Do you put a comma before someone's name in writing even when not talking?

When writing do you put a comma before someone's name if there's no dialogue.
For example:
Cleaning off his desk Steven Roy put the clutter on the floor.

Or is it:
Cleaning off his desk, Steven Roy put the clutter on the floor.

maryski2013-02-11T17:49:38Z

Favorite Answer

"Cleaning off his desk, Steven Roy put the clutter on the floor", is the correct way. Without the quotation marks though.

chrlsshore2013-02-12T01:48:43Z

Yes.
.