Nick Offerman's portrayal as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation has been immortalized in the eyes of viewers. The actor played the character for the NBC sitcom's seven-season run from 2009 until 2015. Offerman may seem like the only person capable of playing the deadpan government worker but a number of well-known actors also auditioned for the role. Here's who could've been cast and why Offerman eventually acquired the gig.
Ron gained a cult following throughout his arc on Parks and Rec. He was a fan favorite for his offbeat way of thinking and his position when it came to his opinions on the government. Despite being a libertarian, Ron served as the Director of Pawnee's Parks and Recreation Department and worked closely with other sectors of the local government. He may have been independent and distant but Ron ended up being someone that his coworkers could always count on, especially when it came to Leslie Knope.
Actor Nick Offerman had a lot of influence on Ron as the show continued so it's safe to say that many aspects of the character would have differed if he wasn't cast. Matt Walsh (Veep) and Mike O'Malley (Yes, Dear) were two of the actors who also read for the role of Ron, the latter of which was nearly cast. Both actors ultimately lost out but they each appeared in a future episode of Parks and Rec. Walsh portrayed Leonard Tchulm, the Head of the Indiana Department of Emergency Preparedness in season 5 where O'Malley played Bill, the rude guy who rented campaign vans to Leslie in season 4. Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!) and Parks and Rec's very own Jim O'Heir (who played Jerry) also reportedly auditioned for Ron.
Nick Offerman Was The Creators' First Choice, But Not NBC's
When Parks and Rec was being cast in the late '00s, the casting director already had Offerman in mind for the role of Ron even though he originally auditioned for Mark Brendanawicz. The show's creators Greg Daniels and Michael Schur didn't necessarily create the role for actor specifically but it soon turned out that way. Offerman was the team's first choice but NBC didn't want a quick decision. Five more months of auditioning then occurred even though Daniels, Schur, and the casting team never budged on Offerman being the guy they wanted. After so many auditions, the crew kept bringing up Offerman's name and the network finally agreed with the decision.
As time went on, Offerman was given the opportunity to influence aspects of the character on the series. In many ways, Ron was a version of the real-life actor since they shared many of the same qualities. Offerman enjoys woodworking and playing the saxophone just as his on-screen counterpart. At times, it was difficult to tell if Offerman was even acting in some sequences or if he was just enjoying his own hobbies as he happened to be in front of the camera. Daniels and Schur obviously made the correct choice in fighting for Offerman considering the actor's presence on Parks and Recreation created one of the best characters in TV history.