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Nick Offerman packed on pounds for his new Netflix series.
The actor, 55, told PEOPLE at the Death by Lightning premiere in New York City on Monday, Nov. 3 that he gained about 20 lbs. for his role as former United States Vice President Chester Arthur.
“It’s not a crazy amount, so it just sort of tapped into hedonism,” Offerman explained of his physical transformation.
“Right now, I’m a little trimmer and so I have a sense of my posture. When you let yourself go like Chester Arthur, it creates a more slovenly demeanor, where you kind of let yourself drape over a chair with a little more abandon,” he continues.
The Parks and Recreation alum also noted that he had an “incredible fat suit” and “big mutton chops” to help emphasize his transformation into the man who became president after James Garfield’s assassination in 1881.
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“I had a paper collar that was too tight, so I’d button up the collar and that would make my under-chins way too fat, then I put on the fat suit,” he said of his costume. “The discomfort that came from that, it was all the personality that I needed.”
Based on the book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, the miniseries is led by Michael Shannon as the 20th president of the United States, James Garfield. The historical drama, which follows the true story of Garfield’s presidency and assassination, also stars Shea Whigham, Matthew MacFadyen, Bradley Whitford and Betty Gilpin.
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The four-part series is created by Mike Makowsky and executive produced by Game of Thrones co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Speaking about working closely with Shannon, 51, Offerman said, “I’ve known Mike since he was 19. We did a play together in ’93 or ’94 in Chicago. So, I’ve had a lot of affection for him for a long time.”
Larry Horricks/Netflix
“The relationship between our characters had a lot of enmity. They belonged to two different parties. Garfield was a reform candidate, and he was looking to clean up the exact kind of dirty politics that Chester Arthur was involved in,” he added of the dynamic between the two politicians.
Because of that, the actor shared that he and Shannon “had to hide our affection and use our classical training to maintain a sort of political politeness while despising each other’s characters.”
However, Offerman noteed, the relationship between their two characters shifts throughout the series. “But then eventually, I think we come to more of a compromise. It’s really sweet,” he said.
Death by Lightning premieres Nov. 6 on Netflix.
