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Nick Offerman

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Nick Offerman
Offerman at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel May 21, 2012
Born (1970-06-26) June 26, 1970 (age 54)
Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, carpenter
Years active1997–present
SpouseMegan Mullally (2003–present)[1]
Websitewww.offermanwoodshop.com

Nick Offerman (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor, writer, and carpenter widely known for his breakout role as Ron Swanson in the acclaimed NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, in which he received the Television Critics Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy.

Early life

Offerman was born in Joliet, Illinois and grew up in Minooka, Illinois.[2] He is the son of Cathy (née Roberts), a nurse, and Ric Offerman, who taught social studies at a junior high school in nearby Channahon.[3][4][5] Offerman was raised Catholic[6][7] and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993.[2] That year, he and a group of fellow students co-founded the Defiant Theatre, a Chicago-based theatre company.[2]

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.[8] During this time, Offerman became acquainted with Amy Poehler, who was heavily involved with the Chicago improv comedy scene.[2]

In 2003, he married Will & Grace actress Megan Mullally and has also appeared on her talk show, The Megan Mullally Show. At the same time, he began appearing on television: as a plumber on Will & Grace during its fourth season's Thanksgiving episode, on King of Queens as a hobo, in three episodes of 24, and in an episode of The West Wing. Prior to Parks and Recreation, his most prominent role was as factory worker and Benny-Lopez-love-interest Randy McGee on George Lopez. He has appeared twice on Gilmore Girls, in 2003's The Festival of Living Art" and 2005's "Always a Godmother, Never a God". Offerman played would-be assassin of Wild Bill Hickok, Tom Mason, in an early episode of the HBO series Deadwood and in the third-season episode of Monk "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: That of "Ron Swanson", the deadpan, government-hating head of a government parks department and therefore boss of Amy Poehler's character "Leslie Knope".[2] Slate magazine declared Offerman "Parks and Recreation's secret weapon", and said he regularly stole scenes and "has a gift for understated physical comedy".[9] The role weaves antagonism and political philosophy with humanity, while the intense libertarian philosophy the character lives out is often played off against the equally intense liberalism and 'do-gooder' mentality of Poehlers' character, Leslie Knope. Offerman 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.[2]

Offerman has also been featured in the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital with Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel. He is the voice Axe Cop in the animated series of the same name, premiered on July 27, 2013.[10] In the same year, Offerman portrayed Johnny Cool in the "Boston" episode of Derek Waters' Drunk History on Comedy Central.

Offerman has appeared in films such as November (2004), Cursed (2005), Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005), Sin City (2005), The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009), and The Kings of Summer (2013). He also appeared in the 2006 film Wristcutters: A Love Story as a cop who attempts to arrest Shannyn Sossamon's character; Mikal. 2012 saw him in two film roles, as 21 Jump Street's Deputy Chief Hardy and in Casa de Mi Padre as DEA Agent Parker. Additionally, he starred and produced an independent film, "Somebody Up There Likes Me" (2012), shot in Austin, Texas. He appeared in the 2013 comedy We're the Millers, which starred Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston. He is scheduled to appear in The Lego Movie as Metalbeard. Offerman conceived of and starred in punk band FIDLAR's 2013 video for their song "Cocaine".[11]

Woodworking

In addition to acting, Offerman is also a professional boat builder and has a side business as a wood craftsman. Offerman makes furniture and other wooden structures such as canoes and boats at his woodshop.[12] He also released an instructional DVD in 2008 entitled Fine Woodstrip Canoe Building with Nick Offerman, shot by Jimmy Diresta. Diresta's pay for shooting the DVD was a canoe, the second one Offerman has built.[13] The writers of Parks and Recreation added a fondness for woodworking to Offerman's character.

Personal life

Offerman's wife, actress Megan Mullally, has a recurring role on Parks and Recreation as his character's second ex-wife Tammy. He is good friends with actor Rainn Wilson; the two became friends while auditioning for the same roles early in their careers and remained in touch. Offerman even built Wilson's kitchen table.[14] Offerman is a fan of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears, and has been featured with fellow actor and Chicago White Sox fan Craig Robinson in a series of commercials for New Era Cap Company.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Going All the Way Wilks Film debut
1998 City of Angels Construction Worker
1999 Treasure Island Samuel
2000 Groove Sergeant Channahon
2004 November Officer Roberts
2005 Cursed Officer
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Karl Steele
Sin City Shlubb
2006 Wristcutters: A Love Story Cop
3 lbs Dr. Coffey
2007 The Go-Getter Nick the Potter,
Mowhawk Trumpeter,
Bald Phone Translator
2009 The Men Who Stare at Goats Scotty Mercer
Taking Chances Sheriff Hoke Hollander
2010 All Good Things Jim McCarthy
2012 Somebody Up There Likes Me Sal
Smashed Dave Davies
21 Jump Street Deputy Chief Hardy
Casa de Mi Padre DEA Agent Parker
2013 We're the Millers Don Fitzgerald
The Kings of Summer Frank Toy
In a World... Heners
Paradise Mr. Mannerhelm
2014 The Lego Movie Metalbeard (voice) Post-Production
22 Jump Street Deputy Chief Hardy

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1997 ER Rog Episode: Ambush
1998 Profiler Bobby Episode: Fans First
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 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
2007 American Body Shop Rob 10 episodes
2008–2013 Childrens Hospital Chance Briggs 10 episodes
2009–present Parks and Recreation Ron Swanson Main Cast
2012 Bob's Burgers Cooper Episode: Bob Fires the Kids
The Cleveland Show Harris Grundle 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
Drunk History Johnny Cool Episode: Boston
2013–present Axe Cop Axe Cop (voice) Main Cast

References

  1. ^ Susman, Gary (23 September 2003). "Trophy Husband". ew.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ryan, Maureen (2009-09-23). "Nick Offerman serves up solid comedy on "Parks and Recreation"". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  3. ^ "Local News", The Herald-News (Joliet), 30 November 2003
  4. ^ Ken O'Brien (1997-10-19). "Cast party: When NBC's "ER" drew a large national audience... - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  5. ^ Bill Cribbs. "Northeastern Illinois Obituary Collection - 140". Genealogybuff.com. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  6. ^ Rock 'n Roll Ghost. "TV Interview: Nick Offerman – Parks and Recreation (NBC)". Rocknrollghost.com. Retrieved 2014-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Nick Offerman, deadpan man - Viewer Discretion". Boston.com. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  8. ^ Adams, Erik (2012-06-21). "Showrunner Michael Schur on building Parks And Recreation's fourth season (Part 4 of 5) | TV | The Walkthrough". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  9. ^ Weiner, Jonah (2009-12-02). "You Really Should Be Watching Parks and Recreation". Slate. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  10. ^ Fitzpatrick, Kevin (January 8, 2013). "FOX RELEASES 'AXE COP' VOICE CAST, SETS SATURDAY ANIMATION DOMINATION HD PREMIERE". ScreenCrush. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  11. ^ "How Punk Band FIDLAR Recruited 'Parks and Rec' Star Nick Offerman for NSFW Video (Q&A)". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Offerman Woodshop". offermanwoodshop.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  13. ^ "Ace on the House Premier". adamcarolla.com. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  14. ^ Tan, Jennie (2009-04-09). "Parks and Recreation set". OfficeTally. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  15. ^ McCann, Zach (5 April 2012). "Offerman, Robinson in New Era ads". espn.go.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012.

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