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It’s quite often when a certain character in a TV or movie steals the show despite limited screen time, leaving the audience craving for more of them. These characters are often categorized as the best friend, oddball coworker, or even an eccentric neighbour, and they are the ones to land most unexpected laughs. One such intriguing character has been Kevin Sussman’s Stuart Bloom from the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and his rise from recurring character to leading his own spinoff.

Many sitcoms are filled with such scene-stealing characters who deserve more recognition, and maybe even their own show. Here is a look at the top 10 most underrated sitcom actors who, like Sussman, have what it takes to lead a spinoff and really hog the spotlight.

10. David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane from Frasier Frasier | Credit: NBC

Playing Niles Crane, Frasier’s younger brother, David Hyde Pierce delivered...

Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman has slammed President Donald Trump's cuts to the United States National Parks budget during his appearance on The Daily Show. Offerman was making his fourth appearance on the satirical news program on Tuesday, July 15.

Having previously been interviewed by Desi Lydic and Trevor Noah on the show, this time the actor was given his own segment to address the issue of national parks funding. In Offerman’s best TV show role, he played Ron Swanson, the director of the titular city department in Parks and Recreation. It’s fitting, then, that his Daily Show segment covered this subject.

Offerman has also authored several books about American national parks, so is more knowledgeable than most to discuss a topic so dear to his heart. During his appearance on The Daily Show, the actor criticized the Trump administration’s cuts to national parks funding:

"America's...

Can you believe it’s been ten years since we said goodbye to the Parks Department of Pawnee, Indiana? Yes, we know, it feels like just yesterday we were watching Leslie Knope frantically organize another town hall meeting or seeing Ron Swanson grimace at the mention of vegetables.

When Parks and Recreation wrapped up its seven-season run in February 2015, it left behind this incredible legacy of pure joy, heart, and enough quotable moments to fill a Pawnee time capsule. Honestly, in today’s world, where everything feels a bit chaotic, rewatching this show is like getting a warm hug.

So let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the place where waffles were a food group and government work was actually, dare we say it, fun?

1. Leslie Knope’s Unstoppable Enthusiasm Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation | Credits: NBC

Let’s be real, Leslie Knope wasn’t just a character...

Nick Offerman and Sandra Bullock are a rather odd pairing, which is why it might surprise some to learn they shared screen space on more than one occasion. While fans might recall Offerman’s antagonistic role in Bullock’s 2005 buddy action-comedy Miss Congeniality 2, the duo has also played a former couple on screen.

Before their big reunion in the 2005 movie, Offerman and Bullock both had recurring stints on the sitcom George Lopez. In an episode, it is revealed that Offerman and Bullock’s characters are ex-lovers, leading to some funny interactions between the two. Here’s why the duo’s stint in George Lopez was funnier than their Miss Congeniality 2 reunion.

Nick Offerman and Sandra Bullock’s George Lopez Roles Were Funnier Than Miss Congeniality 2

Nick Offerman is best known for his performance as Ron Swanson in the sitcom Parks and Recreation. However, Offerman was still making a...

Nick Offerman channeled the spirit of his beloved “Parks and Recreation” character Ron Swanson during a recent visit to “The Daily Show,” where the actor scolded Donald Trump for cutting $267 million in funding for America’s national parks.

“I have several undeniable loves in my life. The oaky notes of a barrel-aged whiskey, an old-fashioned plumb bob dangling over a red cedar plank, my blushing bride’s hoo-ha, and of course, America’s national parks,” Offerman said to cheers from the audience while explaining that budget cuts have gotten so bad at national parks that scientists are now helping to clean toilets. “This is a huge mistake. No scientist has the strength to clean the skid marks of a man who’s been eating beans and campfire hot dogs for the past three days! They’re weak.”

On a more serious note, Offerman called out Trump for his new strategy...

Sovereign, starring Nick Offerman, is not just another gritty crime drama, but also a chilling evolution of the same deep-rooted disappointment in the system that was explored in Taylor Sheridan’s 97% rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, titled Hell or High Water. The Yellowstone creator’s movie was released during a broken economy and a bruised national identity, tapping into the rage of rural America.

On the other hand, Sovereign is inspired by the actual West Memphis police shootings that occurred in 2010, showing how rage can turn into an open and dangerous rebellion. So, let’s explore how Offerman’s recent release could almost pass as a spiritual successor to Hell or High Water.

How Sovereign Reflects the American Dream’s Death Seen in Taylor Sheridan’s Western Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay in Sovereign | Credits: All Night Diner

Hell or High Water was never about villains but a broken system.

Just days after publicly debunking the idea that “Parks and Recreation” character Ron Swanson would have voted for Donald Trump, Nick Offerman channeled his old character once more on Tuesday night, hitting up “The Daily Show” to call out the president’s continued defunding of national parks.

