Nick Offerman

Nicholas David Offerman (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, carpenter, and writer. He became known for his role as Ron Swanson in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), for which he received the Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy and was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Offerman has appeared in the second season of the FX crime series Fargo (2015), for which he received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award, as well as the FX on Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy (2022) and the HBO drama series The Last of Us (2023), for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He was Emmy-nominated for playing Chester A. Arthur in the Netflix limited series Death by Lightning (2025) and a former wrestler and addict in the Apple TV+ dramedy series Margo's Got Money Troubles (2026).

He has acted in numerous films The Kings of Summer (2013), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), The Founder (2016), The House of Tomorrow (2017), Hearts Beat Loud (2018), Civil War (2024), and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). He voiced Agent Powers on Gravity Falls (2012–2016) and voice roles in The Lego Movie franchise (2014–2019), Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015), Ice Age: Collision Course (2016), the Sing franchise (2016–present), and Smurfs (2025). He hosted Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020).

He began co-hosting the NBC reality competition series Making It (2018–2021) with Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler; the duo received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program.

Early life and education Nicholas David Offerman was born in Joliet, Illinois, on June 26, 1970, the son of nurse Cathy and social studies teacher Ric Offerman. His father taught at a high school in Minooka. Offerman was raised Catholic in nearby Minooka, He received a BFA from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign in 1993.

Career 1997–2008: Early work and acting roles Offerman lived in Chicago in the mid-1990s, where he participated with theater companies such as Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Wisdom Bridge. At Steppenwolf, he also worked as a fight choreographer and master carpenter, having been trained in carpentry by his father. During this time, Offerman became acquainted with Amy Poehler, who was heavily involved with the Chicago improv comedy scene. Offerman appeared briefly as a construction worker in City of Angels (1998) and in other films such as November (2004), Cursed (2005), Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005), Sin City (2005), The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009).

In 2003, he married actress Megan Mullally. Offerman has appeared on her talk show, The Megan Mullally Show. At the same time, he began appearing on television as a plumber on Will & Grace on its fourth season's Thanksgiving episode, on The King of Queens, in three episodes of 24, and in an episode of The West Wing. Prior to Parks and Recreation, his most prominent role was as a factory worker and Benny Lopez's love interest Randy McGee on George Lopez. He appeared twice on Gilmore Girls, in 2003's "The Festival of Living Art" and 2005's "Always a Godmother, Never a God" 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.

2009–2015: Breakthrough with Parks and Recreation

In 2009, The Office producers Michael Schur and Greg Daniels offered Offerman a series regular role in their NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation for the character Ron Swanson, the deadpan, government-hating, libertarian head of a city parks department and boss of Amy Poehler's character Leslie Knope. 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 social liberalism and "do-gooder" mentality of Poehler's character. Offerman 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. In the same year, Offerman portrayed Johnny Cool in the "Boston" episode of Derek Waters' Drunk History on Comedy Central. In 2014, he portrayed a lovesick German talk show host in The Decemberists' video "Make You Better". The same year, he appeared in a short film The Gunfighter directed by Eric Kissack. Offerman played the role of the narrator of the film where the actors of the film break the fourth wall and are able to hear the narrator.

In 2012, had two film roles, as 21 Jump Streets Deputy Chief Hardy and in Casa de Mi Padre as DEA Agent Parker. He reprised his role as Deputy Chief Hardy in 22 Jump Street two years later. He starred in and produced an independent film, Somebody Up There Likes Me (2012), shot in Austin, Texas. He appeared in the 2013 comedy The Kings of Summer (2013), and We're the Millers, and voiced MetalBeard in The Lego Movie. Offerman conceived of and starred in punk band FIDLAR's 2013 video for their song "Cocaine". Offerman played an alcoholic college guidance counselor in Believe Me. In 2014, Offerman and Mullally starred together in the off-Broadway one-act play, Annapurna. The two play an estranged couple that reunites one last time. In 2015, Offerman starred as Ignatius J. Reilly in a theatrical adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces with the Huntington Theatre Company. Offerman played the recurring role Karl Weathers in the second season of Fargo (2015). Offerman voiced Grandpa Mike alongside wife Megan Mullally who voiced Grandma Linda in Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015).

2016–present: Career expansion He portrayed the first establisher of McDonald's, Dick McDonald, in The Founder (2016). In 2017, Offerman launched his Full Bush Tour which consisted of 28 shows across the U.S. and Canada. His All Rise Tour kicked off on July 20, 2019, in Thackerville and continued through the rest of 2019, hitting major cities: Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, and Atlanta. Offerman starred in alternative rock band They Might Be Giants' 2018 video for their song "The Greatest". In 2023, Offerman appeared in "Long, Long Time", the third episode of the HBO series The Last of Us as Bill. His performance, along with that of his co-star Murray Bartlett, was critically acclaimed, with some critics naming it a career-best performance, and Dais Johnston of Inverse labelled them as "Emmy-worthy". He won Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 2023 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

In 2025, Offerman starred with Jacob Tremblay and Dennis Quaid in the crime thriller Sovereign. Offerman was the Show Announcer for the 97th Academy Awards. He appeared in the 2025 film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Other ventures Writing Offerman has authored several books, most of which he has also narrated as audiobooks:

Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living (2013) – autobiographical with elements of career/self-help advice Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers (2015) – discusses influential U.S. figures Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop (2016) – focuses on woodworking The Greatest Love Story Ever Told: An Oral History (2018) – chronicle of Offerman's relationship with Megan Mullally All Rise: Audio Perambulation (2020) – audiobook exclusive released during the COVID-19 pandemic Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside (2021) – commentary related to nature, accompanied by personal anecdotes Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop's Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery (2025) – an offering of family friendly woodworking projects

Woodworking Offerman has run the Offerman Woodshop with a crew of six craftsmen and women in Los Angeles since 2001. He has said that acting in TV and movies is "cramping my style at the woodshop" and "if I just had a life of woodworking and live theater, that'd be perfectly fine with me". He educated himself about woodworking with books and periodicals and has written several books about woodworking. He emphasizes that literature about the craft tends to be too somber and sober and actually it's important to know going in that you're supposed to make mistakes.

