Mark Proksch (/ˈprʊkʃ/ PRUUKSH; born 1978 or 1979)[1][2] is an American comedian and character actor. He is best known for acting in the television series The Office, Better Call Saul, Dream Corp LLC, What We Do in the Shadows and as a fictionalized version of himself in the On Cinema universe.

Mark Proksch
Proksch in 2016
Born1978 or 1979 (age 45–46)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active2007–present
SpouseAmelie Gillette

He rose to prominence when he portrayed the character "K-Strass", a parody of a yo-yo master, who appeared on local news shows.[3]

Early life

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Proksch grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and is a graduate of Onalaska High School and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.[2][4]

K-Strass

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Proksch had the alias of Kenny "K-Strass" Strasser early in his career, during which he appeared on small-market local newscasts as a hapless "yo-yo master."[5] In these appearances, he fabricated stories about visiting schools to speak to children about environmentalism. When asked to perform tricks live on the air, he would display a complete inability to do any of them. The character of K-Strass 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."[6] K-Strass was created when Proksch's temp job at an ad agency fell through.[7]

Proksch also appeared as K-Strass while opening for Gregg Turkington's Neil Hamburger on tour.[8] Turkington and Proksch would work together again on On Cinema.

Television career

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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.[9] From 2015 to 2017 he appeared as Daniel "Pryce" Wormald, a recurring character on the AMC drama series Better Call Saul, a prequel to Breaking Bad. From 2014 through 2020, Proksch appeared as the character "Randy Blink" in the Adult Swim series Dream Corp LLC. 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

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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.[10] 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 "The Living 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. The fictional Proksch still appeared confused in the next season of On Cinema. After being beaten in a Los Angeles Police Department holding cell when he was wrongly arrested for selling VHS copies of public domain movies with Gregg, he goes missing. During the 8th Annual Oscar special, a brief video recording that appears to depict the fictional Proksch surfaces and suggests that he no longer wishes to be involved with the hosts of On Cinema. He later returns to co-star as The Mummy and other characters, in Deck of Cards.

What We Do in the Shadows

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Proksch stars as Colin Robinson, an energy vampire, in the FX series What We Do in the Shadows, as well as portraying the reincarnation of Colin Robinson as a child and teenager (nicknamed "The Boy") following the original Colin's death in the third season finale.

Personal life

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Proksch is married to writer Amelie Gillette.[11]

Filmography

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Film

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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 Documentary
2019 Her Mind in Pieces Jeffrey Presch
VHYes Teddy
Mister America Mark Proksch Archive footage

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2010–2013 The Office Nate Nickerson 19 episodes
2012, 2014 Infomercials Kenny/Kirk Peckley Episode:"Smart Pipe" & "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/WC-3P0 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"
2015–2017 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"
2019–2024 What We Do in the Shadows Colin Robinson Main Cast, 50 episodes
2020 Black Monday Lou 'Jewdini' Dinowitz Episode: "Idiot Inside"
2021 Q-Force Additional voices 2 episodes
Ten Year Old Tom Dakota's Dad 3 episodes
2022 The Great North Roy Episode: "Dances With Wolfs Adventure"
Fairfax Terry 2 episodes
Central Park Lester Posey/Nico
Paradise PD Norf 4 episodes
2023 HouseBroken Amigo Episode: "Who's the Cat-Chelorette"
2024 Exploding Kittens Marv Higgins 9 episodes
The Simpsons Hack-GPT Episode: "Bart's Birthday"

Web series

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Year Title Role Episode
2015–present On Cinema Mark Proksch 21 episodes, 7 special

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Role
2023 Bubblegum Dog MGMT Cameo

Nomination

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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

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  1. ^ Holmes, David (April 23, 2011). FRI Apr 22: Mark Proksch 1. A Drink with Dave. Event occurs at 00:25. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Justin, Neal (March 26, 2019). "Midwestern Bite". The Star Tribune. p. E3. Proksch, 40, grew up in La Crosse, Wis., and got his undergraduate degree at UW-Eau Claire...
  3. ^ "Fake Yo-Yo Trickster Fools Every TV Station Everywhere". Deadspin. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Erickson, Randy (January 2, 2017). "Breaking Big: Onalaska Native Moves Up in Hollywood". The Post-Crescent. p. 2C.
  5. ^ Petchesky, Barry. "Fake Yo-Yo Trickster Fools Every TV Station Everywhere". Deadspin.
  6. ^ Ryan, Shane. "K-Strass: The Funniest Thing That's Ever Happened". Paste.
  7. ^ Erickson, Randy (November 14, 2010). "Onalaska grad spins yo-yo prank into gig on TV's 'The Office'". LaCross Tribune.
  8. ^ Ritzen, Stacey (March 31, 2015). "Mike's Client On Last Night's 'Better Call Saul' Used To Be A Fake 'Yo-Yo Master'". Uproxx.
  9. ^ "Portlandia – Pull Out King". IFC.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  10. ^ "Navigating On Cinema's Giant, Underground Universe". Vulture.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "Breaking big: Onalaska's Mark Proksch moving up in show biz world". December 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Critics' Choice Awards 2021: The Complete List of TV Nominations". E! Online. January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
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