“I have several undeniable loves in my life,” Offerman prefaced. “The oaky notes of a barrel-aged whiskey, an old-fashioned plumb bob dangling over a red cedar plank, my blushing bride’s hoo-ha, and of course, America’s national parks.”

That’s why, he explained, it pains him to see those parks having their staffs and funding cut. According to one news clip, scientists now have to help clean toilets at said parks.

“This is a huge mistake. No scientist has the strength to clean the skid marks of a man who’s been eating beans and campfire hot dogs for the past three days!

The real grown-ups in sitcoms aren’t always the leads. While the Tom and Jerrys of the world flail through chaos, it’s the sidekicks holding it down, quietly keeping things functional.

From Parks and Rec’s ever-prepared Ron Swanson to New Girl’s Winston Bishop, these sidekicks are often the only ones doing their jobs. As the main characters spiral, it’s these supporting legends who bring the logic, the loyalty, and occasionally… the lease.

Sidekicks shine brightest in sitcoms, where the chaos is constant and responsibility is rare. Even with fewer lines or screen time, they steal the show with their grit and grounded presence. So, while the leads fumble through the punchlines, give it up for the real MVPs, the sidekicks who actually get things done.

Here are 10 sitcom sidekicks who are more responsible than the main character.

10. Marcy Rhoades/D’Arcy (Married… with Children)

While Al Bundy...

Like it or not, setting the record straight about Ron Swanson, his Parks and Recreation alter-ego, is becoming a full-time job for Nick Offerman. Last month, it was Offerman correcting Michael Flynn Jr. about Swanson’s stance on LGBTQ issues. After Flynn used an altered Swanson meme to bash June’s Pride events, Offerman quickly put him in his place: “Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck. #HappyPride”

This month, Offerman told IndieWire that some people are holding up the Swanson character for all the wrong reasons, taking “their own reading of this true Libertarian who was cool with everybody.”

The misguided are saying that Swanson “had a shotgun, so he must be one of us,” Offerman said. “Like, dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would’ve voted for Trump.”

While Offerman is a fair authority on the character after playing him for seven seasons, he...

Just when it seemed like Nick Offerman may have reached the peak of his career, the star somehow manages to surprise his most firm believers with bigger hits than before. Most recently, we saw him playing the role of General Sidney in Tom Cruise‘s Mission: Impossible- Final Reckoning.

And now, people are able to witness him again in the role of Jerry Kane in the newly-released crime drama film Sovereign. Seeing as he has been in nothing but classic films and TV series lately, with positive reviews of this film coming out, it looks like his hot streak of having nothing but hits will continue.

Nick Offerman’s Sovereign Continues His Streak of Critically Exceptional Projects Nick Offerman in the trailer of Sovereign | Credits: Briarcliff Entertainment

The stars for Offerman started to align from his role as Bill in the critically acclaimed TV series The Last of Us. While...

Nick Offerman is setting the record straight on Ron Swanson.

The 55-year-old Parks & Recreation actor says people don’t understand his character on the series. According to Nick, many people believe he would have voted for Donald Trump.

In a recent interview with IndieWire, Nick shared his thoughts on what Ron really believed.

Keep reading to find out more…

“[Trump] supporters somehow say, ‘Well, he had a shotgun, so he must be one of us.’ Like, dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would’ve voted for Trump,” Nick said during the interview. He went on to say that he doesn’t bother responding to the claim and instead, leaves it up to the series’ writer.

“I take it to Mike Schur, the main creator of Ron, and he said, ‘Swanson would’ve despised Trump, because Ron loved capitalism. And Trump made the stupidest move you could make as a capitalist,...

Nick Offerman is not here for Maga and Donald Trump supporters claiming his Parks & Recreation character would’ve been one of them.

The actor played Libertarian Ron Swanson on the NBC mockumentary throughout its seven-season run.

In a new interview, the Last of Us alum revealed that although Maga supporters think Ron would’ve voted for Trump, Offerman gave examples as to why the fictional character would’ve “despised” him.

“[Trump] supporters somehow say, ‘Well, he had a shotgun, so he must be one of us.’ Like, dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would’ve voted for Trump,” Offerman said in an interview with IndieWire. “And I don’t deign to answer myself. I take it to Mike Schur, the main creator of Ron, and he said, ‘Swanson would’ve despised Trump, because Ron loved capitalism. And Trump made the stupidest move you could make as a capitalist, which is to go into public service.

There’s one aspect of the character of Ron Swanson that Nick Offerman says some Parks and Recreation fans have gotten wrong. “​​Ron Swanson, a wonderful creation from much more brilliant minds than my own, people hold up for the wrong reasons, and take their own reading of this true Libertarian who was cool with everybody,” Offerman said in an interview with IndieWire published on Friday, July 11. “And they somehow say, ‘Well, he had a shotgun, so he must be one of us.’ Like, dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would’ve voted for [Donald] Trump. And I don’t deign to answer myself.” Offerman noted that the show’s co-creator, Michael Schur, agrees. “He said, ‘Swanson would’ve despised Trump, because Ron loved capitalism. And Trump made the stupidest move you could make as a capitalist, which is to go into public service.’” Offerman said he believes Ron would think...

Nick Offerman knows that his “Parks and Recreation” character Ron Swanson would have hated Donald Trump – he just can’t seem to convince the president’s supporters of that.

During a conversation with IndieWire about his upcoming film “Sovereign,” Offerman was asked about the legacy of his beloved, libertarian “Parks and Rec” character and having to constantly debunk people on the right assuming he would side with them on issue. Although it’s something he always believed true, Offerman revealed he went to the character’s creator Mike Schur just to confirm.

“Ron Swanson, a wonderful creation from much more brilliant minds than my own, people hold up for the wrong reasons, and take their own reading of this true Libertarian who was cool with everybody,” Offerman said. “And they somehow say, ‘Well, he had a shotgun, so he must be one of us.’ Like, dumb people insist that Ron...

Nick Offerman said in an interview with IndieWire while promoting his film “Sovereignty” that only “dumb people” think Ron Swanson, his beloved “Parks and Recreation” character, is a Donald Trump supporter. Offerman played Ron on all seven seasons of the NBC sitcom, which ran for 126 episodes between 2009 and 2015. The actor said that Maga supporters think Ron “must be one of us” just because he has a shotgun or something.

“Dumb people insist that Ron Swanson would’ve voted for Trump. And I don’t deign to answer myself,” Offerman said. “I take it to Mike Schur, the main creator of Ron, and he said, ‘Swanson would’ve despised Trump, because Ron loved capitalism. And Trump made the stupidest move you could make as a capitalist, which is to go into public service.'”

“He would think he’s an absolute idiot,” Offerman continued about Ron’s thoughts on Trump. “He...

Writer/director Christian Swegal’s “Sovereign” dramatizes the true story of the final days of sovereign citizens Jerry and Joe Kane before their 2010 flight from law enforcement ended in a violent exchange of gunfire. The film fits thematically into a cinematic continuum with recent releases like “Civil War” and “Warfare,” exploring the complexities of American life and belief systems at a time of heightened tribalism. But for fans of its star Nick Offerman, Jerry Kane also aligns with a handful of other roles — including in “Civil War”, where he played the President — where the outspoken progressive has portrayed characters with conservative or extreme right-wing ideologies.

Of course, Offerman is best known for playing Libertarian Ron Swanson for seven seasons on the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” But the juxtaposition between — and conflation of — the actor’s personal and professional lives has only grown more complicated since the show went off the air,...

In writer-director Christian Swegal’s impressively realized feature debut, Sovereign, Emmy Award-winner Nick Offerman, best known for his long-running role on Parks & Recreation as Ron Swanson, a curmudgeonly libertarian with a heart of gold press latinum, delivers a powerhouse performance as Jerry Kane, a full-time grievance merchant, charter member in the virulently anti-government “sovereign citizen movement,” and the widowed father of an unfortunate, home-schooled teen, Joseph. Based on the real-life confrontation between a heavily armed Jerry and Joe on one side and law enforcement officers on the other in West Memphis, Arkansas 15 years ago, Sovereign opens closer to the end than the beginning of their individual and collective stories: A police shooting has left left two police officers...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

For Jerry Kane, the sovereign citizen movement is something between a political philosophy and a burgeoning psychosis. He criss-crosses the motel foyers of the American Midwest, giving sparsely attended seminars about how to avoid home foreclosures — a curriculum that hinges upon insisting that bank loans are “fictitious,” among other conspiratorial tactics. Clutching onto the character’s beliefs with a death grip as tight as it is tremulous, Nick Offerman’s volcanic performance makes it difficult to know where Jerry’s belief ends and his desperation begins.

That’s especially true for the extremist’s teenage son Joe (an unrecognizably grown-up Jacob Tremblay), who’s been raised in the shadow of his father’s anti-government rage, but also crushes on the girl next door and harbors secret fantasies of going to school like a normal kid. The Daniel Plainview of the “power to the people” lecture circuit, Jerry ropes his own...

The Last of Us and Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman has a new project coming out: Sovereign. The actor has chosen many exciting projects after Parks & Rec ended, and the upcoming one seems to follow the same trend as his most recent work.

The action film is based on true events and is set to premiere in theaters this weekend. Ahead of the film's premiere, Sovereign has debuted with a thrilling Rotten Tomatoes score of 87%. The action crime thriller had an enthusiastic response, not just for the film, but for the Emmy-winning actor's performance as well.

The action thrillerSovereign is based on the true events of the West Memphis police shootings from 2010. The official logline reads, "The story follows a father and son who identify as Sovereign Citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, as they venture across the country and find themselves in a standoff with a chief...

Christian Swegal’s “Sovereign” opens not with fanfare but with the quiet desperation of foreclosure notices piled on a kitchen table—a fitting metaphor for a nation drowning in its own contradictions. Set against the backdrop of Arkansas in 2010 (when the Tea Party was brewing and economic anxiety was curdling into something darker), this feature debut examines the true story of Jerry Kane, a self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” whose rejection of governmental authority would spiral into tragedy.

The film follows Jerry (Nick Offerman) and his teenage son Joe (Jacob Tremblay) as they exist in a liminal space between society and its margins. Jerry conducts seminars on tax avoidance and property rights to audiences of the economically desperate, while homeschooling Joe in both mathematics and conspiracy theories. Parallel to this narrative runs the story of police chief John Bouchart (Dennis Quaid) and his son Adam (Thomas Mann), creating a diptych of American...

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Hugh Jackman is pretty inseparable from Wolverine at this point. Troye Sivan in the opening flashback of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and a certain cameo in "Deadpool & Wolverine" aside, Jackman is the only actor to play Logan on the big screen. He's been doing it for 25 years (almost) straight at this point, too. ("Till you're 90.")

But back in the late 1990s, when the first "X-Men" movie was still coming together, Jackman was a musical and theatre star not hugely famous outside his native Australia. Suffice to say, he wasn't the instant number one pick for Logan, so "X-Men" held auditions to find the right actor.

For starters, the role of Wolverine was famously Dougray Scott's, but he had to drop out to film "Mission: Impossible II." Jackman's career as Wolverine began with him being the understudy. Scott wasn't the only unused Logan,...

"Abbott Elementary" is one of the biggest comedies currently on TV, but it's far from the most unique show. Created by and starring comedian Quinta Brunson, it's a mockumentary sitcom documenting the lives of an eclectic group of teachers at the titular West Philadelphian elementary school, with the main characters of "Abbott Elementary" including eager-to-please Janine (Brunson), old-fashioned Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), substitute Gregory (Tyler James Williams), and incompetent principal Ava (Janelle James). 

If you're already ahead on the fact that "Abbott Elementary" is must-watch TV, then you're probably already aware of some of these other similar sitcoms. Whether it's because they're also set at schools, are also in the mockumentary format, or includes characters that are also charming and wholesome, many of these shows are spiritual predecessors to "Abbott." If you've seen the ABC show but not these, add these shows like "Abbott Elementary" to your watchlist as soon as possible,...

I'm not breaking new ground when I say that Adam Scott is excellent on "Severance." This isn't a hot take; it's decidedly room-temperature. Technically, Scott plays two characters on Dan Erickson's twisted take on a "workplace comedy," even though they are the same person: Mark Scout, a miserable man who lost his wife Gemma (Dichen Lachman) in a tragic car accident, and to deal with his overwhelming grief, who takes a job at Lumon Industries that offers a procedure called "severance" that splits his consciousness into two distinct parts. When he leaves work, he's stuck being plain old Mark Scout, but at work, on the "severed" floor, he's Mark S., a willing acolyte of Lumon who has no idea that he ever had a wife, let alone lost one.

As his innie (Mark S.) and outie (Mark Scout), Scott delivers one of his very best performances; in the show's critically adored sophomore season,...

It’s been eight years since Parks and Rec ended, and I still think about a scene most fans have never seen. The scene was so perfectly weird and on-brand for Pawnee that I can’t believe it was left on the cutting room floor.

The scene includes Alison Becker, who played the Pawnee reporter Shauna Malwee-Tweep in her best, most satisfying scene in the entire series. It is now tucked into a producer’s cuts of the finale, where only the most dedicated fans would stumble across it. Honestly, it’s one of the most underrated moments in Parks and Rec history, and I’m still not over it.

Alison Becker’s best scene was cut from the finale of Parks and Rec Alison Becker in Parks and Recreation | Credit: NBC

8 years after Parks and Recreation took its final bow, I’m still not over the fact that one...

Mike Flanagan has been pretty active in the mainstream horror landscape since penning Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House. And in addition to crafting several horror projects since, he was also responsible for the script for Dcu’s Clayface, which is slated to enter production later this year.

But after spearheading several major hits in the mainstream limelight, Flanagan recently reverted to his Indie roots with The Life of Chuck. Although they had limited resources up their sleeves, they did manage to involve Nick Offerman in the mix.

Financial hurdles didn’t put Nick Offerman off from The Life of Chuck Nick Offerman in The Last of Us | Credit: HBO

Given his stature in showbiz, Nick Offerman is reasonably accustomed to nabbing big paydays for his gigs, whether it’s a prestige show or a major movie production. And considering Mike Flanagan and co. were operating on a pretty...

It’s been a particular pleasure to watch the blossoming of Nick Offerman’s acting career in recent years. The actor, who rose to fame with his hilariously droll performance as Ron Swanson in the hit series Parks and Recreation, has never stopped working. But his talent has really risen to the fore lately, especially with his heartbreaking, Emmy-winning guest appearance in HBO’s The Last of Us.

Now, with Christian Swegal’s feature debut Sovereign — receiving is world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival before its theatrical release on July 11 — he’s been given his meatiest film role to date. And boy, does he run with it.

He’s playing a role for which he has some previous experience. In Parks and Rec, his character was an anti-government libertarian. But what he played for comedy then is now deadly serious in this drama inspired by real-life events. The film,...

Nick Offerman has already had quite an interesting Pride Month, only a couple of days in. The actor, best known for his role as Ron Swanson in the satirical comedy series Parks and Recreation, has recently taken to social media to express his disapproval of a clip from the show featuring his character being used to spread homophobic rhetoric. Offerman's vehement disapproval of the tweet in question has proven the actor's upstanding character, while also providing some much-needed humor in light of the unnecessarily hateful tweet.

The tweet in question was posted on X by Michael Flynn Jr., son of a retired Army lieutenant general and Trump’s former U.S. national security advisor, Michael Flynn, to convey "how he feels" about Pride Month, which he put in quotations. In the clip posted by Flynn Jr., Ron Swanson is shown throwing a rainbow flag into a dumpster. However, this isn't...

Comedy fans were shook this week with news of the death of Jonathan Joss. The actor and comedian, best known for his roles in King of the Hill and Parks & Recreation, was shot and killed near his San Antonio home on Sunday, June 1, aged 59. Following the heartbreaking news of his passing, which was shared by his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, many of Joss' former co-stars, including his fellow Parks & Rec alumni, have shared their memories of the actor during their time together.

Jonathan Joss played Chief Ken Hotate, the leader of the Wamapoke Tribe of Native Americans on Parks & Rec, and was a regular guest star throughout the show's seven seasons on NBC. Chris Pratt, who played Andy Dwyer on the show, sent his love and prayers to Joss and his family following the news. "Damn. Rip Jonathan," he wrote on social media (via Variety). "Always such a kind dude.

Actor Nick Offerman has responded to Michael Flynn Jr.’s homophobic hate speech with disgust and a Parks and Recreation reference.

Flynn Jr. is the son of Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s former U.S. national security advisor and a retired Army lieutenant general. In a recent post to X, Flynn Jr. invoked a clip from the sitcom series Parks and Recreation to attack the freshly kicked-off Pride Month.

He wrote, “Good morning and Happy Sunday! No quotes today. Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month,” following the statement with a gif of Offerman’s character Ron Swanson throwing a rainbow flag in a dumpster.

Important to note, the clip that Flynn Jr. used was edited to show a pride flag; the scene in the episode, “The Trial of Leslie Knope,” showed a laptop and was not a statement about the character’s feelings about gay rights.

Emmy-winning actor Nick Offerman has voiced his support for Pride Month after an edited clip of his Parks and Recreation character was misused to criticize the LGBTQ+ celebration. And the actor quickly condemned the homophobic content with a public statement in defense of the community.

Beyond his on-screen performances, Offerman is well known for being a vocal ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and this is just the latest example of his continued advocacy and support.

Nick Offerman called out the homophobic edit of his Parks and Recreation character

Nick Offerman has been one of the Hollywood stars who are unafraid to speak his mind, including in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

And he did not hold back from calling out a homophobic edit of one of his scenes from the hit sitcom Parks and Recreation. The altered clip shows his character, Ron Swanson, throwing away a rainbow flag, with a caption that reads,...

Not only does Nick Offerman not have any time or patience for homophobia, but he also wants viewers to know that Ron Swanson, his conservative “Parks and Recreation” character, doesn’t either.

Michael Flynn Jr., a self-described “patriot” and the son of retired United States Army lieutenant general and former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, tweeted Monday an edited Gif of Swanson throwing a Pride flag into a dumpster with the caption, “Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month.”