Freemasonry Offerman confirmed his membership as a freemason during a 2020 interview with Wired Magazine. He has written about his fascination with freemasonry in his book Gumption. He has since been featured in masonic articles, including the Scottish Rite.

Personal life Marriage

Offerman married actress Megan Mullally on September 20, 2003. They met while they were in the play The Berlin Circle with the Evidence Room Theatre Company in the summer of 2000. They have worked together on series and films such as Will & Grace, Parks and Recreation, Stealing Harvard, The Kings of Summer, Smashed, Hotel Transylvania 2, Bob's Burgers, You, Me and the Apocalypse, The Great North and The Umbrella Academy. They began a live comedy tour in 2016, the theme of which was their sex life. In 2019, they started In Bed with Nick and Megan, a podcast discussing their personal lives while interviewing guests.

Politics

When asked whether he is a libertarian like his character Ron Swanson, Offerman said in 2017, "While I admire the philosophy of the libertarian mindset, I think it's proven to be ineffectual in actual governance. So no, I'm not. I'm a free-thinking American." He described Donald Trump as racist and sexist during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, but also mocked Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton for her private email controversy. Upon voting in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, he tweeted a photo of himself with an "I Voted" sticker, adding the caption "#VoteWarren" in reference to Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren. That year, he also tweeted his support for Democratic candidate Charles Booker in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Kentucky.

Although some political commentators likened Offerman's depiction of the U.S. President in Civil War to Donald Trump, Offerman denied that his performance was based on Trump and argued that politics did not serve as an influence on the film. In an April 2024 GQ interview, Offerman described himself as "progressive", but also "conservative in many ways". In the same interview, he said he believes the "semantics" of the political spectrum "have lost their meaning." On August 27, 2024, he endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election with a song titled "Proud to Be a Kamala Man", a parody of "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood.

Acting credits 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 2002 Stealing Harvard Electrician at Patty’s House 2004 November Officer Roberts 2005 Cursed Officer Sin City Shlubb Miss Congeniality 2 Karl Steele 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 Smashed Dave Davies 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 Hotel Transylvania 2 Mike LoughranVoice role 2016 Ice Age: Collision Course Gavin Sing Norman 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 Frances Ferguson Narrator Lucy in the Sky Will Plimpton 2020 Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics Himself Sacred Cow NarratorVoice role 2021 Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Varvatos Vex Sing 2 Norman 2023 Origin Dave Dicks: 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 Narrator Voice role 2025 Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning General Sidney Sovereign Jerry Kane Smurfs Ken Voice role 2026 The Pout-Pout Fish Mr. Fish Voicemails for Isabelle Chef Bastien 2027 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Post-production, Voice role 2028 Elden Ring Post-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 McGee Recurring role 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 Main role 2008–2015 Childrens Hospital Officer Chance Briggs Recurring role 2009–2020 Parks and Recreation Ron Swanson Main role 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" Drunk History Johnny Cool Episode: "Boston" 2013–2015 Axe Cop Axe Cop (voice) Main role; 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 Sofia the First Whiskers (voice) Episode: "Winter's Gift" 2014–2025 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Guest actor and voice Recurring role 2015 Fargo Karl Weathers Recurring role 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) Main role Curb Your Enthusiasm Cody Goodger Episode: "Fatwa!" 2018 Will & Grace Jackson Boudreaux Episode: "Friends and Lover" 2018–2021 Making It Himself (host) Main role 2018–2019 3Below: Tales of Arcadia Commander Varvatos Vex (voice) Main role 2019 Good Omens Thaddeus Dowling 2 episodes 2020 The Good Place Nick Offerman Episode: "Whenever You're Ready" Devs Forest Miniseries; main role 2021–2025 The Great North Beef Tobin (voice) Main role 2021 Cinema Toast Don Doolittle Episode: "Familiesgiving" Duncanville Zeb (voice) Episode: "Das Banana Boot" Colin in Black & White Rick Kaepernick Limited series; Main role 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 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 Recurring role 2025 97th Academy Awards Announcer Television specialThe Daily Show Himself 2 episodesDeath by Lightning Chester A. Arthur Miniseries 2026 Margo's Got Money Troubles Jinx Millet Main role

Theatre

Video games Year Title Voice role 1994 Club Dead Lewis Scudder 2015 Lego Dimensions MetalBeard

Theme park attractions Year Title Role Notes 2016 The Lego Movie: 4D – A New Adventure MetalBeard (voice)

Music videos Year Title Role Notes 2013 "Cocaine" Himself Music video by FIDLAR 2014 "Make You Better" German talk show host Music video by The Decemberists

Awards and nominations Organizations Year Category Project Result Astra TV Awards 2023 Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Last of Us Critics' Choice Television Awards 2011 Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Parks and Recreation 2012 2015 Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Fargo Independent Spirit Awards 2023 Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series The Last of Us Primetime Emmy Awards 2019 Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program Making It 2020 2022 2023 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Last of Us 2026 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Margo's Got Money Troubles Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series Death By Lightning Saturn Awards 2023 Best Guest Star in a Television Series The Last of Us Television Critics Association Awards 2010 Individual Achievement in Comedy Parks and Recreation 2011 Writers Guild of America Awards 2012 Comedy Series