Brooklyn Nine-Nine has become a beloved sitcom, even though it was almost canceled twice. It follows the lives of quirky characters in New York City’s 99th police precinct, who engage in bizarre activities like naming s*x tapes and Halloween heists. They also confront serious issues such as police homophobia and the MeToo movement.
Parks & Recreation, which aired from 2009 to 2015, follows the ridiculous lives of the Pawnee parks department. Its eccentric characters thrive on awkward moments and Ron Swanson’s greatness while exploring political drama and personal relationships.
As is typical in American sitcoms, there are many recurring actors, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks & Recreation are no exception.
Every Parks and Recreation Actor In Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Andy Samberg
Andy Samberg portrays the lead character of Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine= Samberg is present in every episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, poking his nose into his superior’s personal life and developing a close bond with Charles Boyle. Although his role as Carl Fortner, a member of the park security team, in “Park Safety” of Parks & Rec season 2 is brief, his demeanor is reminiscent of Jake Peralta. Samberg’s cameo occurred three years before Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s debut, or else he may have been given a more significant part in Parks & Rec.
Chelsea Peretti
Chelsea Peretti, famous for portraying the unparalleled Gina Linetti in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, had a recurring role until season 6 when she was relegated to guest appearances. Before her role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Peretti appeared as Zelda in “Live Ammo,” an episode from season 4 of Parks & Recreation. Despite having a relatively minor part, she also wrote the episode in which she was featured.
Jason Mantzoukas
Jason Mantzoukas debuted on Brooklyn Nine-Nine in season 3’s “Adrian Pimento” as the eponymous character. Mantzoukas also had a semi-regular role on Parks and Recreation as Dennis Feinstein, a snobbish and mean-spirited fragrance mogul with a knack for expensive perfumes like “Attack” that are designed to overwhelm the senses of one’s lover.
Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman, a well-known comedian, gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Ron Swanson in Parks & Rec. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s season 3 episode “Ava,” Offerman plays Frederick, the former lover of Raymond Holt.
Kathryn Hahn
Kathryn Hahn, known for her comedic roles, recently received praise for her villainous portrayal of Agatha Harkness in WandaVision. Before that, she had made a name for herself in Parks & Recreation as Jennifer Barkley, a political campaign manager who starts as Leslie’s opponent but eventually becomes a friendly ally. Hahn also appears in Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s “Hostage Situation” episode in season 3. Eleanor, Boyle’s ex-wife, adds a comedic twist by holding his sperm hostage in a chaotic turn of events at the precinct.
J.K. Simmons
J.K. Simmons, known for his iconic roles as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man and the devilish drum tutor in Whiplash, displays his effortlessly cool and brash humor in his portrayal of master detective Frank Dillman in Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 7. Holt hires Dillman as a personal investigator, and his deduction skills, reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, impress and intimidate Peralta. Simmons also has a brief appearance in Parks & Rec as Mayor Stice, a prickly public servant who plays a cruel joke on Ben by offering him the key to Pawnee in season 5, only to retract it as punishment for the department’s bad publicity.
Patton Oswalt
In the fifth season of Parks & Rec, in the episode “Article Two,” Oswalt portrays Garth Blundin, a staunch history enthusiast who opposes Leslie’s plans to modernize the town’s charter. After realizing his lack of friends, Leslie reaches out to him and develops a friendship. In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Oswalt’s character Boone, the city’s Fire Marshal, has had two separate run-ins with the Nine-Nine, particularly with Jake Peralta, leading to friction between the surfaces.
Jim O’Heir
Jim O’Heir is a familiar face to fans of Parks & Rec, where he portrayed Jerry Gergich. Although he made his first appearance in season 1, it was in season 2 that Jerry became a significant character. Throughout the show, his colleagues frequently targeted him with jokes, causing Jerry to become a source of sympathy due to his frequent misfortunes. In contrast, O’Heir’s character in Brooklyn Nine-Nine is entirely different. He plays an unpleasant bigot who appears in season 5 and antagonizes Jake and Holt while they are in witness protection.
Marc Evan Jackson
Marc Evan Jackson, who is most recognized for his role as Raymond Holt’s husband, takes on the part of Kevin Cozner in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He also appears regularly in Parks & Rec as Trevor Nelsson, a no-nonsense lawyer comparable to Kevin in demeanor.
Phil Reeves
Reeves played the menacing New York commissioner John Kelly in season 6 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and also appeared in earlier seasons of Parks & Rec as Paul Iaresco.
Bradley Whitford
Whitford plays the elusive father of Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and has only made sporadic appearances throughout the show’s seven seasons. However, he did appear alongside Chelsea Peretti in Parks & Rec’s “Live Ammo” episode, portraying Councilman Pillner.
Kirk Fox –
Kirk has a small part in Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 5 as Kurt, Jake’s sister’s ex-boyfriend. However, in Parks & Rec, he plays the character of Joe Fantringham, who appears in eight episodes throughout the series and holds a significant role. Joe is the head of the local sewage facility and is inclined toward a specific type of intern.
Helen Slayton-Hughes –
In the TV show Parks & Rec, this seasoned actress plays the character of Ethel Beavers, a court stenographer who appears frequently. Additionally, she has a minor part in “The Slump,” an episode from the first season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Jenny Slate –
Mona-Lisa Saperstein frequently appears in Parks & Recreation and has a short-lived romantic relationship with Ben. Despite her lack of endearing qualities, Mona’s life is far from put together. Similarly, Jenny Slate’s character Bianca in Brooklyn Nine-Nine as a mistress of a mob boss does not fare much better.
James M. Connor –
Deputy Commissioner Podolski from season 1 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Eugene Pilogrimaldy featured in seasons 4 and 7 of Parks & Rec.
Richard Burch –
Richard Burch first appeared in Parks & Rec season 5 as Herman Lerpiss and accumulated roughly a dozen credits. Despite his prior intellect, which may only be apparent after today, Burch portrays a pawn shop owner. In addition to his role in Parks & Rec, he plays a minor role as a gangster in the first season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Scott Michael Morgan –
In Parks & Rec season 6, Morgan portrays the character of Skipper, while in Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 1, he appears as Judd Sterrino, a swindler.
Kenny Stevenson –
Other police officers featured in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, include Officer Mark, played by Kenny Stevenson. Interestingly, Kenny also appears in four episodes of Parks & Rec as Jim Kabernick.
Mel Cowan –
Mel appears in multiple Parks & Rec episodes, where he gets upset over local issues. Additionally, he portrays Doctor Nash in the first season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Matt Walsh
Detective Lohank, portrayed by Matt Walsh, is another officer in Nine-Nine, but the leading group does not particularly like him. In Parks & Rec season 5’s “Emergency Response,” he plays the character of Leonard.
