From Pawnee to Prime Time: Parks and Rec Cast — Who Soared and Who Stalled

Between 2009 and 2015, Parks and Recreation quietly went from awkward mockumentary spinoff idea to one of TV's most reliable serotonin boosts. Seven seasons, piles of awards love, and a whole lot of waffle jokes later, the Pawnee crew scattered and built wildly different careers. Some went stratospheric. Some stayed low-key. All of them found their lane.

• Years: 2009–2015
• Seasons: 7
• IMDb: 8.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Tomatometer, 89% Audience
• Streaming: Netflix

Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope)

Poehler came in hot from Saturday Night Live and anchored the show as its beating heart. She picked up an early Golden Globe nod for Leslie and never slowed down. Post-Pawnee, she has worked across the board on projects like Mean Girls, the Inside Out films, and Russian Doll as actor, writer, producer, and director. She has co-hosted the Golden Globes multiple times and counts a Primetime Emmy win (out of 26 nominations) and a Golden Globe among a stacked trophy shelf, plus nods for a Peabody and a Grammy. Next up: a return to TV comedy with Dig, which she co-created with Mike Schur and will star in, write, and executive produce. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Poehler's net worth is about $30 million as of 2025.

Rashida Jones (Ann Perkins)

Already familiar to sitcom fans from The Office, Jones played Leslie's endlessly supportive best friend. Offscreen, she kept stacking credits and branched into documentaries with Netflix's Quincy, the film about her father, Quincy Jones, which earned her a Grammy and two Emmy nominations. Celebrity Net Worth pegs her at around $25 million as of this writing.

Paul Schneider (Mark Brendanawicz)

Schneider was in the original lineup as city planner Mark Brendanawicz, a character who had some will-they-won't-they tension with Leslie. He exited after Season 2 and has mostly focused on indie films and smaller, character-driven roles since. His net worth is not publicly available right now.

Aziz Ansari (Tom Haverford)

Tom Haverford was Pawnee's most enthusiastic entrepreneur and hype man, and Ansari made the most of it. After the show, he created, wrote, directed, and starred in Master of None, which won him a Golden Globe and multiple Emmys, and he kept his stand-up career rolling. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at about $25 million, with an annual salary around $9 million as of this writing.

Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson)

Swanson started as a stoic anti-government boss and revealed a secret soft center over time. Offerman parlayed that into a varied career across comedy, drama, and books. His turn as Bill in The Last of Us episode Long, Long Time won him his first Emmy (Guest Actor in a Drama Series). He has also picked up a Television Critics Association Award and two Critics' Choice nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Celebrity Net Worth puts him at roughly $25 million.

Aubrey Plaza (April Ludgate)

Plaza's deadpan April became a breakout that set up a career oscillating between indie gems and bigger swings. Highlights since: Ingrid Goes West, Emily the Criminal, and a Golden Globe-nominated season of The White Lotus. She's part of Marvel's Agatha All Along as the main villain, Death. Per Celebrity Net Worth, she's at about $10 million.

Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer)

Andy started as a lovable goofball and part-time musician, and Pratt used that momentum to level up into franchise lead. We're talking Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy, headlining the Jurassic World films, and voice roles in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (yes, that global blockbuster) and The Garfield Movie. As of 2025, Celebrity Net Worth estimates him at around $100 million.

Adam Scott (Ben Wyatt)

Scott joined in Season 2 while still juggling Party Down, then turned Ben into a quietly perfect romantic lead. After Parks, he led Apple TV+'s Severance, earning four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nod for acting and producing. He also popped up in Big Little Lies, The Good Place, and the Party Down revival. Celebrity Net Worth estimates about $8 million as of 2025.

Rob Lowe (Chris Traeger)

Lowe was already a known quantity, then showed up as the human embodiment of positive vibes. Post-Pawnee, he starred as Captain Owen Strand on 9-1-1: Lone Star, made his directorial debut with the TV film The Bad Seed (2018), and now hosts and executive produces Fox's game show The Floor, which has been renewed for two more seasons. He also did Netflix's Unstable with his son; that one was canceled after two seasons. Celebrity Net Worth puts him at a hefty $100 million.

Jim O'Heir (Jerry Gergich)

O'Heir turned lovable office punching bag Jerry into a stealth MVP. He has kept busy with steady guest spots and smaller roles and published a book about his time on the show. Celebrity Net Worth estimates him at around $3 million.

Retta (Donna Meagle)

Donna's confidence and one-liners made Retta a standout. These days, she's hosting HGTV's Ugliest House in America, now in its sixth season, and fronting a spin-off called Scariest House in America, where she tours real homes with creepy or just plain weird features. The shows blend her comedic voice with home-reno chaos, and she remains a reliably fun presence. Celebrity Net Worth lists her at about $3 million as of 2025.

Billy Eichner (Craig Middlebrooks)

Eichner arrived later as Craig, a high-strung, shouty tornado who somehow made everything funnier. He spun that energy into Billy on the Street, co-wrote and starred in the rom-com Bros, and voiced characters in big titles like Disney's remake of The Lion King. Celebrity Net Worth puts him around $8 million.

Short version: some of the Pawnee gang became blockbuster regulars, some went prestige, some went HGTV, and a couple kept it chill. The range is wild, and honestly, it suits them.

Parks and Recreation is streaming on Netflix.