Nick Offerman age, wife, height, careerpath, woodworking, family 2025

Biography of Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman is an American actor, director, comedian, and writer who shot to fame playing the gruff, meat-loving libertarian Ron Swanson in the hit comedy series "Parks and Recreation." In 2021, he landed the role of Bill in HBO's adaptation of the acclaimed video game "The Last of Us."

Childhood

Born on June 26, 1970, in the industrial town of Joliet, Illinois, Nick's parents were Rick Offerman, a teacher, and Kathy Roberts, a nurse. The actor has a younger brother, Matt, as well as sisters Laurie and Kerry.

He spent his early years on his grandfather's farm, learning woodworking and how to work the fields. As a teenager, Offerman was involved in sports, learned to play the saxophone, and became passionate about acting.

During the school years, Nick was involved in sports

After graduating high school in 1989, Nick headed to the University of Illinois to study theater. His natural artistic talent and carpentry skills proved invaluable - he'd often build sets and props for productions himself.

Fresh out of college in 1993, Offerman and his buddies made their way to Chicago with big dreams. There, they founded an experimental theater company called "Defiant Theatre." Unfortunately, the company didn't take off as hoped, and ticket sales barely covered the rent. To pay the bills, Offerman took on carpentry work and taught dance classes on the side.

Nick Offerman: A Nun Showed Me P*rn At Age 12 - CONAN on TBS

Acting Career

Nick Offerman launched his film career in the late 1990s. His first role was in the thriller "Chain Reaction" with Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman, in which he appeared in two scenes. However, his scenes were cut from the final version of the film. The actor didn't mind too much – he still got paid and earned his Screen Actors Guild membership.

Nick Offerman Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED

Offerman made his big screen debut in 1997's "Going All the Way." While the movie didn't give him much chance to show his acting chops, director Mark Pellington spotted Offerman's talent and predicted Hollywood success for him, urging Nick to make the move.

In 1998, Nick played a builder in Wim Wenders' "City of Angels," the remake of "Wings of Desire" starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan.

In 2002, Offerman landed a small role in "Murder by Numbers," which was partially based on true events. He shared the screen with Sandra Bullock, Ryan Gosling, and Michael Pitt.

As a police officer in Murder by Numbers

Around the same time, Offerman's TV career started gaining momentum. In 2003, he popped up in the comedy series "Will & Grace" and landed three episodes of the drama "24." He could also be seen in popular shows such as "Deadwood," "NYPD Blue," "Gilmore Girls," and others.

In 2005, Nick showed up in the anthology film "Sin City" as Bert Schlubb, a criminal known as Fat Man.

In 2009, Offerman snagged the role that would change everything. He was cast as Ron Swanson in the comedy series "Parks and Recreation." He'd previously auditioned for a similar role in "The Office" but didn't quite nail it. But "The Office" producers Michael Schur and Greg Daniels remembered him and brought him onto their new project.

The character of Ron Swanson felt like it was written specifically for him. An unflappable hedonist and staunch libertarian who despises government interference, he was the perfect foil to the show's energetic idealist Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). Ron's a man of many talents – playing saxophone like a virtuoso and carving wooden masterpieces, just like Nick himself.

The Best Of Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation)

Critics hailed Offerman as a true find for showrunners and a "genius of physical comedy," while many viewers credit him with saving the show after its shaky first season.

The show hit its stride in the second season, with Offerman's and Chris Pratt's storylines taking center stage. Ron Swanson's famous line, "I'm a simple man... I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food," even became a meme. The final, seventh season aired in 2015.

Cast of the TV series Parks and Recreation

After "Parks and Recreation," Offerman embraced supporting roles, finding genuine joy in this type of work. He drew inspiration from Christopher Lloyd's character in the classic sitcom "Taxi" – the guru philosopher, drug addict, and taxi driver Jim Ignatowski.

In 2012, audiences saw Nick as Deputy Chief Hardy in the action-comedy "21 Jump Street."

