Inside Nick Offerman's Career From Theater Actor To The Last Of Us

Before "Parks and Recreation," Offerman's acting resume was a bit sparse and he attended a number of fruitless casting calls. The actor's first credited TV role (per IMDb) was on an episode of the hit NBC drama "ER." He subsequently appeared in a number of procedurals, dramas and westerns in single-episode supporting roles, often playing the heavy. 

Among the meatier parts Offerman took before hitting it big was Marcus in Fox's thriller "24." Here, he was a criminal who holds Kate Warner (Sarah Wynter) hostage in the hope of snagging the microchip she holds which proves that some vital recordings were falsified. Naturally, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) comes to rescue Kate, precipitating Marcus' blood exit. The gig lasted for three episodes and helped springboard Offerman toward his first regular television role. 

He was also memorable in the role of Randy McGee, coworker of George Lopez (George Lopez) and boyfriend of George's mom Benny Lopez (Belita Moreno) in the ABC sitcom "George Lopez." It's here that Offerman got a chance to show a wider audience his signature deadpan comedic timing. For eight episodes, Randy is a thorn in George's side as he dated Benny, causing discomfort and chaos in the Lopez household. Randy and Benny's relationship was frenetic and often an on-again, off-again thing. In the Season 3 episode "Benny and Randy," the twosome become engaged. But a happy ending isn't in the cards for the couple, as eventually they break up in Season 4 because, as Benny tells her family, she was "bored" by Randy.

He also appeared in "Sin City," "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous," "CSI: New York," and "Gilmore Girls."