- Nick Offerman
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Nick Offerman Born June 26, 1970
Joliet, Illinois, United StatesOccupation Actor, woodworker Spouse Megan Mullally (2003–present) Nick Offerman (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor best known for his role as Ron Swanson in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. He is also a skilled woodworker.
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Early life and career
Offerman grew up in Minooka, Illinois; his father taught junior high in nearby Channahon. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993. That year, he and a group of fellow students co-founded the Defiant Theatre, a Chicago-based theatre company. Offerman lived in Chicago throughout the mid-1990s, where he participated with the Steppenwolf, Goodman and Wisdom Bridge theatre companies. During this time, Offerman became acquainted with Amy Poehler, who was heavily involved with the Chicago improv comedy scene.[1]
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 and on King of Queens, twice playing a plumber on Thanksgiving episodes of both series; he also appeared on his wife's talk show, The Megan Mullally Show. In 2003, he appeared in three episodes of 24 and has also 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". Nick was featured in an early episode of the HBO series Deadwood in which he played Tom Mason, attempted assassin of Wild Bill Hickok. Offerman also 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.
Offerman is good friends with comedic actor Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute in The Office. The two became friends while auditioning for the same roles early in their careers and remained in touch, with Offerman even building Wilson's kitchen table.[2] 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 the boss of Leslie Knope, the protagonist played by Offerman's old acquaintance, Amy Poehler.[1] Slate magazine declared Offerman "Parks and Recreation's secret weapon", and said he regularly stole scenes and "has a gift for understated physical comedy".[3] Offerman has also been featured in the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital with Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel.
Offerman has said that supporting parts such as that of Parks and Recreation are his ideal roles, and that he draws particular inspiration from the Reverend Jim Ignatowski, the character played by Christopher Lloyd in the 1970s and 1980s sitcom Taxi.[1]
Personal life
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.[4] He also released an instructional DVD in 2008 entitled 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.[5] The writers of Parks and Recreation included a fondness for woodworking to his character Ron Swanson. In addition, Offerman's real-life wife Megan Mullally has a recurring role in the show as Ron's second ex-wife Tammy.
References
- ^ a b c Ryan, Maureen (2009-09-23). "Nick Offerman serves up solid comedy on "Parks and Recreation"". Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois). http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/09/parks-and-recreation-nick-offerman.html. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ Tan, Jennie (2009-04-09). "Parks and Recreation set". OfficeTally. http://www.officetally.com/parks-and-recreation-set-visit/2. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ Weiner, Jonah (2009-12-02). "You Really Should Be Watching Parks and Recreation". Slate. http://www.slate.com/id/2237077/. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ Offerman Woodshop
- ^ Ace on the House, Episode 2, 14 January 2011
External links
Categories:- 1970 births
- Living people
- Actors from Illinois
- American actors
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American woodworkers
- People from Joliet, Illinois
- University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign alumni
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