Nick Offerman in the movie 21 Jump Street

From 2013 to 2015, he worked as an executive producer and voiced the main character in the American adult animated sitcom "Axe Cop."

In 2014, Offerman appeared in the series "Fargo," playing the role of Karl Weathers, a friend of police officer Lou Solverson's family.

In October 2018, Offerman starred in the detective thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale," playing the role of criminal Felix O'Kelly.

Nick on the set of "Bad Times at the El Royale"

In 2019, viewers were thrilled by the release of "Good Omens," based on the beloved book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Nick landed the supporting role of attache Thaddeus, the father of the future "Antichrist."

Offerman's transformation into a powerful tech CEO in the mini-series "Devs" proved to be a fascinating challenge. The film reveals the drama of the CEO of a large IT company that develops quantum technologies that allow the reconstruction of the past and prediction of the future.

In addition to his on-screen work, Oффerмaн is also known as a voice actor. He lent his voice to the character of Metal Beard in "The Lego Movie", voiced George in "Ernest & Celestine", Mike in "Hotel Transylvania 2", Gavin in "Ice Age: Collision Course", and Raymond in "The Good Dinosaur".

Nick Offerman's Personal Life

While Ron Swanson carefully avoided his ex-wives and basically established himself as a misanthrope and loner, Nick Offerman in real life is an exemplary husband and family man.

While working on The Berlin Circle play in the early 2000s, he met actress Megan Mullally. Offerman fell for her at first sight, but she didn't immediately see him as relationship material. Later she confessed:

I always dated tough guys, rock drummers. And Nick was my colleague in the workshop, I didn't even think of him as a man I could be with.

The couple got married in 2003. There's almost a 12-year age gap between them, but that didn't stop them from building a strong marriage. The couple tries not to spend more than 2 weeks apart and calls it the secret to their happy marriage. "We love doing everything together - from performing on stage to writing books while lying in bed," the couple shared in an interview.

Nick Offerman Now

Nick Offerman is staying busy with film projects. In late 2021, he was announced as Bill in the TV adaptation of the video game "The Last Of Us." The news accidentally leaked through actor Murray Bartlett, who was cast as Frank, Bill's lover in the story.

In 2021, Nick was cast as Bill in "The Last Of Us" adaptation

The main roles in the show were played by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. The series premiered in early 2023 on HBO Max. Offerman's character appeared in the third episode, which focused almost entirely on Bill and Frank's backstory. The episode drew plenty of criticism, but the actor fired back at the haters:

Buddy, your brand of ignorance and hate is exactly why we make stories like this.

Nick Offerman also appeared in the mini-series "Pam and Tommy," which tells the story of the scandal that erupted around actress Pamela Anderson and musician Tommy Lee after their personal home video was released to the public.

Other Achievements

Throughout his long acting career, Offerman has been nominated for various awards. His accolades include an award for Best Voice Cast in an Animated Feature Film for "The Lego Movie" and a Television Critics Association (TCA) Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy for his role in "Parks and Recreation."

For his role as Ron Swanson, the actor was awarded the TCA Award

Nick earned Emmy nominations in 2019 and 2020 for "Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program" for the show "Making It." The reality show focuses on handmade and DIY projects, which Nick co-hosted with his "Parks and Recreation" colleague, Amy Poehler.

Nick Offerman is also known for appearing in commercials in addition to his film and TV roles. In 2015 and 2016, he appeared in a memorable whiskey ad where he simply enjoyed a Lagavulin drink for 45 seconds.

In October 2018, Nick and his wife published "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told." In the book, the couple shares their relationship story and reveals secrets to a strong marriage.

Also, Offerman has written and published three autobiographical works:

2013: Paddle Your Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living
2015: Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers
2016: Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop.

Nick Offerman owns Offerman Wood Shop, a handmade wooden goods store in Los Angeles. He designed several products himself. When he's not acting, Nick continues to practice woodworking.

Touring Nick Offerman's Wood Shop | Ask This Old House