Ed Helms facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ed Helms
Ed Helms at a movie premiere in 2014
Born	Ed Parker Helms (1974-01-24) January 24, 1974 (age 51) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Education	Oberlin College (BA)
Occupation	Actor comedian
Years active	1998–present
Political party	Democratic
Children	2

Ed Parker Helms (born January 24, 1974) is an American actor and comedian. He is well-known for his funny roles in TV shows and movies. From 2002 to 2006, he was a reporter on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

He played the paper salesman Andy Bernard in the popular TV show The Office from 2006 to 2013. He also starred as Stuart "Stu" Price in The ... movies. More recently, he starred in and helped write the comedy series Rutherford Falls (2021–2022).

Ed Helms has also acted in serious and funny films. These include Cedar Rapids (2011) and We're the Millers (2013). He also lent his voice to animated movies like The Lorax (2012) and Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017).

He has won awards for his acting. He received a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2008 for his work on The Office. He also won a Writers Guild of America Award for his writing on The Fake News with Ted Nelms in 2018.

Early Life and Education

Ed Helms was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He comes from a mix of English, Irish, German, Dutch, and French backgrounds. When he was 13, he had heart surgery to fix a problem he was born with. He recovered well after the surgery.

As a young person, he attended Interlochen Center for the Arts. He graduated from The Westminster Schools in 1992. Later, he went to Oberlin College. He first studied geology but changed his major to film theory and technology, graduating in 1996. He also spent some time studying at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Career Highlights

Starting Out in Comedy

After college, Ed Helms started his comedy and acting career in New York City. He wrote and performed with different sketch comedy groups. He also learned improvisation with the Upright Citizens Brigade group.

At the same time, he worked as a trainee film editor. While working there, he recorded some rough voiceovers. These recordings eventually led to him getting paid voiceover jobs. Soon after, he found a talent agent to help him get more acting work.

Television Roles

Helms in Dublin, Ireland (2009)

Ed Helms was performing comedy in New York City when he got an audition for The Daily Show. He got the job and became a correspondent for the satirical news program from 2002 to 2006. He reported on different topics and hosted segments like "Digital Watch" and "Mark Your Calendar."

In 2006, Ed Helms left The Daily Show. However, he sometimes came back for short appearances. In July 2006, NBC announced that he would join the cast of The Office. This show is a mockumentary, which means it's filmed like a documentary but is actually fictional.

He played Andy Bernard, a character who loved a cappella music. Ed Helms became a regular cast member starting in the third season. He even became one of the show's producers. He shared that he also enjoys a cappella music, just like his character.

Ed Helms has also appeared in other TV shows. These include The Mindy Project and Arrested Development. In 2015, he was a guest on the survival show Running Wild with Bear Grylls. He also does voiceovers for commercials and cartoons.

He helped create the TV show Rutherford Falls for Peacock. This show has a team of writers, including several who are Indigenous.

Movie Appearances

Ed Helms has had many roles in movies. He appeared in films like Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

He starred in the 2011 film Cedar Rapids. In 2015, he played the main character, Rusty Griswold, in the movie Vacation. He also appeared in Love the Coopers in the same year.

In 2012, he voiced the character of the Once-ler in The Lorax. He also voiced the main character, Captain Underpants, in the animated film Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie in 2017.

Other Creative Work

Ed Helms is part of a bluegrass band called The Lonesome Trio. He formed the band with his friends Ian Riggs and Jacob Tilove when they were in college. They still perform a few shows each year. Ed Helms loves bluegrass music and even started an annual festival called the LA Bluegrass Situation. He plays the banjo, guitar, and piano.

He also co-founded a music blog called The Bluegrass Situation. It shares news and content about bluegrass, blues, folk, and other rootsy music. In 2020, they started a weekly online show called The Whiskey Sour Happy Hour. This show featured music and comedy and raised money for charity.

Ed Helms has appeared in music videos for the band Mumford and Sons. He launched his own production company, Pacific Electric Picture Company, in 2013. This company develops TV shows and movies.

In 2013, he helped create, produce, and star in a web series called Tiny Commando. It was about a former Navy SEAL who accidentally shrinks to four inches tall. His small size helps him go on special missions. In 2024, his company started a program to find new uplifting comedy shows.

Political Involvement

Ed Helms is on the board of RepresentUs. This is a non-profit group that works to pass laws against corruption in the United States.

In 2022, he worked with VoteRiders to help people understand how to vote. He encouraged volunteers to contact registered voters and explain how to get past any barriers to casting their ballot.

Personal Life

Ed Helms is married and has two children. He has mentioned his family in podcasts and interviews.

Honors and Speeches

• In 2013, Ed Helms received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Knox College. He also gave the graduation speech there.
• In May 2014, he gave a speech at Cornell University. This is the college that his character, Andy Bernard, from The Office supposedly attended.
• In May 2015, he gave the commencement speech at the University of Virginia.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Web series

See also

In Spanish: Ed Helms para niños