The tweet drew a sharp response from Offerman himself, who coldly reminded Flynn, “Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb f—k. #HappyPride”

Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck. #HappyPride https://t.co/mSlELkUvDY

— Nick Offerman (@Nick_Offerman) June 2, 2025

In “Parks and Recreation,” Swanson is a staunch but sensible conservative who occasionally gets in political disagreements with his progressive coworker,...

When news of the sudden and violent death of actor Jonathan Joss broke, Parks and Recreationstar Nick Offerman said the cast were "heartbroken." Joss, who appeared in a recurring role as Chief Ken Hotate, was shot and killed on June 1 after a dispute with a neighbor turned violent.

Offerman, who portrayed Ron Swanson in the hit sitcom, released a statement to People, saying that he and his former Parks and Recreation costars had been mourning the loss of Joss. "The cast has been texting together about it all day, and we're just heartbroken," the actor wrote. "Jonathan was such a sweet guy, and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy."

Chris Pratt also posted on his Instagram Stories, “Damn. Rip Jonathan. Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.

Actor Jonathan Joss, best known for his roles in King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation, tragically died after a dispute with a neighbor turned violent in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday, June 1. The shocking loss has left his Parks and Recreation family heartbroken.

Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson in the NBC Comedy, shared that the cast has been supporting one another as they come to terms with Joss’ untimely death. The devastating news has brought the tight-knit group even closer, as they reflect on the legacy and warmth Joss brought to both the screen and their lives.

Jonathan Joss’ sudden death stuns world…

Jonathan Joss, the voice behind King of the Hill‘s unforgettable John Redcorn and a familiar face from Parks and Recreation, has tragically died at 59 after being shot during a dispute with a neighbor in San Antonio, Texas. Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales,...

Chris Pratt paid tribute to his “Parks and Recreation” co-star Jonathan Joss on social media after the news of his death in a shooting, telling his followers to “hug your loved ones.”

Joss, who played Chief Ken Hotate on “Parks and Rec” and was best known for voicing “King of the Hill” character John Redcorn, was fatally shot in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 59.

“Damn. Rip Jonathan,” Pratt posted on his Instagram Story on Monday. “Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in Mag 7. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”

Joss was in five “Parks and Rec” episodes between 2011 and 2015, appearing across the sitcom’s third, fifth and seventh seasons. Pratt broke out on the series as Andy Dwyer, a goofy but lovable musician who dated Aubrey Plaza’s cynical April Ludgate.

Nick Offerman has criticized a right-wing media figure for turning a Parks and Recreation meme into an anti-gay slam.

Michael Flynn Jr. — son of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn — posted a clip of Offerman’s character Ron Swanson from the NBC comedy. In the clip, Swanson throws a computer into a dumpster. In Flynn’s version posted on X, an LGBTQ+ pride flag was placed over the computer. Flynn wrote, “Good morning and Happy Sunday! … Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month.”

Offerman responded to the meme on Monday, writing, “Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck. #HappyPride.”

Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck. #HappyPride https://t.co/mSlELkUvDY

— Nick Offerman (@Nick_Offerman) June 2, 2025

In addition to his role on Parks, Offerman won his first Emmy for his acclaimed guest role on HBO’s The Last of Us in the episode “Long,...

If you’re going to be an online idiot, says Nick Offerman, don’t do it in Ron Swanson’s name.

The admonition came after Michael Flynn Jr., son of former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn, tweeted a short video of Parks and Recreation character Swanson tossing a rainbow flag into a dumpster. The tweet coincided with the first day of Pride Month. “Good morning and Happy Sunday! No quotes today. Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month,” Flynn posted.

The clip was a doctored version of a Parks and Rec video in which Swanson dumped his computer after learning it was serving him customized ads.

@besparksandrec

Offerman’s response to Flynn? “Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck. #HappyPride”

In the Parks and Rec series finale, Ron serves as best man to Typhoon (Rodney To) when he marries Pawnee Parks employee Craig (Billy Eichner). “Good luck,...

Nick Offerman has a reputation for being a gruff, hardworking man's man, like his character Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation. But don't ever mistake that masculinity for homophobia.

Offerman recently encountered a nasty anti-Pride Month tweet from Michael Flynn Jr, the son of dangerous right-wing figure Michael Flynn. It was a gif of Ron dumping a computer in the trash, but with the Pride flag superimposed over the computer. Flynn Jr wrote above it, “Good morning and Happy Sunday! No quotes today. Just wanted to post how I feel about “pride” month.”

Needless to say, Offerman was disgusted by the post. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote, “Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb f**k. #HappyPride."Ron has long been misunderstood. He was a libertarian who hated the government, but he was never homophobic. And in the final episode of the...

