The actor's latest guest role is beautifully against type. (Mild spoilers for the latest episode.)
He has protested that fans who think Ron would have voted for Trump have fundamentally misunderstood “the wholesome and decent values of our show and my character,” and he [seems bewildered](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/nick-offerman-interview-ron-swanson-b1947949.html) by others’ assumption that he has a “weird, Fox News” value system in real life. [comedy shows](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtoiSCBEh-k) and [podcasts](https://www.earwolf.com/show/in-bed-with-nick-offerman-and-megan-mullally/) together. He runs a [woodshop](https://offermanwoodshop.com/) where he sometimes hosts [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh6H7Md_L2k) [tours](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIA2Xl8P7Es), and he calls woodworking his “ [other first love](https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/love-humor/nick-offerman-column-thoreau-candy-ass/)” aside from acting. He’s a talented carpenter who can build himself a canoe (and has), but he’ll only use lumber from felled trees, so as to protect local ecosystems from the destructive consequences of deforestation. [When asked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbZmhgtZkdg) to give an opinion on a drone that could deliver pizza, he muses that he’s accustomed to modern luxuries just like anyone else, but that “we forget to ask questions like ‘Who’s making this pizza? He’s [written](https://nickofferman.co/books/paddle-your-own-canoe/) [books](https://nickofferman.co/books/where-the-deer-and-the-antelope-play/) about his country-life upbringing in Joliet, Illinois, and his road trips across America’s national parks. [red meat](https://nickofferman.substack.com/p/bacon-needs-no-help), and [dark liquor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS-ErOKpO4E), and a deep mistrust for government overreach. His marriage to fellow comedian Megan Mullally, with whom he frequently collaborates, has been a cornerstone of his image for years. Bill’s story arc may seem like a complete subversion of Offerman’s public image, but in truth, his loving heart has been on full display all along. His first book, 2013’s Paddle Your Own Canoe, included diagrams of acceptable cuts of meat (all pork and beef, no poultry or seafood) and styles of facial hair (yes to bushy, no to funny), in the vein of the famous [Swanson Pyramid of Greatness](https://www.nbcstore.com/products/parks-and-recreation-swanson-pyramid-of-greatness-poster). [Outside magazine](https://www.outsideonline.com/byline/nick-offerman/) with tales of trapping raccoons and defending Thoreau. When Bill first appears on the latest episode of The Last of Us, he’s just a shadow in a basement.
Co-creator of The Last of Us TV series, Craig Mazin, reveals how Nick Offerman wasn't the first choice to play Bill in The Last of Us episode 3.
[The Last of Us cast](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/the-last-of-us/cast)! [The Last of Us episode 3](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/the-last-of-us/tv-series-episode-3) is one of the best chapters to come out of the HBOs hit [horror series](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/best-horror-series) so far. Co-creator Craig Mazin initially approached Con O’Neill, who he worked with previously on the [thriller series](https://www.thedigitalfix.com/best-thriller-series) Chernobyl, for the part. “I said, god damn you, Craig Mazin,” Offerman joked before clarifying that he had to take the role after getting the double reassurance from his wife, Megan Mullally, too. However, it turns out that Bill’s actor wasn’t always set to be Offerman. A beautiful yet devastating decades-long romance ensues – leaving all of us
There were times on the set of HBO's The Last of Us when members of the Alberta crew would ask Nick Offerman technical questions about things that are ...
Neither genre has historically been known for giving depth or even much screen time to queer characters. The episode was largely shot in High River, which is transformed into an abandoned but oddly idyllic small-town community for the pair. I can finally be happy with all of my systems and all of my intricate survival techniques.’ But I think what we learn is when you crack that hard outer shell, the centre of it is the seed of vulnerability. One day, a survivor named Frank, played by Bartlett, falls into one of his traps. He also wrote the foreword for something called The Tool Book: A Tool Lover’s Guide to More than 200 Hand Tools. Article content
It was a cute, extremely relatable moment in one of the most incredible, heartbreaking episodes of television I've ever seen.
Watching this facade both strengthen and crumble the second he meets Frank (Murray Bartlett) was just a drop in the bucket of why this is one of the best-ever episodes of television. The episode is filled with similar tiny and heartwarming moments, with Linda Ronstadt’s “Long, Long Time” as the soundtrack throughout. Bill and Frank meet after Frank stumbles onto Bill’s property (four years after the start of the pandemic) and falls into one of his booby traps. And we’re catapulted into their 15-year epic love story that is so beautiful, so touching, so devastating, I question if I’ve ever even known a love story before this. Fans of the video game (on which the series is based) kind of knew what was coming—but I ended my weekend in a pool of tears and snot, desperately scrolling through Twitter so I could laugh at some silly tweets in an attempt to stave off a full-blown emotional breakdown. [made up of Nazis](https://twitter.com/proudbugman/status/1620108056163143680) and who evades his small town’s military-mandated evacuation by hiding out in a bunker he’s constructed beneath his basement.
