‘Parks and Rec’ actor is quite a character

By ALICIA RANCILIO

Associated Press

NEW YORK

If you like Ron Swanson on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” then you’ll like Nick Offerman, the actor who plays him.

Swanson is the director of the parks department in the Indiana town of Pawnee where “Parks and Recreation” is set.

Offerman has the same deadpan delivery as his character, and he’s a guy’s guy who loves carpentry. He has a woodshop in Los Angeles.

One way Offerman differs from his character: he’s creative. Besides NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” the 42-year-old actor has a live musical-comedy review, “American Ham,” and a new independent film, “Smashed,” starring Aaron Paul and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

The film tells the story of a young alcoholic couple whose dynamic changes when one decides to become sober.

Offerman’s wife, Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”), has a supporting role in the movie.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Offerman talked about working with his wife, his role on “Parks and Recreation.”

Q. So you share a love of meat with your “Parks and Recreation” character?

A. I grew up in a part of the country where my dad every morning would get up and make us bacon and eggs. That was the fuel of life, so long before I learned about cholesterol or my circulatory system in any way, I was already hooked on all pork and beef products.

Q. Some couples don’t like to work together. How is it OK for you and your wife, Megan Mullally?

A. I think the accepted rule of thumb is that you don’t bring your marriage to the workplace, but we feel very lucky that for some reason I think it’s important that we both are successful. If one of us wasn’t succeeding, I think that would make a difference in the paradigm, but we both are getting to exercise our own weird muscles, and we’re able to leave our egos out of it. We love working as a team, and I love to see her succeed and I’m very aware of how that helps me in our household. I love to plug Megan because you know she deserves a lot of kudos, but also because it’s all in the family. She’s such a comedy hero to me.

Q. What makes Megan so great comically is she just goes for it.

A. We met during a play in Los Angeles and I think that was our initial attraction to one another. ... That’s where the best comedy lies, is making a total fool of yourself.