an assignment from corporate to get them out of any original plans they might have had. At the dinner party, Jim and Pam are forced to witness various aspects Michael and Jan's deteriorating relationship to the point where they make a desperate but failed attempt to escape. Jim even attempts to escape without Pam after he couldn't get her out with him, but Pam gets him to stay. After witnessing the break up of Michael and Jan, Jim and Pam enjoy burgers in his car and they appear to be the happiest and most stable of the three couples that attended the party, the third couple being Andy and Angela.

Jim and Pam feel sorry for Dwight, whom Angela dumped because he killed her cat. To cheer him up, they spend a night together at his Schrute's farm, which doubles as an agricultural bed and breakfast. Jim realizes that the trip is his and Pam's first night away together and comments that he had always imagined it in his head but that he always thought it would be different (it certainly hadn't involved Dwight). They write a glowing review on TripAdvisor about their stay, however, to help bring Dwight out of his depression, but are unsuccessful. Jim comforts Dwight in the stairwell, explaining how he used to pine for Pam and how distraught he was in Season 2 when Pam decided to stay with Roy, revealing a far deeper anguish over the situation than he had ever let on, something he would never wish on the worst of his enemies. After remembering how terrible he had felt before he was with Pam, Jim kisses her publicly. Pam attributes this to a passion for Italian food, which Jim confirms and says that he is "in love with Italian food", implying he is in love with Pam. Afterwards, when Dwight returns from the stairwell, he returns to his normal self, which pleases both Jim and Pam.

Jim has a Second Life avatar that resembles him ("Local Ad"), but there are some differences, as Pam teasingly points out that his online alter-ego is a Philadelphia sports writer. In the episode "Survivor Man", we see Jim in a manager role while Michael is out of the Office. Jim attempts to combine all of the birthday parties into one big party, to save time. After being accidentally called 'Michael' instead of 'Jim', Jim realizes that he has done something Michael would have normally done. In a conversation with Michael at the end of episode, Michael reveals that he did in fact try to combine all the birthday parties earlier in his time as regional manager. We see Jim in a manager role again in "Night Out" when he plans to save everyone else from coming into work on Saturday to help with Ryan's website by staying late to do the work, a plan that is met with success until they find the gate locked with them still inside. Everyone else gets mad at him for not informing the guard of his plan.

Although Jim suggests to Pam that they live together in the episode "Chair Model," he assures her that a proposal is imminent. He reveals to the camera crew that he is indeed planning to propose, displaying a box with a diamond ring inside. He states that "[he] got it the week after [they] started dating". As he and Pam are leaving work, he gets down on one knee and looks at her expectantly. After their earlier conversation, she is under the impression that Jim is starting to propose, but instead he asks her to wait while he ties his shoe. In "Did I Stutter?", Jim pulls another faux proposal on Pam by "proposing" during a meeting in the conference room that Pam get him a coffee.

In "Job Fair", Jim decides to meet up with a potential client after Ryan gave him his formal warning, as he wishes to keep his job to secure "pretty big long term plans" with Pam. He goes with Andy and Kevin to meet the client on the golf course. Jim is made uncomfortable with Andy making jokes in front of the client and Kevin trying to force him into a wager. Jim tries to talk business with the client, but the client only accepted Jim's invitation just to get out of the office. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the client to sign with him, Jim holds him in the parking lot for fifteen minutes until the client finally gives in. Back at the office, when Pam returns from the job fair, Jim gives her the news and they share a congratulatory kiss in front of Michael, Andy, and Kevin. Once they realize Michael, Andy, Kevin, and the cameras are watching, Pam stops and shakes Jim's hand. Jim responds "You know what? Screw this." and passionately kisses her again.

