Nick Offerman - Career

Career

Offerman lived in Chicago in the mid-1990s, where he participated with theatre companies such as Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Wisdom Bridge. At Steppenwolf, he also worked as a fight choreographer and master carpenter. During this time, Offerman became acquainted with Amy Poehler, who was heavily involved with the Chicago improv comedy scene.

Offerman has appeared in films such as November (2004), Cursed (2005), Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005), Sin City (2005), and The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009). He has been married since 2003 to Will & Grace actress Megan Mullally. Offerman guest-starred on Will & Grace during its fourth season as a plumber on the Thanksgiving episode and on King of Queens as a hobo. He has also appeared on his wife's talk show, The Megan Mullally Show. In 2003, he appeared in three episodes of 24 and has guest-starred in an episode of The West Wing.

He can be currently seen on the TV series Parks and Recreation on NBC as Ron Swanson. Prior to this, his most prominent role was as Randy McGee on George Lopez. He was one of the workers in the factory and the love interest of Benny Lopez. In 2003 he appeared in Gilmore Girls in the episode "The Festival of Living Art", and once again in 2005 in the episode "Always a Godmother, Never a God". Offerman was featured in an early episode of the HBO series Deadwood in which he played Tom Mason, attempted assassin of Wild Bill Hickok. Offerman appeared in episode 15 of Monk's third season, "Mr. Monk and the Election", as a helper for the campaign of Natalie Teeger.

In 2007, Offerman co-starred in the Comedy Central series American Body Shop. In 2009, Office producers Michael Schur and Greg Daniels offered Offerman a regular supporting role in their NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. Offerman accepted the role of Ron Swanson, the deadpan, government-hating head of a parks department and boss of Leslie Knope, the protagonist played by Offerman's old acquaintance, Amy Poehler. Slate magazine declared Offerman "Parks and Recreation's secret weapon", and said he regularly stole scenes and "has a gift for understated physical comedy".

Offerman has also been featured in the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital with Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel. He has said that supporting parts such as that of Parks and Recreation are his ideal roles, and that he draws particular inspiration from Reverend Jim Ignatowski, the character played by Christopher Lloyd in the sitcom Taxi. He appeared as Capt. Hardy in the 2012 film 21 Jump Street.