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Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman 2022 National Book Festival (52342575962) (cropped).jpg
Offerman in 2022
Born
Nicholas David Offerman

(1970-06-26) June 26, 1970 (age 55)
Alma mater University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BFA)
Occupation Actor, Carpenter, Writer and Comedian
Years active 1994–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2003)

Nicholas David Offerman (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor, carpenter, writer, and comedian. He is well-known for playing Ron Swanson in the TV show Parks and Recreation. For this role, he won an award for best comedy performance. He was also nominated twice for the Critics' Choice Television Award.

Offerman also appeared in the TV series Fargo (2015) and The Last of Us (2023). For The Last of Us, he won an Emmy Award. He has acted in many independent films. These include The Kings of Summer (2013) and The Founder (2016).

He was also an executive producer and star in the film The House of Tomorrow (2017). He played the President in the movie Civil War (2024). Offerman has lent his voice to characters in Gravity Falls and The Lego Movie series. He also voiced characters in Hotel Transylvania 2 and the Sing film series.

He co-hosted the TV show Making It with his Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler. They were nominated three times for an Emmy Award for their hosting.

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Early Life and Education

Nicholas David Offerman was born in Joliet, Illinois, on June 26, 1970. His mother, Cathy, was a nurse, and his father, Ric, was a social studies teacher. He grew up in Minooka and went to Minooka Community High School.

He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign in 1993. After college, he helped start a theater company in Chicago called Defiant Theatre. His parents were surprised when he wanted to become an actor. He said that nobody from his town had ever gone into the arts before.

Acting Career Highlights

In the mid-1990s, Offerman worked with theater groups in Chicago. He also worked as a fight choreographer and master carpenter at the Steppenwolf Theatre. This is where he met Amy Poehler.

In 2003, he married actress Megan Mullally. He appeared on her talk show, The Megan Mullally Show. He also had roles on TV shows like Will & Grace, The King of Queens, and 24. Before Parks and Recreation, he was known for playing Randy McGee on George Lopez.

Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation Full Cast 2012
Offerman with the cast of Parks and Recreation in 2012

In 2009, Offerman got a main role in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. He played Ron Swanson, a character who dislikes government. Ron Swanson was the boss of Amy Poehler's character, Leslie Knope. Critics praised Offerman's performance, calling him the show's "secret weapon."

Offerman said that supporting roles, like Ron Swanson, are his favorite. He found inspiration from the character Jim Ignatowski in the TV show Taxi.

Voice Acting and Films

Offerman has also done voice work for animated shows. He was the voice of Axe Cop in the animated series Axe Cop. In 2014, he voiced MetalBeard in The Lego Movie. He returned to voice MetalBeard in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019).

He has appeared in many films. These include City of Angels (1998) and The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009). He also played Deputy Chief Hardy in 21 Jump Street (2012) and 22 Jump Street (2014). In 2016, he played Richard McDonald, one of the founders of McDonald's, in the film The Founder.

In 2023, Offerman appeared in the HBO series The Last of Us. He played the character Bill in the episode "Long, Long Time". His acting in this role was highly praised. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for this performance. In 2025, he is set to star in the crime thriller Sovereign.

Offerman was the Show Announcer for the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. He is also set to appear in the 2025 film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Other Projects

Writing Books

Offerman has written four books that share stories from his life. His first book, Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living, came out in 2013. His second book, Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers, was released in 2015.

His third book, Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop, was published in 2016. His fourth book, Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside, was released in 2021. He has also narrated all of his books as audiobooks.

Comedy Shows

In 2017, Offerman started his Full Bush Tour, performing 28 shows across the U.S. and Canada. His All Rise Tour began in July 2019 and continued through the end of that year. He performed in major cities like Chicago, San Francisco, and New York.

Theatre Work

In 2014, Offerman and his wife, Megan Mullally, starred together in the play Annapurna. They played a couple who meet again after being apart for a long time. In 2015, Offerman played Ignatius J. Reilly in a play based on the book A Confederacy of Dunces.

Woodworking Skills

Offerman has run the Offerman Woodshop in Los Angeles since 2001. He works there with a team of six other craftspeople. He has said that acting sometimes takes time away from his woodworking. He enjoys woodworking and live theater very much.

