Where Is theParks and RecreationCast Now? See How the Stars Have Kept Pawnee in Their Lives 10 Years After the Finale — and Who’s ‘Down’ for a Reunion

Mar. 15, 2025

‘Parks and Recreation.'.Photo:Colleen Hayes/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Colleen Hayes/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

The show attracted massive talent, includingSaturday Night LivealumAmy Poehlerand formerThe Officecast memberRashida Jones.EverwoodstarChris Prattalso signed on and soon became one of Hollywood’s leading men.

Amid their busy schedules, theParks and Recreationalums stay in touch via group chat, known to the cast as “Parks Family Text.”Jim O’Heirtold NPR’sBook of the Daythat “to this day, [we] are good friends, and we love each other.”

To celebrate the show ending a decade ago, here’s where the cast ofParks and Recreationis now.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

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Amy Poehler starred as Leslie Knope, a paper-pushing bureaucrat at the Parks and Recreation Department in her hometown of Pawnee.

Before starring inParks and Recreation, Poehler had already established herself as a comedian after being a cast member onSNLfrom 2001 to 2008.

During her time onParks and Rec, Poehler’s fame continued to grow; she voice-acted in the animated moviesMonsters vs. Aliens(2009) andInside Out(2015) and starred inSisters(2015). After the show ended, Poehler reteamed with her costarNick Offermanto host the reality competition seriesMaking It, which featured skilled craftspeople trying to create the best handmade projects. The show ran from 2018 to 2021.

More recently, Poehler starred alongside comedic powerhouses likeMegan Mullally, Andy Richter andChelsea Perettiin the comedyFirst Time Female Director(2023) and reprised her role inInside Out 2(2024).

Poehler has also worked behind the camera as a director and producer, including notable titles likeBroad CityandRussian Doll. In 2022, she directed and produced the Emmy-winning documentaryLucy and Desi, which chronicled the life and relationship of comediansLucille BallandDesi Arnaz.

That same year, at the premiere ofRussian Doll’s second season, Poehler told PEOPLE that she wasopen to doing aParks and Recreboot, saying, “Anytime anybody gives me the word, and I’m down.”

Off-screen, Poehler was married to fellow actorWill Arnettfrom 2003 to 2016.The couple metwhen Arnett went to see one of her improv shows in New York City in 1996. During their time together, the couple hadtwo children, sons Archie and Abel.

Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins

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Rashida Jones played Ann Perkins, a nurse who, thanks to a giant pit that people keep falling into, gradually becomes more involved in local government — more specifically, the Parks and Recreation Department.

Before joining the cast ofParks and Rec, Jones was already a recognizable face due to her previous television work. She had a recurring role inBoston Public(2000-2002) and starred as Karen Filippelli onThe Officefrom (2006-2009; 2011).

While appearing onParks and Rec, she had some other notable performances, includingThe Social Network(2010) andThe Muppets(2011). Jones also held a voice role on the Hulu animated comedyThe Awesomes(2013-2015).

In her personal life, Jones has been dating Vampire Weekend frontmanEzra Koenigsince at least 2016, and in 2018 theywelcomed their first son, Isaiah.

The actress also shared her thoughts on a possible reunion. “Oh man, I hope sometime soon,” she said of a revival, noting: “I know [co-creator] Mike Schur was like, ‘There has to be a reason for us to do it. We can’t just do it.’ But I would love that.”

Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford

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Aziz Ansari played Tom Haverford, a disinterested and underachieving city employee under Leslie’s watch.

During his seven seasons onParks and Rec, Ansari took on numerous other projects, holding recurring roles in series likeBob’s Burgers,The LeagueandAdventure Time. He also gained fame as a stand-up comedian, landing his first major special on Comedy Central in 2010. He has since released four more specials on Netflix.

In 2022, Ansari married Serena Skov Campbell, perVanity Fair.

Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

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Nick Offermanplayed Ron Swanson, a libertarian government employee who believes in “small government” and therefore wants the Parks and Recreation Department to be as small, underfunded and useless as possible.

Parks and Recreationwas one of Offerman’s first major roles. During his time onParks and Rec, Offerman landed numerous stand-up specials and starred in movies like21 Jump Street(2012),We’re the Millers(2013) andThe Lego Movie(2014).

After the series concluded, he joined costar Poehler in hostingMaking Itand had a role in Hulu’s Emmy-nominated miniseriesPam & Tommy(2022). Offerman also starred in the now-memorable third episode ofThe Last of Us(2023), in which he played a reclusive survivalist during the zombie apocalypse who ends up falling in love with a stranger (Murray Bartlett).

When appearing onJimmy KimmelLive!, Offerman admitted that he almost turned down the role until his wifeMegan Mullallyforced him to take it. “I didn’t have time on the calendar to say ‘yes’ to this job,” Offerman said. “And my incredible goddess of a wife read [the script] — and she said ‘You’re going to Calgary, buddy. Have fun! You have to do this.’ "

Offerman and Mullally have been married since 2003 and have appeared in numerous projects together. Offerman held a guest spot in Mullally’sWill & Grace, and she, in turn, guest-starred inParks and Recas his on-screen ex-wife, Tammy Swanson.

The actor is alsoopen to aParks and Recreboot, telling PEOPLE in 2020, “The last we saw him [his character, Ron Swanson], he took a job as a park ranger, so I imagine he’s befriended some bears and is teaching them to play Liverpool rummy.”

Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate

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Aubrey Plaza played April Ludgate, a disinterested intern who ends up becoming Ron’s assistant, thanks to her aloof demeanor and subpar work ethic.

That same year, Plaza toldDigital Spythat, while she loved the reputation she developed fromParks and Rec, she felt like she was typecast.

“I feel like there was a time when I was onParks and Recand right after where it was a little bit hard to get myself out of that box and show people like no, that’s not all I can do, you’ve just been seeing me do it for seven years. It was my job,” Plaza explained.

Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer

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Chris Pratt played Andy Dwyer, a dimwitted slacker who ends up working at the Parks and Recreation Department despite being unqualified and uninterested.

Before starring inParks and Recreation, Pratt had already held a leading role in the WB dramaEverwood, which ran for four seasons (2002-2006). After that, he landed a recurring role in season 4 ofThe O.C.in 2006.

In January 2015, Prattappeared onEllena few weeks before theParks and Recfinale, telling the host, “I feel a little sad, it’s been seven amazing seasons.”

The actor also added that he didn’t originally have a starring role in the show. “I was just a guest star that came on for six episodes,” Pratt said, “and then they ended up keeping me on and putting me in every episode all seven seasons.”

Since the show has ended, Pratt has only added to his acting credits. In 2023,Pratt voiced MarioinThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, which became thesecond highest-grossing animated movie of all time(behindFrozen II). He went on to voice Garfield in the 2024 film adaptation of the classic comic.

From 2009 to 2018, Pratt was married to actressAnna Faris, andthey had a son, Jack, in 2012. Pratt later marriedKatherine Schwarzeneggerin 2019 (makingArnold Schwarzeneggerhis father-in-law), and the couple havethree children: Lyla Maria, born in 2020, Eloise Christina, born in 2022, and son Ford, who arrived in 2024.

Pratt’s next project will be reprising his role as James Reece in season 2 of the Amazon Prime military dramaThe Terminal List.

Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt

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Adam Scott played Ben Wyatt, an awkward city official who’s running away from his past life in Minnesota where, at just 18 years old, he became mayor of a small town and had a disastrous term.

Before joiningParks and Recat the end of season 2 and becoming a series regular the next season, Scott starred in the STARZ comedyParty Down, which premiered in 2009. Scott learned the series might not get renewed for a third season, so when the opportunity to joinParks and Recpresented itself, he took it.

Herecalled the moment toEntertainment Weekly, saying, “We were waiting to hear whether we would get a season 3 forParty Down, and the wait became longer and longer … Then theParks and Recopportunity comes up, so I needed to try and find out if there’s a chance thatParty Down’s going to get picked up.”

Scott reached out to an executive at STARZ to see if he should take the role and was told, “If you have an opportunity in front of you, you should take it.”

Off-screen, Scott has been married to his wife, producerNaomi Scott, since 2005. The couple have two children: son Graham and daughter Frankie.

Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger

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Rob Loweportrayed Chris Traeger, an auditor from the state who comes in to help the city of Pawnee with its crippling budget issues. He’s known for his over-the-top positivity and healthy lifestyle.

Long before joiningParks and Rec, Lowe had already been a well-known Hollywood actor for decades, starring in films likeThe Outsiders(1983) andSt. Elmo’s Fire(1985) and holding a lead role in the political dramaThe West Wing(1999-2003; 2006).

A few months afterParks and Recended, Lowe spoke with PEOPLE aboutwhen fans can expect a reunion, saying, “You’ve never met a group of actors who are more busy. The reunions are going to be many decades off.”

Lowe then joined the cast ofMarcia Gay Harden’s hospital dramaCode Black(2016-2018) and worked on9-1-1: Lone Starfor five seasons before Fox announced its cancellation in September 2024. However, the actor might count starring alongside his sonJohn Owenin the Netflix seriesUnstableas hisbiggest accomplishment sinceParks and Rec.

“Neither one of us could have made this show without the other. I couldn’t have gone off and said, ‘Hey, I wanna do a father-son show,’ without John Owen,” LowetoldMen’s Healthin 2023.

The actor has been married to makeup artistSheryl Berkoffsince 1991, and the couplehave two sons: Matthew Edward and actor John Owen.

Retta as Donna Meagle

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Marietta Sirleaf, better known asRetta, played Donna Meagle, the Parks and Recreation Department’s office manager. Like much of the staff, she’s completely uninterested in her job.

Jim O’Heir as Jerry Gergich

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Jim O’Heirplayed Jerry Gergich, a longtime employee of the Parks and Rec department who, like most of the other employees, focuses on his home life more than putting in a hard day’s work at the office.

Starring inParks and Recremains O’Heir’s biggest role to date. Before joining the show, he held guest spots on series likeER(1996) andAlly McBeal(1999). Since the show’s finale, he has appeared in other shows likeCall Me Kat(2021) andBetter Call Saul(2022). He also co-hosted theParks and Recfan podcast,Parks and Recollection, and publishedWelcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles and Parks and Recreationin November 2024.

In 2018, O’Heir sat down with PEOPLE and shared his thoughts about hisParks and Reccostars, saying, “Nick [Offerman], I don’t know what he’s saying all the time because he speaks in words that are just too smart for me. Aubrey [Plaza] is just scary. Amy [Poehler] is pretty much loving.”

He also revealed that Pratt had a tendency to share spoilers for his upcoming movies. “I got some good stuff aboutAvengers,”O’Heir said. “And then I saw it and I went, ‘Yeah, he told me that would happen.’ ”

source: people.com