John Krasinski almost quit acting 3 weeks before landing his role on ‘The Office’

John Krasinski is known for playing Jim Halpert on “The Office,” but he considered quitting acting shortly before landing the role.

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During an appearance on CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on Tuesday, the “Jack Ryan” actor explained that he was initially going to be an English teacher. But after transferring to the National Theater Institute, he wanted to become an actor. The 38-year-old made an agreement with his mom that if acting didn’t take off within two and a half or three years, he would leave it behind.

After moving to New York, Krasinski found acting to be “terrible.”

“This is the worst,” Krasinski recalled. “Waiting tables — not as fun as they say.”

The actor went on to say that he was on the phone with his mom, asking her to pick him up — but she encouraged him to “wait it out” and “wait until the end of the year.”

It worked out and he booked the part on “The Office” three weeks later.

“I give her a lot of love and 10%,” Krasinski joked. “She deserves it.”

After starring as Jim on “The Office” from 2005 to 2013 and winning two Emmys for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series, Krasinski went on to land film roles. He starred in the 2016 action movie “13 Hours.” In 2018, he directed, starred in, and wrote the screenplay for thriller “A Quiet Place,” which also included wife Emily Blunt. According to Variety, a “Quiet Place” sequel is currently in the works.