You know that feeling when you're watching a rom-com and a random side character walks on screen and suddenly the lead actors—even people as famous as Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds—basically disappear? That’s exactly what happened in 2009. We were all sitting there, watching The Proposal, expecting a standard "fake marriage" plot in the woods of Alaska. Then, Ramone showed up.
Honestly, it shouldn't have worked.
Ramone is the ultimate "small town" joke taken to a hilarious extreme. In the film, he isn't just one guy with a job; he is the entire infrastructure of Sitka, Alaska. He's the waiter. He’s the fabric store clerk. He’s the exotic dancer at the local bachelorette party. He’s even the minister. It sounds like a gimmick that would get old after two minutes, but Oscar Nunez played it with such a bizarre, deadpan sincerity that it became the movie's beating heart.
Why Everyone Still Remembers Ramone from The Proposal
People search for Ramone from The Proposal more than almost any other character in that film. Why? Because Oscar Nunez brought a specific kind of "Office" energy to a big-budget Hollywood movie. At the time, Nunez was already a household name for playing Oscar Martinez on NBC's The Office. We were used to him being the "sane" person in a room full of idiots.
In The Proposal, the roles flipped.
He became the chaos.
When Sandra Bullock’s character, Margaret Tate, walks into that local bar and sees Ramone on stage, the shift in the movie’s rhythm is palpable. It’s a scene that could have been incredibly cringey. Let’s be real: watching a middle-aged man do a striptease in a comedy is a trope as old as time. Yet, Nunez didn't play it for a cheap laugh. He played it like he was a professional athlete. He was committed. The "jiggle" was intentional. The eye contact was devastating.
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The Versatility of the Sitka Resident
The joke is that Sitka is so small that Ramone has to do everything. While the movie was actually filmed largely in Rockport and Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, it successfully sold the idea of a tight-knit Alaskan community where you can't escape your neighbors.
Think about the sheer number of hats the guy wears:
- He serves them snacks at the party.
- He’s the main entertainment for the ladies' night.
- He’s behind the counter at the general store.
- He eventually stands at the altar to marry them.
It's a brilliant bit of writing by Peter Chiarelli. Most comedies would have hired four different character actors to play those bit parts. By condensing them into one person—Ramone—the movie creates a sense of delightful claustrophobia for Margaret. She can't hide from her lies because Ramone is always there, watching. He’s the witness to her entire facade.
Oscar Nunez on the "Naked" Truth of the Role
Nunez has been fairly open in interviews over the years about what it was like to film those scenes. He’s mentioned that the dancing scene was actually quite technical. It wasn't just him messing around; it was choreographed. He had to be in a specific physical space to make the comedy land without it feeling mean-spirited toward the character.
He told The AV Club and other outlets that working with Bullock and Reynolds was a breeze because they were willing to be the "straight men" to his absurdity. If Ryan Reynolds is the king of the fast-talking quip, Nunez in this film is the king of the slow-burn reaction.
The "Relax" Scene: A Masterclass in Comedy
The interaction between Ramone and Margaret in the shop—where he’s trying to sell her something and just keeps saying "Relax"—is a perfect example of his timing. It’s two words. That’s it. But the way he spaces them out forces the audience to feel the same impatience Margaret feels.
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It’s about the power of the pause.
Most modern comedies are terrified of silence. They want to fill every second with a joke or a pop song. Director Anne Fletcher allowed Nunez to just exist in the frame. His physicality—the way he stands, the way he wears that vest—tells a story of a man who is completely comfortable in his skin, even if that skin is currently covered in body oil for a dance routine.
Misconceptions About the Character
Some people think Ramone was a late addition to the script or a series of cameos. Not true. He was a scripted, integral part of the "fish out of water" narrative. Another common mistake is thinking Oscar Nunez used a body double for the dancing. Nope. That was all him. He put in the work, and the results are etched into the brain of anyone who watched cable TV in the 2010s, as this movie was on a constant loop on channels like TBS and FX.
Also, some viewers get confused about whether Ramone is "real" or a figment of Margaret's stress. He's real. He's just the ultimate hustler. In a town like Sitka (or the movie version of it), you don't have one career; you have a lifestyle of service.
How The Proposal Changed Nunez's Career
Before 2009, Oscar Nunez was "the guy from The Office." After 2009, he was "Ramone." It showed Hollywood that he had incredible range. He wasn't just the dry, intellectual accountant; he was a physical comedian who could hold his own against an Oscar winner.
It’s interesting to look at the trajectory of character actors like him. Often, they get pigeonholed. But Ramone was so distinct from Oscar Martinez that it broke the mold. It allowed him to jump into projects like The Lost City (reunited with Bullock!) and Baywatch later on. He became the "secret weapon" for directors. You bring in Nunez for three days of filming, and he gives you the three most memorable scenes in the entire movie.
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Why the Humor Still Holds Up
Comedy dates quickly. Jokes that were funny in 2009 often feel "off" or problematic in 2026. However, Ramone works because the joke isn't at his expense. He isn't the butt of the joke; Margaret is. He is completely empowered. He loves his many jobs. He loves the attention. He is a man living his best life in the middle of nowhere, and the audience is invited to celebrate that with him.
The film currently sits with a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes, but its "Audience Score" is where the true story lies. People love this movie because it's comforting, and characters like Ramone provide the texture that makes a story feel lived-in rather than manufactured in a studio lab.
What You Can Learn from the "Ramone" Style of Comedy
If you're a writer or a creator, there’s a massive lesson here: Commitment is everything. If Oscar Nunez had played Ramone with a wink to the camera, as if to say "Can you believe I'm doing this?", the character would have failed. Instead, he played it with 100% sincerity. Whether he was officiating a wedding or rubbing his chest, he stayed in character.
- Be the Multi-Hyphenate: In a gig economy world, Ramone is actually a bit of a prophet. He had four jobs before it was cool.
- Deadpan is Power: You don't always need to yell to be the funniest person in the room. Sometimes, a well-timed "Hello" is enough.
- Own the Space: Even in a small role, you can dominate the narrative if you have a clear point of view.
Practical Ways to Revisit the Character
If you want to dive deeper into the legend of Ramone, your best bet is to watch the "Behind the Scenes" features on the Blu-ray or digital extras of The Proposal. There are outtakes of the dance scene that show just how much improvisation was happening on set. Reynolds and Bullock are visible in the background of some takes, and you can see them genuinely struggling to keep a straight face.
You should also check out Oscar Nunez’s later work to see how he refined this specific brand of "weirdo" humor. His guest spots on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine or his role in Reno 911! show a similar ability to take a tiny amount of screen time and turn it into something iconic.
To really appreciate the craft, watch the wedding scene at the end of the film again. Notice how he shifts from the "entertainer" persona to the "minister" persona without losing the essence of who Ramone is. It’s a subtle bit of acting that often gets overlooked because we're all waiting for the big romantic speech. But without Ramone there to ground the scene in the reality of the town, the emotional payoff wouldn't feel as earned.
Next time you’re flipping through channels and see that blue Alaskan sky on your screen, stick around for Ramone. He’s the reminder that in the world of storytelling, there truly are no small parts—only actors who aren't afraid to get a little bit oily for the sake of a laugh.
To see more of Oscar Nunez's comedic range, look up his work in the series People of Earth or his recurring roles in modern sitcoms where he continues to play the most interesting man in the room. He remains one of the most consistent character actors in the business, proving that a single breakout role like Ramone can build a legacy that lasts decades.