Mark Proksch
Mark Proksch | |
|---|---|
 Mark Proksch (in middle) and Asperger's Are Us | |
| Born | July 19, 1978 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Mark Edward Proksch (/ˈprɒkʃ/;[1] born July 19, 1978) is an American[2] comedian and character actor. He is best known for acting in the television series The Office, Better Call Saul and What We Do in the Shadows and as a fictionalized version of himself in the On Cinema universe.
He rose to prominence when he portrayed the character "K-Strass", a parody of a yo-yo master who became an internet sensation after appearing on local news shows.
K-Strass
Proksch had the alias of Kenny "K-Strass" Strasser early in his career, during which he appeared on small-market local newscasts as a yo-yo master.[3] The character Strasser was described by online magazine Paste as "the funniest thing that's ever happened" and speaking "in a nasal Midwestern accent, with a halting cadence that was both awkward and deliberate."[4] K-Strass was created when Proksch's temp job at an ad agency fell through.[5]
Proksch also appeared as K-Strass while opening for Gregg Turkington's Neil Hamburger on tour.[6] Turkington and Proksch would work together again on On Cinema.
Television career
Proksch had a recurring role on the television series The Office as Nate, Dwight Schrute's lackey and the office handyman. He appeared in 19 episodes over the show's final three seasons. In March 2013, Proksch starred in the NBC television pilot Holding Patterns. He also voiced the character Johnnie in the Adventure Time episode "Bad Timing." In March 2014, Proksch appeared in an episode of Portlandia as Carrie Brownstein's love interest.[7] From 2015 to 2017 he appeared as Pryce, a recurring character on the AMC drama series Better Call Saul, a prequel to Breaking Bad. In 2015, Proksch appeared in Season 3, Episode 1 of Drunk History in which he told the story of the Bone Wars.
On Cinema at the Cinema
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (June 2019) |
Proksch plays a fictionalized version of himself in the On Cinema universe, in which he attempts various impersonations, including W.C. Fields and The Marx Brothers. The fictional Proksch was briefly declared dead during the 5th Annual On Cinema Oscar special, having suffocated inside a heavy diving suit during a Jaws impersonation skit.[8] His character briefly appears in season 10's VR episodes, when the camera is turned showing his comatose body. This takes place during a recurring section in which Gregg Turkington plays his old audition tapes for films he failed to be cast in. His comatose body again appears in the 6th Annual Oscar special as a "Talking Oscar". Painted gold and strapped to a gurney, pre-recorded phrases in his voice are played in answer to questions surrounding Oscar trivia. During one segment his comatose body is slowly rotated around a compilation of past Oscar nominated films. He awakens after being knocked over by host Tim Heidecker and spends the rest of the special in a state of confusion and shock while bleeding from a broken nose.
What We Do in the Shadows
He currently stars as Colin Robinson, an energy vampire, in the FX series What We Do in the Shadows.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Hamlet A.D.D. | N/A | Uncredited |
| A Merry Friggin' Christmas | Trooper Zblocki | ||
| 2016 | Another Evil | Os Bijourn | |
| Asperger's Are Us | Himself/K-Strass | ||
| 2019 | Her Mind in Pieces | Jeffrey Presch | |
| VHYes | Teddy | ||
| Mister America | Himself | Archive footage |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2013 | The Office | Nate | 19 episodes |
| 2012 | Infomercials | Kenny | Episode: "Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects and Cutlery" |
| 2013 | Bob's Burgers | Mr. Dinkler | Episode: "Topsy" |
| Animal Practice | Gary | Episode: "Wingmen" | |
| Hello Ladies | Father | Episode: "The Wedding" | |
| New Girl | Dan | Episode: "Nerd" | |
| Comedy Bang! Bang! | Alternate Reality Man | Episode: " Andy Dick Wears a Black Suit Jacket & Skinny Tie" | |
| Eagleheart | Craig Balmer | Episode: "Bowsley" | |
| 2014-2017 | Decker | Abdul Shariff/Mark Proksch/Frankenstein/Wolfman | 20 episodes |
| 2014-2020 | Dream Corp LLC | Randy Blink | 30 episodes, 1 pilot short |
| 2014 | Adventure Time | Johnnie | Episode: "Bad Timing" |
| Portlandia | Sean | Episode: "Pull-Out King" | |
| Modern Family | Coleman | Episode: "Message Received" | |
| Marry Me | Chad | Episode: "Move Me" | |
| Selfie | Waiter | Episode: "Follow Through" | |
| 2015 | Drunk History | Narrator | Episode: "New Jersey" |
| 2015-2019 | On Cinema | Mark Proksch | 20 episodes, 6 specials |
| 2015-2017 | Better Call Saul | Daniel 'Pryce' Wormald | 4 episodes |
| 2016-2017 | Son of Zorn | Todd | 9 episodes |
| 2017 | Comrade Detective | Stefan/American Guard/Embassy Officer | 3 episodes |
| Apollo Gauntlet | Monty | 5 episodes | |
| Tarantula | Voice | Episode: "The Shade" | |
| 2018 | This Is Us | Mel Buchanan | Episode: "The Car" |
| Fresh Off The Boat | Chad | Episode: "Let Me Go, Bro" | |
| A.P. Bio | Philip | Episode: "Teacher Jail" | |
| Room 104 | Gene | Episode: "Hungry" | |
| 2019 | Corporate | Mark | Episode: "The Fall" |
| 2019-2020 | What We Do in the Shadows | Colin Robinson | 20 episodes |
| 2020 | Black Monday | Lou 'Jewdini' Dinowitz | Episode: "Idiot Inside" |
Nomination
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021
|
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | What We Do in the Shadows | Nominated |
References
- ^ Mark Proksch [@m_proksch] (July 23, 2019). "Please don't watch this video UNLESS you are hiring for cartoon work. Thanks" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "#168 Mark Proksch – Episode #13 Of 2015 (Season #3 Ep #30)". Bonezone Podcast. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
Well known Canadian Baby Mark Proksch is back for another Bone Zone.
- ^ Petchesky, Barry. "Fake Yo-Yo Trickster Fools Every TV Station Everywhere". Deadspin.
- ^ Ryan, Shane. "K-Strass: The Funniest Thing That's Ever Happened". Paste.
- ^ Erickson, Randy. "Onalaska grad spins yo-yo prank into gig on TV's 'The Office'". LaCross Tribune.
- ^ Ritzen, Stacey. "Mike's Client On Last Night's 'Better Call Saul' Used To Be A Fake 'Yo-Yo Master'". Uproxx.
- ^ "Portlandia – Pull Out King". IFC.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ "Navigating On Cinema's Giant, Underground Universe". Vulture.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "Critics' Choice Awards 2021: The Complete List of TV Nominations". E! Online. January 18, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
External links
- Mark Proksch at IMDb
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