Offerman, showrunner Craig Mazin, and Murray Bartlett, who plays Frank, talked all things episode three with GQ, Mazin revealing who he and Neil Druckmann ...
Now that the episode is out there, it's hard to imagine even the tiniest bit of Offerman thinks he made a mistake. That he was going to accept the role. You also get the chance to actually meet Frank, something omitted from the games. Offerman admitted to GQ that, also due to a scheduling problem, he was going to turn the offer down. That was until he read the script. However, O'Neill turned down the opportunity due to a scheduling clash with Our Flag Means Death.
Queer TV changed forever when HBO's new series The Last of Us aired one of the most beautiful gay love stories in screen history.
I think the entire crew, every department, was treating this episode with such reverence because everyone loved it so much and everyone came at it with such emotion.” “I felt there was a fragility to Nick as an actor and he was doing something new,” Bolter explained. And there was chemistry there, which was sort of charged with what we knew we were about to do,” Bartlett said. “I seem to remember seeing his hand shaking between takes on that piano seat. There was just this chemistry between us that happened very quickly.” The result is a tear-jerking exploration of eternal commitment and sacrifice.
It looks like Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann made the right call, judging by the incredible praise the third episode of the show is receiving.
Bill and Frank are just business partners in the game, and each character’s story doesn’t exactly line up with what Mazin and game developer Neil Druckmann ended up going with for the show. Also almost passing on the opportunity due to conflicting schedules, it was Offerman’s wife who convinced him to say yes. With Parks and Recreation‘s Nick Offerman and The White Lotus‘ Murray Bartlett delivering astounding performances as romantic couple Bill and Frank – in a bold deviation from the source material – fans will be surprised to know the pairing was initially going to look a little different.
'The Last of Us': Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett discuss Bill and Frank in Season 1, Episode 3 -- Watch their video interview.
(Read a [detailed recap here](https://tvline.com/2023/01/29/the-last-of-us-recap-season-1-episode-3-bill-frank/).) Rehashing it here will harsh my post-ep buzz the way that crushing the strawberry patch would’ve messed with Frank, and nobody needs that.) [Nick Offerman](https://tvline.com/tag/nick-offerman/)) who was perfectly happy as the lone, post-Outbreak Day survivor in his Massachusetts suburb.
Offerman's Bill decides he cannot live without Bartlett's terminally ill Frank, and the two die peacefully together in bed after consuming a lethal overdose of ...
New episodes arrive on Mondays at 2am GMT. He continued: “I would certainly want to... And in that context of being in that situation, having had the incredible connection they had, I would be very drawn to that concept but I’m not sure that I would have the guts to fully go through with it.”
Frank (Murray Bartlett) stumbles across Bill's (Nick Offerman) fortified town and, while it starts out as icy, the two form a beautiful bond that we get to see ...
And my wife Megan [Mullally] and I had just seen White Lotus season one, so Murray was the champion of our household. I just said [to myself[, 'Please don’t f**k this up. It would take no convincing for me to believe that— stoned cold fox (@roastmalone_) [January 30, 2023] Please don’t let me be canceled before I get this episode'.” I am fully willing to buy into the idea that Nick Offerman is playing Ron Swanson in the last of us.
Parks and Rec is at its best when Ron and Tammy, played by real-life couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, are making out or fighting it out.
It’s Ron's care for Tom that brings him back to himself in “Ron & Tammy: Part 2” in Season 3, and love for his new partner and family in later seasons that keeps him out of Tammy’s arms altogether. “Ron and Tammy,” our introduction to the woman and the relationship, was the eighth episode of Season 2 of Parks and Recreation, early in the show’s run while it was still figuring out its tone and how its characters would respond to Leslie’s unrelenting energy and optimism. Gone is both his reserve and resolve — with Tammy, Ron is a powder keg of emotions and a puppet on her g-string. Once again, it’s only the bonds of friendship that free him, when he watches Tammy smack Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) around and remembers once again that looking into Tammy’s eyes is like “staring into the eye of Satan’s butthole.” Throughout the rest of Parks and Recreation, her increasingly and hysterically unhinged attempts to get Ron back into bed and into the palm of her hand fail — his love for another brunette with a new name, Diane (Lucy Lawless), finally overpowers his horny hate for his second ex-wife. What starts as coffee leads to screaming and then to snogging, first in the middle of a diner and then in the hourly embrace of a motel bed. The actors' chemistry and ease together as performers allow both to go truly, hilariously off the rails while revealing a side of Ron no other character can bring out, making every wild encounter an uncomfortable delight and a key bit of storytelling.
