Robert Ray Shafer (born April 10, 1958) is an American character actor who has appeared in film and television. Shafer, sometimes credited as Bobby Ray Shafer, is best known for playing Bob Vance on the American sitcom The Office. In 1989, he portrayed Officer Ted Warnicky (also known as Joe Vickers) in the horror-comedy Psycho Cop and later reprised the role in Psycho Cop 2.
Early life and education Robert Ray Shafer, Jr. was born in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1958. His father, a heavy equipment operator, died in a car accident when he was nine years old. He attended high school in Romeo, Michigan, and graduated in 1976.
Shafer attended Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before moving to Los Angeles where he modeled and took acting classes with Peggy Feury.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1984 The Rosebud Beach Hotel Rodney 1986 Echo Park Commercial Director 1987 Hollywood Shuffle Commercial Director1989 Future Force David Harris Psycho Cop Officer Joe Vickers 1990 Dark Romances Vol. 1 Voice overs Direct-to-video 1991 Inside Out Cuddy Dalton Direct-to-video 1993 Psycho Cop Returns Officer Joe Vickers 1994 A Brilliant Disguise Jimmy Brennan1997 The Corporate Ladder Jack Sherman Mister Atlas Wilshire Frodden 2000 Finding Kelly Sheriff Posey 2002 Contagion Wallace 2003 Monster Man Police Officer #1 2005 Choker Clark2006 All In Slick Moustached Player Slip''' | M-16 Man
| 2007 | Protecting the King| Officer Gibbs
| rowspan="2"|2008 | Stiletto| Krieger | Direct-to-video |- | Dark Honeymoon| Sheriff Fields | Direct-to-video |- | rowspan="5"|2009 | Heat Wave| Roy Rogan | TV film |- | The Scenesters| George Porter
| The Gold Retrievers| Sheriff Mike Denton
| Reconciliation| Pastor Hughes
| Maneater| Gus | Direct-to-video |- | rowspan="3"|2010 | Turbulent Skies| Jackson | TV film |- | Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story| Nick Middlesworth
| Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus| Charlie Ross | Direct-to-video |- | rowspan="6"|2011 | Hard Hats| Arno Jones | Short film |- | Mega Python vs. Gatoroid| Zeke | TV film |- | Knifepoint| Michael
| Video Breakups| | Short film |- | Getting That Girl| Coach Thieson
| Super Shark| Commander Williams
| rowspan="6"|2012 | The Temple| Zipper | Voice role |- | Collision Course| Pilot
| Revelations| Dad | Short film |- | FDR: American Badass!| Robby Kreeger
| Retribution| James Cooper | TV film |- | The Adventures of Soap Man| Sexual Harasser | Short film |- | rowspan="2"|2013 | Abner, the Invisible Dog| Charlie
| Mrs. Sweeney| Mr. O'Neal | Short film |- | rowspan="3"|2014 | Zombeavers| Trucker
| Asteroid vs Earth| Lieutenant Rouse | TV film |- | Friended to Death| Chuck Henson
| rowspan="3"|2015 | Loaded| Mechanic
| Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves| Arthur
| A Christmas Reunion| Frank O'Brien | TV film |- | rowspan="2"|2016 | Pee-wee's Big Holiday| Construction Worker
| Mark Upon the Flesh| Homeless Man | Short film |- | rowspan="2"|2017 | Awaken the Shadowman| Tom
| Blotched| Edward Gluer
| 2018 | Dick Dickster| Dick Dickster
| rowspan="2"|2020 | The Onania Club| Military Dad
| Caged'' Officer Ganser
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1985 Highway to Heaven Dennis Episode: "As Difficult as ABC" 1993 Wings Otto Episode: "The Key to Alex" 1998 Arli$ Reporter Episode: "Where Do Clients Come From?" 1999 Becker Mr. Preston Episode: "Hate Thy Neighbour" 2000 Titus Bar Patron Episode: "Red Asphalt"2001 Malcolm in the Middle Police Officer Episode: Flashback Ultimate Revenge Mobster Episode: "2 December 2001" 2002 Son of the Beach Main Crony Episode: "The Long Hot Johnson" 2004 The West Wing Cable Pundit Episode: "The Dover Test"2005 Las Vegas Wally Ford Episode: "For Sail by Owner" Boston Legal Smith Episode: "Gone" 2005–2013 The Office Bob Vance Recurring role; 24 episodes 2006 In Justice Prison Guard Episode: "Pilot"2008 MANTIME with Fran and Ramis Santa Episode: "Christmas Special" The Young and the Restless Howard Sullivan Guest role, 1 episode 2009 Desperate Housewives Supervisor Episode: "The Coffee Cup" 2010 Cold Case Nate 'Red Scare' Beecher '10 Episode: "One Fall" 2011 How I Met Your Mother Uncle Pete Episode: "Last Words"2012 The Life & Times of Tim Rodney's Dad Episode: "Strip Club Hostage Situation/Game Night" Pair of Kings King Malakai Episode: "The Evil King" Sherman's in Sanity Vern Pfinger 2 episodes2013 The Silicon Assassin Project Episode: "The Medusa Meeting" The Bridge Karl Millwright Episode: "Pilot" Side Effects Police Chief Episode: "Pilot" 2015 The Messengers Earl Cowen Episode: "Why We Fight" 2016 Criminal Minds Chief Arthur Emmett Episode: "The Crimson King" 2016-2017 Adam Ruins Everything Ray Murphy Recurring role, 4 episodes 2017 A Girl Is a Gun Van De Moortel 2018 I'm a Man Frank Mini-series 2025 The Paper Bob VanceEpisode: "Pilot"
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