Emmys: ‘The Office’ Star Ed Helms Moves from Supporting to Lead Actor Category

If Helms wins an Emmy for his role as Dunder Mifflin’s newly minted office manager, he’d pull off a feat even Steve Carell couldn’t accomplish during his entire run on the NBC comedy.

Now that Ed Helms has an entire season of filling the manager shoes of departed The Office star Steve Carell under his belt, he’ll occupy the six-time nominated actor’s Emmy ballot slot for consideration by the Television Academy.

PHOTOS: Midseason TV Preview: 17 New Shows Premiering in 2012

Helms is submitting himself for consideration in the category of outstanding lead actor in a comedy, his rep has confirmed. Helms previously submitted as a supporting player for the past six seasons.

This pits the Hangover star against such formidable leading funnymen as 30 Rock’s two-time winner Alec Baldwin; Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory, who won consecutive lead actor trophies in 2010 and 2011; and last year’s first-time surprise nominees Louis C.K. of Louie and Johnny Galecki of Big Bang.

If Helms wins an Emmy for his role as Dunder Mifflin’s newly minted office manager Andy Bernard, he’d pull off a feat even Carell couldn’t accomplish during his entire run on the NBC comedy.

Helms has never been nominated for an Emmy. But the good news is now he won’t be up against any of the Modern Family actors, including previous Emmy winners Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet. The entire cast of the juggernaut Emmy-winning ABC comedy submits themselves in the supporting actor category.