'Parks and Rec' Nick Offerman: 'People think I really am Ron Swanson'

Nick Offerman has revealed that people often believe he is exactly like his Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson.

The actor told The Huffington Post that in reality he is nothing like the dry-witted, anti-government civic worker he plays on the NBC sitcom.

"[The confusion is] definitely one of the strange aspects of having a character hit a level of popularity like this, but I quickly reassure anyone who asks that they're talking to a fully rounded-human being and not a hilarious, fictional television character," Offerman quipped.

Offerman also insisted that he doesn't encourage male fans to grow their own versions of Ron Swanson's infamous moustache.

"It seems to me like a lot of it is ironic and I don't approve of that," he teased.

"I would prefer that everyone grow as much facial hair as possible in as sincere a manner as possible and I hope that, as we continue to evolve as a species, we all allow our fellow members of the human race of either sex to grow as much of it as they deem necessary."

Offerman recently compared Parks and Recreation to a "delicious meal".

Parks and Recreation returns for a fifth season this fall.

Watch a clip from Parks and Recreation below: