Parks and Recreation Fan Space

CAST BIOS

Amy Poehler

Emmy Award nominee Amy Poehler stars as mid-level bureaucrat Leslie Knope on the new NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation." The new series is a half-hour mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.

The year 2008 was a very busy year for Poehler. Between her seventh season of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" (and her fourth as the co-anchor of "Weekend Update"), a trio of films and a new animated project for Nickelodeon, she was very active. Poehler received her first Emmy nomination in 2008 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on "Saturday Night Live." Due to a change in eligibility, this is an unprecedented nomination, making her the first performer in "SNL" history to land a spot in this category.

Poehler also will continue to produce, write and provide the voice of Bessie in the new Nickelodeon animated television series "The Mighty B."

Poehler could be seen starring opposite Tina Fey in Universal Pictures' hit comedy film "Baby Mama" and also lent her voice to the animated film "Horton Hears a Who!" with Jim Carrey and Steve Carell. Poehler had a starring role in the ice-skating comedy "Blades of Glory," alongside Will Ferrell, Will Arnett and Jon Heder, and she also provided the voice to the boxoffice smash hit "Shrek the Third" as Snow White. Her other feature credits include the hit comedy "Mean Girls," "Mr. Woodcock," "Southland Tales," "Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny," "The Ex," "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Envy."

Poehler joined the "SNL" cast from the Upright Citizens Brigade, a sketch/improv troupe originally formed in Chicago. She and the U.C.B. relocated to New York where they had a sketch show on Comedy Central for three seasons on which she was both a writer and performer. In addition, they opened a theater currently regarded as the premier sketch/improv comedy venue in New York City. Poehler and the U.C.B. were featured in "A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv" an improvised comedy special on Bravo.

Poehler lives in New York City with her husband, Will Arnett, and their new son.

from nbc.com (edited)

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones stars as nurse Ann Perkins on the new NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation." The new series is a half-hour mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.

Jones can next be seen in the feature film "I Love You, Man" for writer-director John Hamburg, starring opposite Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. She recently completed her starring roles in the independent features "Life in Flight" (with Patrick Wilson and Amy Smart), and "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" (with Max Minghella) -- both set for release later this year. Her past film credits include "Little Black Book," opposite Holly Hunter, Kathy Bates and Brittany Murphy.

Jones caught attention of audiences and the industry alike when she portrayed the ambitious saleswoman, Karen Filippelli, in NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy NBC's "The Office," opposite Steve Carell. She also starred as Kate on "Unhitched" a half-hour comedy from the Farrelly brothers.

A graduate of Harvard University, Jones appeared in several plays, including "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf," "Dancing at Lughnasa," "The Odd Couple: The Female Version" and "H.M.S. Pinafore." She was also in "Pitching to the Star" with Peggy Lipton at the Lee Strasberg Theatre.

Jones currently resides in Los Angeles.

from nbc.com (edited)

Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari stars as Tom Haverford, the self-serving colleague of Leslie Knope (series star Amy Poehler) in the new NBC comedy "Parks and Recreation." The new series is a half-hour mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.

Ansari is poised for 2009 to be his breakout year with a new television series, a trio of films, and a headlining comedy tour.

Before the new series premieres, Ansari will appear in a handful of features. He recently began production on Judd Apatow's upcoming comedy "Funny People," opposite Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill, and also has roles in "I Love You, Man" with Paul Rudd, and opposite Rogen and Anna Faris in "Observe and Report."

Ansari is best known for his role on MTV's hit sketch comedy series, "Human Giant." The series is based around comedy sketches performed by Ansari, along with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer. He can also be seen in a multi-episode arc on "Scrubs."

Ansari recently announced his "Glow in the Dark" Comedy Standup Tour which will see him criss-cross the country performing his buzzed about standup act. In 2005, Rolling Stone named him their choice for Hot Standup on their annual "Hot List," and he was also awarded the Jury Award for Best Standup at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen in 2006.

Ansari currently resides in Los Angeles.

from nbc.com (edited)

Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman stars as boss Ron Swanson in NBC’s comedy "Parks and Recreation." The new series is a half-hour mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.

Offerman received his B.F.A. in theater from the University of Illinois and has performed at Chicago’s famed Goodman and Steppenwolf theaters. He was a series regular on "American Body Shop" and has appeared on "24," "Deadwood," "Will & Grace," "Monk," "The West Wing," "CSI: NY," and "NYPD Blue."

His feature credits include "Wristcutters," "Patriotville," "The Go Getter," "Sin City," and "Miss Congeniality 2." Nick can next be seen in the feature films "Men Who Stare at Goats" with George Clooney and Ewan McGregor and "All Good Things" with Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst.

(nbc.com)

Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza stars as uninspired intern, April Ludgate, in NBC’s new comedy "Parks and Recreation." The new series is a half-hour mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.

Plaza is originally from Wilmington, Del., and is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She is an actor, writer and comedian. She has been performing improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater since 2004. She also recently began performing stand-up and has appeared at the Laugh Factory and The Improv.

Plaza stars in the upcoming comedy features "Funny People," directed by Judd Apatow, and Derrick Comedy's "Mystery Team" which debuted at Sundance. She can also be seen in the hit online series "The Jeanne Tate Show," and ESPN's "Mayne Street." Plaza will next star in the Universal feature "Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life," directed by Edgar Wright.

(nbc.com)

Paul Schneider

Paul Schneider stars as city planner in NBC’s new comedy "Parks and Recreation." The new series is a half-hour mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.

Schneider will next be seen in "Bright Star" directed by Jane Campion as well as Sam Mendes "Away We Go" opposite John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. Schneider was lauded for his performance in "Lars and the Real Girl" opposite Ryan Gosling as well as "The Assassination of Jesse James" with Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. His directorial debut "Pretty Bird" starred Billy Crudup and Paul Giamatti and screened in competition in Sundance in 2008.

He has also received critical acclaim for his work in Cameron Crowe's "Elizabethtown," "All the Real Girls" and "The Family Stone."

(nbc.com)