With his portrayal of Bill in The Last of Us, Nick Offerman delivers a memorable performance worthy of heralding for years to come.
But with his portrayal of Bill in The Last of Us, Offerman proves that his talents exceed previous expectations and are so wildly compelling that he could easily see award nominations for this performance or future ones. He was mired in his own stew of cynicism and paranoia, but now dread and trepidation follow him at every turn, for the fear of losing Frank to the perils of this horrifying world is omnipresent. When Joel offers Bill a deal that will help secure his fence and thereby provide safety for both Bill and Frank, there is a war of emotions in Bill's eyes. Joel has correctly found Bill's weakness, his love for Frank, and although Bill does not wish to rely on a stranger, he knows that if Joel is telling the truth, such supplies could come in handy. Frank persuades Bill to momentarily drop his guard and allow Frank inside for a bite to eat. When Bill takes off his gas mask and surveys the otherwise empty streets, Offerman's look of mischievous self-satisfaction says it all: this is the moment that he's been waiting for his entire life. Fortunately, the series adaptation gives Bill countless opportunities to change and grow, with Murray Bartlett's Frank gently pushing him along the way. The distinction is that the game's version of Bill is incapable of changing or softening the harder edges of his nature. After Offerman's Bill avoids government evacuation by hiding out in a secret survivalist shelter, he becomes the lone owner and occupant of a small town. Offerman's performance allows the audience to experience Bill's full transformation from gruff hermit to tragic, empathetic lover, and this is why it is the greatest performance that Offerman has ever given. In the game it is unclear what happens to Bill after he sees Joel and Ellie off on their journey, but HBO's Bill never even has the opportunity to meet Ellie or see Joel again. [The Last of Us](https://collider.com/tag/the-last-of-us/) video game's version of Bill is a man stubbornly set in his ways who often irritates, antagonizes, and alienates the people around him, HBO's version of the character is a layered and deeply satisfying portrayal, showcasing both Bill's harder, less likable edges and his deeply sensitive, long-suffering heart.
Who is Nick Offerman's wife? After Nick Offerman guest starred in an episode of HBO's 'The Last of Us,' we want to know about Megan Mullally.
[Parks and Recreation](https://www.distractify.com/p/parks-and-rec-reboot) and Karen Walker in [Will & Grace](https://www.distractify.com/p/why-is-will-and-grace-ending), respectively. [The Greatest Love Story Ever Told: An Oral History](https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Love-Story-Ever-Told/dp/1101986670), which became a New York Times bestseller. In 2016, they embarked on a comedy tour together in which the theme was their sex life. Just a couple years after they met, Nick and Megan tied the knot at a surprise wedding party that their guests assumed was just a pre-Emmys party. Even still, Nick Offerman recently branched out into drama as Bill in HBO’s adaptation of [The Last of Us](https://www.distractify.com/t/the-last-of-us). [Nick Offerman](https://www.distractify.com/p/ron-swanson-dad) and his wife are truly the epitome of “couple goals.” They are perhaps the most relatable couple out there.
The Last of Us episode 3 director Peter Hoar talks GQ through casting Nick Offerman in an unexpected role, and shooting a pivotal moment of physical ...
[The Last of Us](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/the-last-of-us-tv-show-review), and for good reason. Increasingly utilised on sets across film and TV, their job is to ensure that actors participating in sex scenes are properly looked after, consent is continuously provided, and that the scene’s agreed choreography is upheld. (Bartlett is openly gay.) “We did talk a little about representation,” Hoar says. Hitting pause, for the larger part, on our central story following the cross-country odyssey of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel ( [Pedro Pascal](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/pedro-pascal-interview-2022)), it re-shifts focus on a peripheral character from the video games, the paranoid survivalist Bill (Nick Offerman), and his impossibly beautiful romance with Frank (Murray Bartlett), a wanderer who stumbles upon his compound. “We were like, If Nick says yes, isn’t this the dream cast?” We’re used to seeing Offerman play gruff everymen who can wield a hammer, sure, but we seldom get to see him play with a character’s interiority. “It was a journey for Nick, he’d never done anything like that.
Offerman's survivalist character Bill has turned his suburban neighbourhood into a compound and as raiders attempt to break in, they are hit with an onslaught ...