Family Members

• Pam Halpert (Wife)

• Cecilia Halpert (Daughter)

• Phillip Halpert (Unborn-Son)

• Gerald Halpert (Father)

• Betsy Halpert (Mother)

• Tom Halpert (Brother)

• Pete Halpert (Brother)

• Larisa Halpert (Sister)

Quotes

• "Right now this is just a job. If I advance any higher in this company, then this would be my career. And well, if this were my career I'd have to throw myself in front of a train." ("Health Care" Season 1 Episode 3)
• "Well we’re all getting excited to see this fight. The Albany branch is working right through lunch to prevent downsizing. But Michael, he decided to extend lunch by an hour so we can all go down to the dojo and watch him fight Dwight." ("The Fight" Season 2 Episode 6)
• "Today is Thursday. But Dwight thinks that it’s Friday…and that’s what I will be working on this afternoon." ("Performance Review" Season 2 Episode 8)
• "I'm having a party. I've got three cases of imported beer, a karaoke machine, and I didn't invite Michael...so, three ingredients for a great party. And it's nothing personal - I just think that, if he were there, people wouldn't be able to relax, you know, have fun - and my roommate wants to meet everybody, because I'm...pretty sure he thinks I'm making Dwight up...He is very real! " ("Email Surveillance" Season 2 Episode 9)
• (on the phone with Michael & Dwight) "What’s gaydar. Oh, gaydar…yes! I think they have it at Sharper Image." ("Gay Witch Hunt" Season 3 Episode 1)
• "You know, when I saw Dwight, I realized how stupid and petty all those pranks I pulled on him were...and then he spoke." "The Convention" )Season 3 Episode 2
• "...From time to time, I send Dwight faxes... from himself... from the future." ("Branch Closing" Season 3 Episode 7)
• "Say what you will about Michael Scott, but he would never do that." ("Branch Closing")
• "I miss Dwight. Congratulations Universe, you win." ("The Return" Season 3 Episode 13)
• "One day Michael came in complaining about a speed bump on the highway…I wonder who he ran over then?" ("Fun Run" Season 4 Episode 1)
• "Michael has asked Pam and me to dinner at least...nine times, and every time, we've been able to get out of it. But, I gotta give him credit...he got me...because I'm starting to suspect that there was no assignment from Corporate." ("Dinner Party" Season 4 Episode 9)
• "I bought those boat tickets the day I saw that You Tube video. I knew we'd need a back-up plan. The boat was actually Plan C. The church was Plan B and Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Pretty much the day I met her." ("Niagara" Season 6 Episode 4)

Nicknames for Jim

Episode	Nickname	Given by	Reference
Health Care	Jimbo	Michael	Common nickname
The Dundies	Fat Halpert	Michael	Fat Albert
Office Olympics	Slim Jim	Michael	"Slim Jim" food product
Halloween	Big Jim	Michael
The Secret	Jim-bag	Michael	Gym bag
Gay Witch Hunt	Big Tuna	Andy	Jim had a tuna sandwich
Initiation	Big Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Diwali	Big Tuna, Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
The Merger	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
The Convict	Big Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
The Return	Tuna, The Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
The Return	Large Tuna	Andy	Play on "Big Tuna"
Product Recall	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Cocktails	Jimbo	Michael	Common nickname
The Job	Big Haircut	Andy	Jim got a haircut
The Office Summer Vacation	Jimmy	Michael	Common nickname
Dunder Mifflin Infinity	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Dunder Mifflin Infinity	Tuna	Kevin	Copying Andy
Survivor Man	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Dinner Party	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Women's Appreciation	James	Michael	Guess on full name
Weight Loss	Wet Tuna	Andy	Play on "Big Tuna"
Business Ethics	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Crime Aid	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Customer Survey	Tommy Tuna	Andy	Pun on Tommy Tune
The Surplus	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
The Duel	Tuna	Andy	Standard nickname
Stress Relief	My Tuna	Andy	Variation on standard nickname
Murder	Jimothy	Michael	Guess on full name
Scott's Tots	Jimmy	Dwight	Part of Diabolical Plan
The Seminar	Tuna Turner	Andy	Play on "Tina Turner"

Behind the scenes

• Jim wears flannel ties because the production staff wants it to appear as if he doesn't care much about shopping for clothes. The ties are hand-me-downs from his father. (Flannel ties have a '70s look.) Flannel ties are rare nowadays, and the staff have had to make many of them by hand. [1]

Appearances

Jim appears in every episode with the following exceptions:

• Mafia (voice only)
• The Banker (no lines)

See also

• List of Jim's Pranks