Parks and Recreation ended more than a decade ago, but its seven seasons left behind countless meme formats to be recycled in perpetuity. Still, members of the cast are protective of how their most memorable scenes are repurposed online. Nick Offerman recently came to the defense of his stoic character Ron Swanson after Michael Flynn Jr., son of Donald Trump’s former U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn, shared a homophobic post on X using a Parks and Recreation meme.

“Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month,...

Nick Offerman kicked off Pride Month by defending the LGBTQ+ community against homophobic hate on X. Michael Flynn Jr., son of retired Army lieutenant general and Trump’s former U.S. national security advisor Michael Flynn, attempted to use a clip of Offerman’s Ron Swanson from “Parks and Recreation” to denounce Pride Month.

“Just wanted to post how I feel about ‘pride’ month,” Flynn Jr. wrote on X accompanied by a “Parks and Rec” clip showing Swanson throwing a rainbow flag into a dumpster. Only the clip was doctored to make it appear as if Offerman’s character was homophobic. The real scene, from the fourth season episode “The Trial of Leslie Knope,” sees Ron throwing his computer in the trash. The edit Flynn Jr. shared on X replaced the computer with the rainbow flag.

“Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb fuck,” Offerman fired back on X.

"Parks and Recreation" was originally envisioned as a spin-off of "The Office," but Greg Daniels and Michael Schur's political sitcom ultimately became its own beautiful thing, and the rest is history. Thanks to the series' ability to charm viewers, real people celebrate holidays like Galentine's Day and Treat Yo Self Day, proving that its cultural impact is real. Not only that, but the success of "Parks and Recreation" prepared Chris Pratt for "Guardians of the Galaxy," and the other cast members have enjoyed further success in their own right. That said, fans of the show would love to see them reunite — but don't expect to see them in a show called "Philly Justice."

If you've heard of "Philly Justice" and assumed it's a planned spin-off of "Parks and Recreation," it's because an in-joke by the cast of Daniels and Schur's sitcom has taken on a life of its own.

It’s been 10 years since Parks and Rec wrapped its final season, but one character remains as fascinating and mysterious as ever— Ron Swanson. The stoic libertarian with a mustache of legend, played by Nick Offerman, kept us laughing with his love for steak, disdain for government, and deeply private nature.

But behind this stoicism and all of Ron’s quirks was one secret that shocked everyone and delighted viewers. The secret is none other than Ron’s alter ego. Yet, even after all this time, one major question about that secret remains unanswered, and perhaps it is better that way. Now, let’s talk about Duke Silver.

Parks and Rec never explained Ron Swanson’s biggest secret Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation | Image Credit: NBC

Ron Swanson, played by Nick Offerman, was the Parks Department’s stoic, woodworking, government-loathing director in Pawnee, Indiana. Beneath his...

Before he was cowboying up in Taylor Sheridan’s 1883, Sam Elliott made a surprise pit stop in Pawnee. Our dear deep-voiced Western icon once wandered into the world of Parks and Recreation, but blink and you probably missed it. Long before we knew him as Shea Brennan, Elliott played a hilarious bizarro-world version of Ron Swanson.

His character, Ron Dunn, appeared in three episodes as the ultra-chill, vegan-loving, spiritual counterpart from Eagleton. It was a short but unforgettable cameo that most probably would’ve forgotten. But once you see it again, you’ll never unsee it, and you’ll appreciate just how perfect the casting really was.

When Sam Elliot traded his spurs for sandals in Parks and Recreation Sam Elliot in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount Network

The mustachioed cowboy from 1883, Tombstone, and The Big Lebowski once strolled into Pawnee… as a frisbee-golf-loving, zodiac-reading vegan named Ron Dunn.

In Parks and Recreation’s Season 6 episode “Doppelgängers,...

Some shows never really leave us, and Cheers was definitely one of them. For many fans, it wasn’t just a sitcom – it was a cozy corner of television where friendships grew, and regulars became family. Many tuned in just to hear the familiar cheer of “Norm!” as George Wendt walked through the bar doors. While he didn’t say much, his presence was enough to keep the viewers hooked.

Wendt’s recent passing on May 20, 2025, is a reminder of how deeply these characters and the actors behind them have become a part of our lives. While Cheers ended all the way back in 1993, there are several shows that give out the same vibe and Lol moments. So, let’s take a look at some of the most binge-worthy shows that bring out the same energy that made Cheers so unforgettable.

15. Frasier Kelsey Grammer and Peri Gilpin in a still...

Parks and Recreation was best known for its fast, wacky humor and lovable characters, as audiences spent seven seasons with the employees of the Pawnee local government's Parks and Rec department. The series featured the usual hallmarks of a hit sitcom, including some gigantic guest stars. But, unlike more self-aware shows like Community, Parks & Rec rarely went meta. But Amy Poehler, who led the series as the overly optimistic Leslie Knope, recently revealed that the cast of Parks & Rec filmed an entire other TV show while working on the hit NBC sitcom, and the first trailer has just dropped online.

