Nick Offerman, the actor who plays Ron Swanson on the NBC series "Parks and Recreation," has been around for years, but few of us noticed because he wasn't yet "Ron Swanson." He was simply Nick Offerman, a struggling actor with a boat-building side job that bounced around in bit parts in a series of movie and television shows. In fact, for much of his career, Offerman went up against Rainn Wilson for the same parts, and the two developed a friendship during those auditions. That's how Offerman landed the job of Ron Swanson: Rainn Wilson put him in touch with Greg Daniels, the showrunner of "The Office," while Daniels was developing "Parks and Recreation."
Pre-"Parks and Recreation," very few of us might have known that he was married to Megan Mullally (they met while doing a stage production together in 2000), but for the most part -- despite 45 roles or so before landing "Parks and Recreation" -- no one had a clue who he was, even though he was an occasional presence in our television lives.
Here are the highlights of his pre-Swanson career, with a NSFW warning on the last slide, which depicts his full-frontal presence on "Deadwood" back in 2004.
In 2004, while his wife Megan Mullally was hosting "Saturday Night Live," Offerman made a cameo appearance in a Golden Globes sketch.
In 2001, Nick Offerman played the boyfriend of Megan Mullally's character on a special one-hour Thanksgiving episode of "Will and Grace."
In the first season of "The West Wing," Offerman played Jerry in an episode titled "The Crackpots and These Women." You can watch that clip here.
In 2005, Offerman played Schlubb in Sin City, the Fat Man who (along with Little Man) were a pair of low-rent hit men with "delusions of eloquence" who use pretentious, pseudo-poetic words in daily conversation to mask the fact that they're both incredibly stupid and incompetent at their chosen occupation."
In 2003, Offerman appeared in three episodes of the second season of "24" as Marcus, a Los Angeles resident who, with Rouse and Cole, reacted with racist hostility after the detonation of a terrorist nuclear weapon.
In 2005, Offerman appeared with Abraham Benrubi ("Parker Lewis Can't Lose," "ER") as two-dimwitted brothers, Karl and Lou Steele, in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Dangerous.
Before "Parks and Recreation," Offerman's most substantial role was as a recurring character in "George Lopez," as the off-and-on love interest of the show's antagonist, Benny.
Offerman appeared in two episodes of "Gilmore Girls," as the brother of Jackson, who was the guy who married Melissa McCarthy's character.
In 2003, Offerman was featured on an episode of "King of Queens" called "Thanks Man." Offerman played "The Man," a guy with an eye patch.
In 2005, Offerman played a cop in the so-bad-it's-kind-of-good Christina Ricci horror flick, Cursed.
In 2007, Offerman starred in "American Body Shop," a improvised sitcom on Comedy Central that ran for 10 episodes before it was cancelled. It actually looks OK.
Finally, in 2004, Offerman appeared completely naked in an episode of "Deadwood," as Tom Mason, an attempted assassin of Wild Bill Hickock who was subsequently killed by Wild Bill Hickock.
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Thank you for saving the best for last.
“In 2005, Offerman appeared with Abraham Benrubi (“Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “ER”) as two-dimwitted brothers, Karl and Lou Steele”
In Miss Congeniality 2, if anyone was wondering.
I was, before I read your comment.
Well that was more than I wanted to see of Ron Swanson…or was it? Nope…just saw it again and it definitely was.
Ron Swanson and George Luz, together at last!
What show was pic #7 taken from?
He doesn’t look nearly Ron Swanson-y enough in any of those roles. I’m glad he finally came home to us.
And that’s Bryan Cranston in that King of Queens shot, yes?
They never did build that wolves-only highway.
Thank you! I was trying to remember what “Jerry” did in that Episode of The West Wing. I knew it was a “big block of cheese” episode, but that’s it.
He was certainly hitting his stride in Deadwood!
It certainly took balls to take that role….
Maybe, you didn’t know who he was because you don’t pay attention, but I certainly…okay, not really. I had no clue who he was. I don’t know if I even watched more than 2 or 3 of those shows/movies you mentioned.
A little piece of me died when I first realized I’d seen Ron Swanson’s cock (Ron’s Swanson, if you will). I blame Timothy Olyphant for pointing out that he was in the episode during a season 3 Deadwood commentary. I can only blame myself for bringing the episode up and seeing it again.
Do you what to do if you are ever driving in California with Johnny Carson and you get to the Swanson Cutoff?
Except, as I hit the the Post Comment button, I realize it’s the Slauson Cutoff.
Is that a cellphone in Nicks pocket or is he just happy to be holding that fish?
Go cocks.
The wife and I actually watched American Body Shop for awhile.
It wasn’t very good, but I specifically remember taking note of Offerman in it. He was quite funny.
“That’s how Offerman landed the job of Ron Swanson: Rainn Wilson put him in touch with Greg Daniels, the showrunner of “The Office,” while Daniels was developing “Parks and Recreation.”"
Where are you getting these facts? In several interviews with Schur and Offerman, it has been noted that Schur and Daniels knew Nick before PnR because Nick auditioned for a role on The Office. He didn’t get the part, but he made such a huge impression on Schur that he kept his name on a post-it on his computer for years. When they began developing Parks, they wanted to get Nick involved. Yes, Nick and Rain developed a friendship over the years, but Rain didn’t have anything to do Nick’s casting on Parks.
Can we get a clearer shot of the last slide please?
American Body Shop was a funny show. Comedy Central will have it’s own Brilliant But Canceled wing someday.
Stay Frosty Ron!
He was in Into the Wild and Wristcutters: A Love Story. I thought he was Zack Galiafianainfiniakaiakais in ITW.
He was also in All Good Things with Ryan Gosling, as Kirsten Dunst’s brother. Weird movie.
He also appeared in Children’s Hospital as the ex cop partner of Owen Maestro(who became a doctor after 9/11.
Damnit, I remember American Body Shop. That shit was funny.
Gah! My eyes! I thought I had purged that image from my mind – but there you go, reminding us of that nightmarish vision of him appearing on George Lopez!