Bill Hader
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| Bill Hader | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | William Thomas Hader Jr. |
| Caption | Hader in 2015 |
| Birth date | August 7, 1978 |
| Birth place | Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, writer, producer, director |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Bill Hader William Thomas Hader Jr. is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director known for his character work, voice acting, and creator-driven television. He rose to prominence as a cast member on Saturday Night Live before creating and starring in the dark comedy series Barry (TV series). Hader's career spans sketch comedy, mainstream film, and auteur television, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards.
Early life and education
Hader was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and raised in the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He is the son of schoolteacher Margaret Hader and Scottish-born accountant William Thomas Hader Sr., with family roots that connect to Scotland and the American Midwest. Hader attended Broken Arrow High School where he performed in theatre productions and developed an early interest in improvisation and sketch work. After high school he moved to Los Angeles and enrolled at Tulane University for a brief period before dropping out to pursue entertainment; he later trained at improvisational schools including The Groundlings and Second City-affiliated programs in Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles. Early influences included comedians and actors associated with Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and the improvisational traditions of Del Close.
Career
Hader began his professional career performing improvisation and sketch comedy in Los Angeles venues and writing for small productions. He broke into television with guest spots on series such as Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and The Sarah Silverman Program before being cast as a featured player on Saturday Night Live in 2005. On SNL he became known for impressions and recurring characters, collaborating with cast members like Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, and writers such as Seth Meyers and Tina Fey. Hader’s impressions included public figures from Steve Jobs to Andrew Luck, and his sketches often referenced pop culture properties like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and The Godfather.
After SNL, Hader transitioned to film and television supporting roles in projects including Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hot Rod, and Pineapple Express, working with directors and comedians like Judd Apatow, Nicholas Stoller, and Greg Mottola. He developed a reputation for voice acting in animated franchises, lending his voice to characters in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Inside Out, The Angry Birds Movie 2, and the Star Wars-adjacent animated properties, collaborating with studios such as DreamWorks Animation and Pixar.
Hader co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the HBO series Barry (TV series), playing a conflicted hitman-turned-actor, and working with collaborators including Alec Berg, Hank Azaria, Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, and Anthony Carrigan. Barry earned praise for blending crime drama and dark comedy, with Hader directing multiple episodes and shaping the series’ narrative arc. He has also directed feature films and produced television through his production company, working with platforms like HBO, Amazon Studios, and Warner Bros..
Filmography
Hader's screen credits encompass sketch television, feature films, and voice roles. Selected television appearances include Saturday Night Live, Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, Barry (TV series), and guest roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Portlandia. Feature films include Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, The Skeleton Twins, Inside Out, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Superintelligence, and Noelle. Voice and animated credits include projects by Pixar Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, and Sony Pictures Animation. He has also written and directed episodes of Barry (TV series) and short films screened at festivals connected to Sundance Film Festival and regional film events.
Awards and nominations
Hader has received multiple nominations and awards for his work in television and film. He won Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on Barry (TV series), competing in categories alongside performers from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Schitt's Creek, and The Crown. His writing and producing credits earned nominations from the Writers Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. Hader's ensemble and individual performances have been recognized by the Critics' Choice Television Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, with wins and nominations reflecting peers from productions such as Succession, The Handmaid's Tale, and Veep.
Personal life
Hader married filmmaker and actress Maggie Carey in a private ceremony; the couple have three children and resided in Los Angeles County, California before separating. He has discussed personal struggles with anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder in interviews alongside conversations about therapy, mindfulness, and the influence of family, referencing figures such as Sigmund Freud historically and modern practitioners within psychotherapy communities. Hader is known for maintaining privacy about political endorsements but has participated in charity events with organizations like Stand Up To Cancer and arts initiatives linked to The Public Theater.
Influence and legacy
Hader's influence spans sketch comedy, character acting, and auteur television. His blend of improvisation and scripted drama helped reshape expectations for comedian-driven prestige television alongside creators like Donald Glover, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lena Dunham, and Aziz Ansari. Barry is frequently cited in discussions of contemporary dark comedy and crime satire alongside series such as Fargo (TV series), Breaking Bad, and Killing Eve. Hader's vocal work contributes to the modern animation landscape cultivated by studios like Pixar Animation Studios and DreamWorks Animation, while his SNL tenure influenced a generation of performers at institutions including Saturday Night Live and improv schools such as The Second City and The Groundlings.
Category:American male actors Category:American comedians Category:1978 births Category:Living people