Mark Proksch

Mark Proksch (/ˈprʊkʃ/ PRUUKSH; born c. 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.

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

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

Proksch had the alias 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

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

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, where his last name is frequently mispronounced.

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.

As of the 12th Annual Oscar special, he remains involved with the hosts of On Cinema, despite constant abuse.

What We Do in the Shadows

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

Proksch is married to writer Amelie Gillette.^[11]

Filmography

Film

Television

Web series

Music videos

Nomination

References

1. ^ Holmes, David (2011-04-23). FRI Apr 22: Mark Proksch 1. A Drink with Dave. pp. 00:25. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
2. ^ Justin, Neal (2019-03-26). "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 2021-10-31.
4. ^ Erickson, Randy (2017-01-02). "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 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
10. ^ "Navigating On Cinema's Giant, Underground Universe". Vulture.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
11. ^ "Breaking big: Onalaska's Mark Proksch moving up in show biz world". December 29, 2016.
12. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (2025-08-05). "'The Twits': Netflix Unveils David Byrne & Hayley Williams Original Songs; Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Voice Cast Addition & October 17 Release". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
13. ^ "The Tubs soundtrack a terrible Lyft ride in their “Round The Bend” video". Fader. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
14. ^ "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