Bill Hader facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Hader
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Hader in 2016
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William Thomas Hader Jr.
June 7, 1978 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
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| Education | Art Institute of Phoenix Scottsdale Community College |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
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Full list |
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| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
William Thomas Hader Jr. (born June 7, 1978) is an American actor, director, writer, and comedian. He is famous for his time on the TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2006 to 2013. On SNL, he was known for his funny impressions and characters, especially Stefon Meyers, a quirky New York City tour guide.
Bill Hader also co-created and starred in the HBO comedy series Barry (2018–2023). In this show, he played the main character, Barry Berkman, who is a hitman trying to become an actor. Hader also produced, wrote, and directed episodes of Barry. He won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his acting in the series. He also stars in the show Documentary Now! and has appeared in many movies.
Hader has been in supporting roles in films like Superbad (2007) and The BFG (2016). He had main roles in The Skeleton Twins (2014) and Trainwreck (2015). He also played the adult Richie Tozier in It Chapter Two (2019). Bill Hader is also a talented voice actor. He has lent his voice to characters in movies like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009–2013), Inside Out (2015), and Toy Story 4 (2019).
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Early Life and Education
Bill Hader was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 7, 1978. His mother, Sherri, was a dance teacher, and his father, William, worked in different jobs, including as a truck driver and a stand-up comedian. Bill has two younger sisters, Katie and Kara. He grew up watching many movies and reading books.
Hader enjoyed Monty Python and British comedy. He also liked films by Woody Allen and Mel Brooks, which his father showed him. He made short films with his friends and acted in school plays. Bill found it hard to focus in class and was "always joking around."
He wanted to go to film school but his grades were not good enough. So, he went to The Art Institute of Phoenix and later Scottsdale Community College. One of his first jobs was selling Christmas trees. He also worked as an usher at a movie theater. He was fired from that job for telling people the ending of the movie Titanic. In 2024, he received an honorary degree from Chapman University.
Career Beginnings
1999–2004: Starting Out in Los Angeles
In 1999, Bill Hader moved to Los Angeles to become a filmmaker. His parents supported his dream and let him use his college savings for living costs. He found work as a production assistant (PA). A PA helps with many tasks on a film set. He worked long hours and had little time for his own creative ideas.
He was a PA on films like James Dean (2001) and Spider-Man (2002). After a tough experience on a film set, he decided to stop being a PA. He then worked as an assistant editor.
Hader started taking comedy classes in 2003. He quickly realized that comedy was what he loved. He formed a sketch comedy group called Animals from the Future with his friends. They performed for small audiences in backyards. Actor Nick Offerman's wife, Megan Mullally, saw them perform. She was so impressed that she told Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live (SNL), about Hader.
Because of Mullally's recommendation, Hader was asked to audition for SNL. He was nervous and didn't have any famous impressions ready. So, he spontaneously imitated an Italian man he had once heard. This impression later became his character Vinny Vedecci on the show. Soon after, Hader got an agent and manager, and then he was invited to join SNL.
2006–2013: Becoming Famous on Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader joined Saturday Night Live (SNL) in October 2005. He quickly became known as the "impressions guy." He could perfectly imitate many famous people. Some of his impressions included Vincent Price, Keith Morrison, and Al Pacino. In 2012, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on SNL. He was the first male SNL cast member since Eddie Murphy in 1984 to get this nomination.
One of Hader's most popular characters was Stefon. Stefon was a funny New York City correspondent on the "Weekend Update" segment. He would recommend strange nightclubs with bizarre characters. Stefon was also in love with and married to Seth Meyers on the show. The character was inspired by real people that Hader and fellow SNL writer John Mulaney had met.
Hader also started appearing in movies during this time. His first film was You, Me and Dupree (2006). In 2007, he had a supporting role as Officer Slater in Superbad. This role helped him become more well-known. He also appeared in Knocked Up and Hot Rod.
He worked as a creative consultant and voice actor for the animated show South Park. He even won an Emmy Award in 2009 for his work as a producer on the show. In 2008, Hader voiced characters in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. He also lent his voice to the animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and its sequel. In these films, he played the main character, Flint Lockwood.
From 2011 to 2014, Hader hosted Essentials, Jr. on Turner Classic Movies. He chose classic films each week to show to younger audiences. He was chosen because he is very passionate about movies and knows a lot about them. He picked films like Singin' in the Rain (1952) and King Kong (1933).
Hader decided to leave SNL after eight seasons in 2013. He felt it was time to go because he and his wife were traveling a lot for work. This made it hard for their children. His last episode was on May 18, 2013. He later returned to host SNL in 2014 and 2018.
2014–Present: Film Roles and Barry
In 2014, Bill Hader starred in a serious role in the film The Skeleton Twins. He acted alongside Kristen Wiig, who he also worked with on Saturday Night Live. In 2015, Hader voiced the character of Fear in the Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out. This movie was very popular.
In December 2015, Hader helped create the voice of BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He and another actor, Ben Schwartz, were credited as "BB-8 vocal consultants." The voice was made by changing their voices with special equipment. Hader also voiced characters in funny parodies of the Star Wars movies.
Hader had his first main role in a romantic comedy in Trainwreck (2015), opposite Amy Schumer. In 2017, he voiced Alpha 5 in the Power Rangers movie.
In 2018, Hader co-created and began starring in the HBO series Barry. He played the main character and also worked as a producer, writer, and director for the show. For his work on Barry, he received many Emmy Award nominations. He won Emmys for 'Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series' in both 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, Hader starred in the horror film It: Chapter Two as the adult Richie Tozier. He received praise for his performance. He also voiced Leonard in The Angry Birds Movie 2 and Axel the Carnie in Toy Story 4. In 2023, Hader had a small role as a UPS driver in the film Beau is Afraid. In 2024, it was announced that Hader will voice the main character in an upcoming animated movie based on the Dr. Seuss book The Cat in the Hat.
Influences
Bill Hader has said that his comedy influences include Monty Python, Alan Alda, Mel Brooks, and Eddie Murphy. These are all famous comedians and actors who have inspired his work.
Personal Life
Family
Bill Hader married writer and director Maggie Carey in 2006. They have three daughters together. They later divorced in 2018. Hader has also dated actresses Rachel Bilson and Anna Kendrick. Since late 2022, he has been in a relationship with comedian and actress Ali Wong.
Interests
Hader loves to read books, especially classic novels. He enjoys works by authors like Tobias Wolff and Fyodor Dostoevsky. He is also a big fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Bill Hader is a huge movie fan and enjoys films from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He also likes movies directed by the Coen Brothers, Stanley Kubrick, and Akira Kurosawa.
Health
Bill Hader has an anxiety disorder. During his time on Saturday Night Live, he sometimes had anxiety and trouble sleeping. He was very focused on his performances and wanted them to be perfect.
Acting Credits and Awards
See also
In Spanish: Bill Hader para niños