One person wrote on Twitter: "Not Nick Offerman changing my mind about straight actors playing gay roles." Another added: "If/when Nick Offerman wins an award ...
"A reminder that when things go to hell, you can still keep living and loving." Him and Craig Mazin talked about making sure they did the work to portray this in an honest and respectful way." Offerman was PERFECT.
Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett portray lovers in The Last Of Us, fueling interest if the actors are actually gay off-screen.
Murray, on the other hand, revealed his homosexuality early in his career. Luckily, Murray had a strong support system that made him feel confident in his identity. When I read scripts, if there’s any kind of humor that’s misogynistic or homophobic or racist, that is just a red flag.” While a little love is what we needed amid constant scenes of survival, fans were left sobbing after discovering it wasn’t a happy ending for the characters. She is best known for portraying Karen Walker in Will & Grace. Whether you’re a loyal fan of The Last Of Us game or not, HBO has viewers hooked on their latest drama series.
The 52-year-old actor's performance was so exceptional that fans are stating he is the only straight actor allowed to play a gay role.
The zombie outbreak sees closeted doomsday prepper Bill take in traveler Frank, with the pair falling in love and remaining together for all their lives - with fans lauding Bill's romantic line: 'I'm old. A fifth said: 'To all the straight actors wanting to play queer roles: learn from Nick Offerman. Knock it out of the park. A third agreed, writing: 'Nick Offerman is the only straight man I’m okay with being cast as a gay character. Justified: But Nick's performance has changed many minds and convinced viewers that he is the 'exception to the rule'. But Nick's performance has changed many minds and convinced viewers that he is the 'exception to the rule'.
"I would try to be in nature as much as possible, which I do even though I am an actor," says Bartlett. "But probably like try and be a park ranger or something ...
"That's the best," Offerman chips in. "I would build things out of wood," responds Offerman. In the clip above Offerman and Bartlett answer questions on everything from how they first met to how they celebrated getting their respective roles.
Nick Offerman has been working for decades, delivering memorable performances in film and television.
"Bob" Dobbs & The Church Of The Subgenius is a chaotic but fascinating exploration of the polarizing underground movement known as "the Church of the Subgenius." Gravity Falls spawned a successful franchise, including numerous shorts and merchandise; the show's most recent short aired in 2020. The Last of Us features several key differences from the game, including Bill and Frank's roles. Offerman's most recent role was survivalist Bill in the hit HBO apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. [Offerman's cameo in Brooklyn Nine-Nine](https://collider.com/cameos-no-one-expected-on-brooklyn-nine-nine/) received praise, especially because of how well his notoriously deadpan performance worked alongside Andre Braugher's equally dry take on Holt. [A League of Their Own](https://collider.com/tag/a-league-of-their-own/) received critical praise from reviewers. [Fargo inspired the 2014 anthology series of the same name](https://collider.com/hit-movies-that-went-from-the-big-screen-to-the-small-screen/). Offerman's portrayal of Swanson was consistently noted as a highlight of the show and earned him two Critics Choice Awards nominations for Best Supporting Actor; however, the Emmys continuously snubbed him. Critics also noted how well-made the film is considering its microscopic budget and cast of mostly unknown performers. [Indie 2000s movies don't get more indie](https://collider.com/best-indie-movies-and-tv-shows-of-the-aughts/) than Harmony and Me. However, the actor's resumé includes many great projects on film and television, with his top-rated toles on [Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nick-offerman) confirming his versatility and status as a modern character actor. Critics and fans raved about his performance, declaring it one of the best and most memorable guest stints in recent memory and placing him as an instant frontrunner for the Emmy Award for Guest Actor in a Drama.
Charles Soule, who has written a number of Star Wars novels, agrees with one fan's suggestion about who Nick Offerman should play in the franchise.
Outside of novels, the High Republic Era has yet to be fully explored in live-action, but that is set to change with the upcoming new Star Wars TV show, The Acolyte. It is at this outpost that Engle would play an important role in several events of the extended Star Wars universe, including foiling a kidnapping plot by a dangerous group of marauders known as the Nihil. Engle has yet to make his live-action debut in the Star Wars universe, but Offerman's poignant turn as survivor Bill in The Last of Us is further proof that he would be a strong addition to Lucas' franchise.
'When asked if I would have the courage to do anything... I have to assume, no,' Offerman said.
New episodes arrive on Mondays at 2am GMT. He continued: “I would certainly want to... And in that context of being in that situation, having had the incredible connection they had, I would be very drawn to that concept but I’m not sure that I would have the guts to fully go through with it.”