Bill Hader is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director born on June 7, 1978. He became famous during his eight years on Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2013, receiving four Primetime Emmy nominations and a Peabody Award. His standout performances included memorable impressions and his role as Stefon Meyers on the Weekend Update segments.
Hader co-created the HBO series Barry (2018–2023) and starred as the main character Barry Berkman. He also took on roles as producer writer and director earning eight Emmy nominations and winning two consecutive awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
He co-stars and produces the mockumentary series Documentary Now! on IFC with Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers. His guest role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in 2022 earned him an Emmy nomination.
In film Bill Hader has appeared in supporting roles in movies like “Hot Rod” (2007), “Superbad” (2007), “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008), “Adventureland” (2009), and “The BFG” (2016). He has played lead roles in “The Skeleton Twins” (2014), “Trainwreck” (2015), and as adult Richie Tozier in “It Chapter Two” (2019). Hader is also recognized for his voice work in animated films such as the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” series (2009–2013), “Turbo” (2013), “Inside Out” (2015), “The Angry Birds Movie” (2016), and its sequel “Power Rangers” (2017) and “Toy Story 4” (2019).
| Full Name | Bill Hader |
| Date of Birth | June 7, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, writer |
| Height | 6 feet (1.85 m) |
| Spouse | Maggie Carey (m. 2006; div. 2018) |
| Children | Hannah, Harper, and Hayley |
| Net Worth | $14 million |
Bill Hader’s Early Life and Education
Bill Hader was born in Tulsa Oklahoma on June 7, 1978. His mom Sherri was a dance teacher and his dad William worked in various jobs like owning an air cargo company managing restaurants driving trucks and even doing stand-up comedy sometimes. Bill has two younger sisters named Katie and Kara. His family background includes Danish English German and Irish roots.
Bill found it hard to focus in school as a kid and loved making jokes. He didn’t feel like he fit in so he spent a lot of time watching movies and reading. He liked Monty Python British comedy and films by Woody Allen and Mel Brooks which his dad introduced him to. He made short films with his friends and acted in a school play called The Glass Menagerie.
Bill wasn’t a great student and didn’t get into the top film schools he applied to because of his low grades. Instead, he went to The Art Institute of Phoenix and later to Scottsdale Community College. His first jobs included selling Christmas trees and working as an usher at a cinema in Tempe where he got fired for telling the ending of Titanic to rowdy moviegoers.
At Scottsdale Community College Bill met Nicholas Jasenovec who later directed a movie called Paper Heart. In May 2024 Bill gave a speech to the graduating class of Chapman College and received an honorary Ph.D.
Career
Bill Hader wanted to be a filmmaker so he left college and moved to Los Angeles in 1999. His parents supported him by using the money they saved for his education to cover his living expenses. He started as a production assistant (PA) hoping to become an assistant director. Despite working long hours and feeling somewhat lonely and underemployed he immersed himself in the world of movies.
As a PA he worked on notable projects like the Star Wars documentary and films like Spider-Man and Collateral Damage. He also dabbled briefly in reality TV and stage management. However, a bad experience during the filming of The Scorpion King made him quit being a PA altogether.
After that, he landed a job as a night-time assistant editor and invested in his short film though he never released it due to embarrassment. During a tough personal time after a breakup, he turned to comedy classes at Second City in 2003. Comedy soon became his passion and he formed a sketch group called Animals from the Future with friends.
His big break came when actress Megan Mullally saw him perform and recommended him to Saturday Night Live (SNL) producer Lorne Michaels. Despite feeling unprepared for his audition Hader’s spontaneous impersonation earned him a spot on SNL as a featured player in 2005. He quickly became known for his impressions and memorable characters like Stefon.
Beyond SNL, Bill Hader expanded into films appearing in comedies like “Superbad Knocked Up” and “Hot Rod”. He also worked on South Park as a voice actor and writer and he contributed to various other projects in TV and film.
In 2013, after eight seasons on SNL Hader decided to leave due to the strain it put on his family life. Despite this, he returned to host SNL in subsequent years.
Throughout his career, Hader has demonstrated versatility and a strong comedic presence earning accolades like Emmy nominations for his work on SNL. His journey from aspiring filmmaker to comedy star reflects his dedication and talent in the entertainment industry.
Bill Hader known for his comedy and voice work took on a more serious role in the 2014 movie “The Skeleton Twins” alongside Kristen Wiig his former co-star from “Saturday Night Live”. The film won the award for ‘Best Screenplay’ at the Sundance Film Festival.
In 2015, Bill Hader voiced the character Fear in Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out” and was set to voice a dinosaur in another Pixar film “The Good Dinosaur”. However, Hader and several other actors left the project when their characters were changed.
During the same year, he appeared in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” as Captain Seth Dozerman and reunited with Fred Armisen and Seth Meyers for the IFC series “Documentary Now!”.
In “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz were credited as vocal consultants for the character BB-8 using a special voice modulation technique.
He also played roles in “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” and “Trainwreck” where he starred opposite Amy Schumer. Hader voiced Alpha 5 in the “Power Rangers” movie of 2017.
In 2018, Bill Hader co-created and starred in HBO’s “Barry” earning multiple Emmy nominations and winning awards for his acting. He also appeared in “It: Chapter Two” in 2019 and voiced characters in several animated films and series.
In June 2023, Bill Hader was invited to join The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The same year he had a cameo in Ari Aster’s film “Beau is Afraid”.
In 2024, Hader is set to voice the Cat in the upcoming animated remake of Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” and will also serve as an executive producer.
Net Worth
Bill Harder has an estimated net worth of $14 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Bill Hader’s net worth comes from his work as an actor, comedian, writer, and producer in movies and TV shows.
Personal life
Bill Hader married Maggie Carey a writer and director in 2006. They have three daughters together but divorced in 2018. Afterward, he dated Rachel Bilson whom he acted alongside in “The To Do List”, and also actress Anna Kendrick. Since April 2023 he has been in a relationship with comedian and actress Ali Wong.
Hader loves reading especially classic literature which he turned to because he didn’t attend college. Authors like Tobias Wolff, Fyodor Dostoevsky, William Faulkner, Richard Ford, George Saunders, and Jun’ichirō Tanizaki have influenced him. He’s a big fan of the Chicago Cubs and enjoys films from the Golden Age of Hollywood as well as those directed by the Coen Brothers, Stanley Kubrick, and Akira Kurosawa.
Despite his success, Bill Hader has struggled with anxiety. During his time on Saturday Night Live, he faced anxiety and sleep issues, particularly in the first four seasons. He often worried about his comedy skills compared to his peers leading to sleepless nights before Friday shows and feelings of unease before going on air. His anxiety once escalated into a panic attack live on the show during a Julian Assange sketch in 2010.
Lorne Michaels the show’s producer reassured him afterward that he could stay as long as he wanted on the show. Hader also deals with migraines and has a severe peanut allergy which has affected his work at times requiring assistance from colleagues like Jason Sudeikis during live broadcasts.
