Party", when Michael names Charles as one of the many bosses he has outlasted. Idris Elba was the second former cast member of the HBO drama The Wire, after Amy Ryan, to be hired for a recurring role on The Office. Ed Truck Edward "Ed" Truck (Ken Howard) was the former Regional Manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch, for whom Michael worked until Ed retired. He was responsible for hiring Creed, Phyllis, and Darryl, as well as ending the mandatory retirement age that the company instituted, by filing an age discrimination lawsuit. In the episode "The Carpet", Michael believes that the fecal matter left on his office carpet was left there because he is disliked by his employees. He tricks Truck into meeting with him (by claiming that they need to discuss his pension), and asks for his opinions on the situation. As Ed reveals, someone had defecated on his office carpet, as well, and his advice to Michael is "Why can't you just let your workers be your workers, your friends be your friends, and your family be your family?" (the joke here is that Michael has no real friends or family, and his employees serve as reluctant surrogates). In "Grief Counseling", Jan informs Michael that Ed has recently died. While he is surprised at the news, Michael does not appear to mourn Ed's death, until Creed informs him of the gruesome way Ed had died: He was apparently "drunk as a skunk", and driving on Route 6, when he managed to go under an 18-wheeler, decapitating himself. Michael soon expresses feelings of extreme remorse, and he requests that a statue of Ed be erected in his memory, but Jan nixes the suggestion, stating that corporate would not like it. As a compromise, there is a plaque honoring him, which hangs between Michael's office and the Conference room. Dan Gore Dan Gore (Dan Cole) is the Regional Manager of the Buffalo branch. He was first introduced in "Valentine's Day" attending the meeting with the new CFO, David Wallace. He also attended Wallace's cocktail party in "Cocktails", and was seen in "Launch Party" trying to see if his branch's camera was working. He was one of the company leaders who attended Ryan's wilderness retreat, along with Toby (and not the pointedly un-invited Michael Scott). It is announced in "Company Picnic" that the Buffalo branch is closing due to the