As a result of working on a movie/TV set for months, actors tend to make their own fun. But, very rarely do they produce an entirely new TV series. Philly Justice is the name of the fake show that Poehler, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, and Kathryn Hahn...

As one of the most popular comic book characters in history, the role of Wolverine is very coveted among working actors. Hugh Jackman became synonymous with the role after spending over two decades as Logan, but if he hadn't landed the part, it could have been beloved actor Nick Offerman.

Known in part for playing Ron Swanson in the hit sitcom Parks and Recreation, Offerman more recently impressed critics and fans with his guest role as Bill in the much more dramatic series The Last of Us. This kind of range further demonstrates Offerman's capabilities as an actor, and some fans may even be able to picture him playing a live-action incarnation of Wolverine. While speaking with Kevin McCarthy to promote his newest film, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, Offerman spoke about two franchise roles that got away, with one of them being Jackman's Logan.

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Mike Schur may have hit it big with The Office, but it is his political comedy, Parks and Recreation, that put him on the map as a modern-day sitcom king. Set in the Parks and Rec department and exploring public service, the show depicted the complex bureaucracy of the American government, with some brilliant satire.

Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson was a breakout character from the show. The director of the Parks and Rec department had government work and was a libertarian. However, when it came to choosing the President during the 2016 election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, Schur believed the anti-government Swanson would choose this candidate.

Mike Schur had a smart answer for Ron Swanson’s presidential candidate of choice in 2016 Mike Schur on the sets of Parks and Recreation | Credits: NBC

Mike Schur has thrived in the genre of workplace comedies. Beginning with The Office, the writer...

By appearances alone, Nick Offerman might be one of the most intimidating men Hollywood has ever produced, but the moment he giggles, he reveals himself to be quite the opposite. Known for his deadpan delivery and rugged presence, Offerman is surprisingly warm and full of charm.

People often say that Tom Cruise has a presence so powerful, even fellow celebrities get starstruck, and as it turns out, Offerman was no exception. Despite his tough-guy image, he couldn’t resist Cruise’s legendary charisma and even admitted he “fell in love” with him.

Now, that admiration is turning into on-screen action, as Offerman joins the Mission: Impossible franchise for the first time in the upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”Here is more on Offerman’s experience working with Cruise.

Nick Offerman is in love….with Tom Cruise!

It took just one day on set for Nick Offerman to be...

Parks and Recreation is the cult-favorite mockumentary that graced our screens from 2009 to 2015. Every episode felt wholesome, with its cast of quirky misfits, who became pop culture icons as the show gained popularity.

While the sitcom is remembered for Leslie’s unshakable belief in being a loyal civil servant, one of its highlights was Ron Swanson. But did you know that the decision to cast Nick Offerman as the steak-eating, government-hating man was rooted in an oddly specific concern involving Rashida Jones?

The story behind casting Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation Nich Offerman as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation | Credit: Universal Television

With his love for red meat and deep-seated hatred for government bureaucracy, Ron Swanson enamored everyone on Parks and Recreation. Today, Nick Offerman’s name is inseparable from the character he played on the workplace sitcom.

But before he was recognized for his antics on the show,...

Mike Schur has given people some of the most iconic comfort shows ever: The Office, Parks and Rec, The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and honestly, the list just keeps going. These are the shows people still binge on bad days, rewatch for the hundredth time, and quote like they’re part of their personality. So naturally, fans have always wondered, with so many amazing characters under one umbrella, was there ever an idea of crossing them over?

Turns out, one show where a crossover actually could have been pulled off perfectly was The Good Place. It’s a weird rule-bending world, and its connection with Pawnee could have made anything possible. And recently, Schur shared which Parks and Rec character he thinks would have fit right into that universe, and honestly, once you hear it, it makes total sense.

Which Parks and Rec character would have been perfect for The Good Place?...

Parks and Recstar Amy Poehler breaks down the truth about the cast's fictional series - Philly Justice.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Poehler opened up about the truth behind Philly Justice on the latest episode of her Good Hang podcast. "We pretended we were on a fake TV show in the '90s called Philly Justice — or the early 2000s — and we all crossed our arms," Poehler recalled. "Then that became a text chain as the actors."

Kathryn Hahn, who appeared as a guest star in ten episodes of Parcs and Rec, added, "We had, like, businessy outfits on. I think we were going to court or something. So all of us had very businessy [looks]. And I don't know whose idea it was, but we were all in kind of staggered stairs and what looked like the front of like a very … a courthouse." Hahn went on to recall how the cast's...