He learned woodworking by reading books and magazines. He has also written several books about woodworking. He believes it's important to know that making mistakes is part of the learning process.

Personal Life

Offerman married actress Megan Mullally on September 20, 2003. They met in 2000 while working on a play together. They have worked on many projects since then. These include TV shows like Will & Grace and Parks and Recreation. They also appeared in films like The Kings of Summer and Hotel Transylvania 2.

They started a live comedy tour together in 2016. In 2019, they began a podcast where they discuss their lives and interview guests.

Political Views

When asked if he is a libertarian, like his character Ron Swanson, Offerman said in 2017 that he admires the idea but doesn't think it works well in government. He described himself as a "free-thinking American."

He has shared his political views on social media. In 2020, he supported Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren. He also supported Democratic candidate Charles Booker in the U.S. Senate primary in Kentucky.

In April 2024, Offerman described himself as "progressive" but also "conservative in many ways." He believes that political labels have lost their meaning. In August 2024, he supported Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election. He released a song called "Proud to Be a Kamala Man."

Film and Television Roles

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Going All the Way Wilks
1998 City of Angels Construction Worker
1999 Treasure Island Samuel
2000 Groove Sergeant Channahon
Forever Lulu Man at Boardner's
2002 Murder by Numbers Officer at Richard's House
2004 November Officer Roberts
2005 Cursed Officer
Sin City Shlubb
2006 Wristcutters: A Love Story Cop
2007 The Go-Getter Nick the Potter
2008 Harmony & Me Meter Maid Man
2009 The Men Who Stare at Goats Scotty Mercer
Taking Chances Sheriff Hoke Hollander
2010 Audrey the Trainwreck David George
All Good Things Jim McCarthy
2012 Somebody Up There Likes Me Sal Also producer
21 Jump Street Deputy Chief Hardy
Casa de Mi Padre DEA Agent Parker
2013 The Kings of Summer Frank Toy
In a World... Heners
We're the Millers Don Fitzgerald
Paradise Mr. Mannerhelm
2014 Nick Offerman: American Ham Himself Stand-up film; Also writer and executive producer
The Lego Movie MetalBeard Voice role
Ernest & Celestine George Voice role; English dub
Date and Switch Terry
The Gunfighter Narrator Voice role; short film
22 Jump Street Deputy Chief Hardy
Believe Me Sean
2015 A Walk in the Woods REI Dave
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Victor Gaines
Knight of Cups Scott
Danny Collins Guy DeLoach
Welcome to Happiness Moses
2016 Ice Age: Collision Course Gavin Voice role
Sing Norman Voice role
The Founder Richard McDonald
2017 Gunter Babysits Norman Voice role; short film
The House of Tomorrow Alan Whitcomb Also executive producer
The Little Hours Lord Bruno
The Hero Jeremy
My Life as a Courgette Raymond Voice role; English dub
Infinity Baby Neo
2018 Nostalgia Henry Greer
Hearts Beat Loud Francis James "Frank" Fisher
Bad Times at the El Royale Felix O'Kelly
White Fang Marshal Weeden Scott Voice role
2019 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part MetalBeard Voice role
Frances Ferguson Narrator
Lucy in the Sky Will Plimpton
2020 Sacred Cow Narrator Voice role
2021 Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Varvatos Vex Voice role
Sing 2 Norman Voice role
2023 Origin Dave
...: The Musical Steve Chaney
Dumb Money Kenneth C. Griffin
Candy Cane Lane Pip
2024 Civil War The President of the United States
The Life of Chuck The Narrator
2025 Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning General Sidney
Sovereign Jerry Kane
Smurfs Not yet released Ken Voice role; in production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 ER Rog Episode: "Ambush"
1998 Arliss Packers Fan Episode: "Fans First"
Profiler Bobby Episode: "Double Vision"
KaBlam! Colonel Kudzu 2 episodes
1999 The West Wing Jerry Episode: "The Crackpots and These Women"
2001 Will & Grace Nick the Plumber Episode: "Moveable Feast"
