Noah "Puck" Puckerman

Noah "Puck" Puckerman
Mark Salling as Puck on the Glee Live! In Concert! tour
First appearance	"Pilot"
Last appearance	"Dreams Come True"
Created by	Ryan Murphy Brad Falchuk Ian Brennan
Portrayed by	Mark Salling
Information
Occupation	U.S. Air Force Airman
Family	Jake Puckerman (paternal half brother) Unnamed younger sister and unnamed father and mother
Significant other(s)	Quinn Fabray Lauren Zizes Santana Lopez Kitty Wilde
Children	Beth
Religion	Judaism

Noah "Puck" Puckerman is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. The character is portrayed by actor Mark Salling, and has appeared in Glee from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009. Puck was developed by Glee creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. He is Finn's best friend and football teammate, who initially disapproves of Finn joining the New Directions glee club at the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, where the show is set, but he eventually joins it himself. In 2010, Salling was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star Male for his work as Puck, and in 2011 for the Choice TV: Scene Stealer Male category.

Puck is played by Mark Salling. He has also been portrayed as a preschooler by Matthew Lepper in the episode "The Substitute". Salling had sent 100 packets to agents and managers, and "one called me and submitted me for Glee that day in her office." He had five auditions for Glee before being cast as Puck.

Salling found it challenging to make the character "more than two-dimensional so he can be likable at the same time", which necessitated "find[ing] the balance between arrogance and cocky and sensible and likable". He recalled that "in the breakdown for the show, when they were describing his character in the very beginning, it's like Puck: a man-child." Salling explained that Puck has "stars in his eyes, he's hoping to get out of this small town." Salling gained 20 pounds (9.1 kg) before filming the pilot episode in order to better embody his football playing character. He then lost 30 pounds (14 kg) for a scene in the third episode that required him to be toned, which he described as "an extreme experience".