Though Parks and Recreation was initially written off by many as a rip-off of The Office, the show quickly established its own voice and a devoted following. But amid hilarious jokes and sitcom fun, it was the characters that really helped to make Parks and Rec into a beloved series.
The strange town of Pawnee was filled with colorful people, especially within the local government. But it was the truly great characters that made an impression, charmed audiences into coming back, and cemented their place in television history. Ranker has highlighted those individuals deemed the best characters on Parks and Recreation.
Lil' Sebastian
Although he only appears briefly a couple of times on the show, it is not hard to see why Pawnee’s favorite celebrity ranks so highly among fans. Lil Sebastian is a miniature horse who inspires inexplicable join whenever he’s around.
The popularity of the character is less to do with anything the horse does and is more about the reaction to him. When he dies, the town even throws a lavish tribute concert. But the funniest part is how Ben is the only one who doesn’t get what the big deal is.
Jerry Gergich
Jerry is a character who is so entertaining based just on how poorly he is treated. Even the kindest characters turn into bullies when Jerry is around. But he always responds to their meanness with apologies and politeness.
Of course, Jerry is also easy for audiences to laugh at as well, with his clumsiness and incompetence. And the fact that he has a stunningly beautiful wife causes a lot of confusion. While he may be the character everyone picks on, the show wouldn’t be the same without him.
Tom Haverford
In the small town of Pawnee, Tom Haverford is someone who sees himself as a big city hustler. His high energy and need to pamper himself are great fun to watch.
Tom could have easily been an annoying character, but the show did a great job of finding a balance. He can be humorously self-involved, but it is also great to see him finally take his business career seriously and make something special of himself.
Donna Meagle
Out of all of the characters on the show, Donna seemed to be the one who everyone respected no matter what. She might not be the most dedicated government employee but her endless confidence in herself makes her extremely likable.
Though Donna was never as central of a character as some of the others, it was fun getting small hints about her much more glamorous life outside of work. From her busy love life to her extravagant living, it was easy to be mesmerized by Donna.
Chris Traeger
Chris Traeger joined the show at the end of its second season along with Ben Wyatt. Though they were only meant to be temporary characters, they both fit into the show so well and Chris became a hilarious new addition.
His endlessly positive energy and extreme fitness regimen offered a fun new element to the show. It was especially amusing to see him interact with characters like Ron and April who had very different personalities from Chris.
Ben Wyatt
When Ben Wyatt was first introduced in the series, he and Leslie didn’t see eye-to-eye. That was part of the fun in gradually seeing him develop into one of the most charming sitcom boyfriends on television.
Ben had a sweet nature and could often be the voice of reason when Leslie’s ideas get out of hand. But he was also a fun character to poke fun at with his awkward goofiness and love of nerd culture.
Leslie Knope
Given the fact that she was the main character on the show, some fans might expect to see Leslie Knope named as the best character on Parks and Rec. But it is a testament to the show’s wonderful characters that she doesn’t top the list.
Regardless, Leslie is an iconic sitcom creation. She was a big personality whose sometimes childish nature was hilarious to watch in so many situations. But she also had a huge heart and helped guide the show to being a feel-good hit.
April Ludgate
Like many characters on the show, April Ludgate had a broad personality that was funny from the very beginning. However, she was also allowed to grow as a character over time. Her relationship with Andy and being mentored by Leslie really helped to make her more than a one-note character.
However, those quirky aspects of April were always some of the funniest moments in the show. From her total lack of interest in her work to her tormenting of Jerry, April brought a great dark sense of humor.
Andy Dwyer
Though Chris Pratt is a huge movie star now, many fans still think his best role is the lovable goofball, Andy Dwyer, on Parks and Recreation. He was first a small part as Ann's dim-witted boyfriend, but he quickly cemented himself as one of the best parts of the show.
Andy’s charm came from his innocent and enthusiastic view of the world. The fact that he is also a man-child with no concept of the adult world makes for some of the show's funniest moments.
Ron Swanson
Not only is Ron Swanson the best character on Parks and Rec but he is also one of the best sitcom creations of all time. The idea of a government employee who hates the government is a hilarious jumping-off point and Ron just got better from there.
His meat-centric diet, old-school ideas of "being a man" and dislike for most people were always fun. And while he was not a man who shared his feelings willingly, he was always a loyal and caring friend.