Nick Offerman

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–present), Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015), Ice Age: Collision Course (2016), the Sing franchise (2016–present), Smurfs (2025) and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (upcoming 2027). 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.

Nick Offerman studied at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Minooka Community High School and University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is acting. Distinctions recorded are TCA Awards.

• Name — Nick Offerman • Birth Name — Nicholas David Offerman • Born — 26 June 1970 • Birthplace — Joliet, Illinois, U.S. • Education — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BFA) • Occupation — * Actor • comedian • carpenter • writer • Years Active — 1992–present • Website — https: nickofferman.co

Nicholas David Offerman was born in Joliet, Illinois, on June 26, 1970, the son of nurse Cathy (Roberts) and social studies teacher Ric Offerman. His father taught at a high school in Minooka. Offerman was raised Catholic in nearby Minooka, where he attended Minooka Community High School. He received a BFA from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign in 1993. That year, he and a group of fellow students co-founded the Chicago theatre company Defiant Theatre. His parents were initially bewildered by his desire to become an actor, stating "It was bizarre to them... Nobody in our town had ever gone into the arts. So when I said: 'I think I want to be an actor', everybody kind of shook their head and said, 'I don't think you can get there from here.'"

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.

• Illustration — Offerman visiting the campus of University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2013 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. Slate magazine declared Offerman "Parks and Recreation secret weapon", and said he regularly stole scenes and "has a gift for understated physical comedy." 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. Offerman has been featured in the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. He is the voice of Axe Cop in the animated series of the same name that premiered on July 27, 2013. 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).

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.

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

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.

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.

• Illustration — Offerman and Megan Mullally hosting the 2014 Sundance Film Festival awards ceremony 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.

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.

• 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 special • The Daily Show — Himself — 2 episodes • Death by Lightning — Chester A. Arthur — Miniseries • 2026 — Margo's Got Money Troubles — Jinx Millet — Main role

• Year — Title — Role — Venue • 2014 — Annapurna — Ulysses — Acorn Theatre, New York City • 2015 — A Confederacy of Dunces — Ignatius Reilly — Huntington Theatre Company, Boston • 2026 — Iceboy! — Eugene O'Neill — Goodman Theatre, Chicago

• 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)

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