2002 The Practice Charles Rossi Episode: "Manifest Necessity"
2003 Good Morning Miami Officer Nick Episode: "About a Ploy"
24 Marcus 3 episodes
The King of Queens The Man Episode: "Thanks, Man"
2001–2003 NYPD Blue Steven Debrees / Billy 2 episodes
2003–2004 George Lopez Randy 8 episodes
2004 Deadwood Tom Mason Episode: "Deep Water"
2005 Life on a Stick Greg Episode: "The Gods of TV"
Monk Jack Whitman Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Election"
2003–2005 Gilmore Girls Beau Belleville 2 episodes
2006 CSI: NY Joe Green Episodes: "Cool Hunter"
3 lbs Dr. Coffey Episodes: "Lost for Words"
2007 American Body Shop Rob 10 episodes
2008–2015 Childrens Hospital Chance Briggs 14 episodes
2009–2020 Parks and Recreation Ron Swanson 125 episodes
2012–2019 Bob's Burgers Cooper / Pete / Clem Clements (voices) 3 episodes
2012 The Cleveland Show Harris Grundle (voice) Episode: "Tis the Cleveland to Be Sorry"
2013 Conan Ron Burgundy Episode: "Occupy Conan: When Outsourcing Goes Too Far"
Out There Doug (voice) Episode: "Viking Days"
2013–2015 Axe Cop Axe Cop (voice) 22 episodes; also executive producer
2014 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself Episode: "Nick Offerman Wears a Green Flannel Shirt & Brown Boots"
Kroll Show Vanya Episode: "Krolling Around with Nick Klown"
2014–2015 Gravity Falls Agent Powers (voice) 4 episodes
2014–2021 The Simpsons Captain Joseph Bowditch (voice) 2 episodes
2014–2023 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Guest actor and voice 4 episodes
2015 Fargo Karl Weathers 5 episodes
The Muppets Himself Episode: "Bear Left Then Bear Write"
You, Me and the Apocalypse Buddy Episode: "Still Stuff Worth Fighting For"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Frederick Episode: "Ava"
2016 Life in Pieces Spencer Episode: "Annulled Roommate Pill Shower"
Son of Zorn Dr. Klorpnis (voice) 2 episodes
2017 Comrade Detective Captain Covaci (voice) 5 episodes
Curb Your Enthusiasm Cody Goodger Episode: "Fatwa!"
2018 Will & Grace Jackson Boudreaux Episode: "Friends and Lover"
2018–2021 Making It Himself (host) 22 episodes
2018–2019 3Below: Tales of Arcadia Commander Varvatos Vex (voice) 26 episodes
2019 Good Omens Thaddeus Dowling 2 episodes
2020 The Good Place Nick Offerman Episode: "Whenever You're Ready"
Devs Forest Miniseries; 8 episodes
2021–present The Great North Beef Tobin (voice) Series regular
2021 History of Swear Words Himself 5 episodes
Duncanville Zeb (voice) Episode: "Das Banana Boot"
Colin in Black & White Rick Kaepernick 6 episodes
2022 Pam & Tommy Uncle Miltie Miniseries
37th Independent Spirit Awards Himself (co-host) Television special
The Resort Murray Thompson Main role
A League of Their Own Dove Porter 3 episodes
Who Do You Think You Are? Himself Episode 3
2023 The Last of Us Bill Episode: "Long, Long Time"
Party Down Dermott Episode: "First Annual PI2A Symposium"
2024 The Conners Adam Chestnut Episode: "The Publisher Cops Show Pilot"
The Umbrella Academy Dr. Gene Thibedeau 6 episodes
2025 97th Academy Awards Announcer
TBA Death by Lightning Chester A. Arthur Upcoming miniseries
Margo's Got Money Troubles Jinx Upcoming miniseries

Video Games and Theme Parks

Year Title Voice role
1994 Club Dead Lewis Scudder
2015 Lego Dimensions MetalBeard
Year Title Role Notes
2016 The Lego Movie: 4D – A New Adventure MetalBeard (voice)

Awards and Recognition

Year Awards Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Last of Us Won
2011 Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Parks and Recreation Nominated
2012 Nominated
2015 Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Fargo Nominated
2023 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series The Last of Us Won
2019 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program Making It Nominated
2020 Nominated
2022 Nominated
2023 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Last of Us Won
2023 Saturn Awards Best Guest Star in a Television Series Nominated
2010 Television Critics Association Awards Individual Achievement in Comedy Parks and Recreation Nominated
2011 Won
2012 Writers Guild of America Awards Comedy Series Nominated
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