Exclusive

Parenthood Season 5 Scoop: Office Star Cast to Come Between Fan Favorite Couple

Exclusive! David Denman will play a stay-at-home dad who bonds with Erika Christensen's character on the NBC family drama when it returns Thursday, Sept. 26

By Kristin Dos Santos, Tierney Bricker Jul 22, 2013 11:19 PMTags
David DenmanWireImage

Is the marriage of Joel (Sam Jaeger) and Julia (Erika Christensen) in danger?!

The Office's David Denman is set to join the cast of Parenthood in a recurring role of Ed, we've exclusively learned. A recently unemployed stay-at-home dad, Ed meets Julia when they both end up with the least-desirable volunteer job at their children's school. Ruh-roh, watch out Joel!

But Denman's Ed isn't the only new character who could potentially come between Joel and Julia when the NBC family drama returns on Sept. 26...

Lost's Sonya Walger (Penny!) has also joined the cast for a multi-episode arc as the sexy and confident Meredith, an architect who is working with Joel on a longterm project. When she first appears in the premiere, she makes Julia feel embarrassed about being a stay-at-home parent, which we're guessing will give her something in common with Ed.

In addition to playing Pam's (Jenna Fischer) fiancée Roy (aka he who will never be as good as Jim) on The Office, Denman's credits include Drop Dead Diva, Traffic Light and Person of Interest. He recently co-starred in Will Smith's After Earth, as well as CBS' Beverly Hills Cop reboot, which was not picked up to series.

Also set to join the cast of Parenthood in season five, which will be a full 22 episodes, is Drop Dead Diva's Josh Stamberg as Carl, a potential new love interest for Sarah (Lauren Graham) who lives in the apartment building she is living in and attempting to manage.

Parenthood returns Thursday, Sept. 26 on NBC.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)