Bill Hader Biography

Summary

"William 'Bill' Hader" (born June 7, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and repertory player on "Saturday Night Live". He is also known for his supporting roles in numerous comedy films, starring in at least three films a year since 2006. Hader announced at the premiere of the movie Paper Heart on August 5th, 2009, that he and wife Maggie Carey were expecting their first child in late September.

Early work

Hader was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he attended Monte Cassino and Cascia Hall Preparatory School, before attending The Art Institute of Phoenix and Scottsdale Community College. Hader's comedic aspirations eventually led him to Los Angeles where he joined the Second City, a comedy troupe that has been a training ground for many "SNL" cast members since the 1970s. He also performed at iO West in Los Angeles. During his time at Second City and iO West, Hader worked as a production assistant on the DVD "Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy" and "Collateral Damage", as well as an assistant on VH1's "The Surreal Life". Prior to "SNL", Hader was perhaps most known for his work as a 'field agent' on MTV's "Punk'd".

"Saturday Night Live"

Hader was 'discovered' by Megan Mullally of "Will & Grace" while working with the Los Angeles-based comedy troupe, 'Animals from the Future.' Mullally brought him to the attention of "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels. Hader was hired as a 'featured player' and made his debut on the show on October 1, 2005. His first role was as a psychologist giving his views about life and death during the emergency landing of Jet Blue Flight 292. Hader is known for his impressions of famous people, such as Vincent Price in the Variety Vault sketches and Al Pacino.

Hader recently finished his 4th season on "SNL" and, along with Bobby Moynihan, Andy Samberg, Kenan Thompson, Casey Wilson and Abby Elliott is one of six SNL castmembers who was born after the show's premiere in 1975.

Recurring "SNL" characters

Vinny Vedecci, the Italian talk-show host who chain-smokes, insults his crew (Fred Armisen and Will Forte), has a son (Bobby Moynihan), and speaks little English, even though his guests (played by the host themselves) are English-speakers

Nitro (along with Andy Samberg's 'Admiral Spaceship') in the SNL Digital Short "Laser Cats"

One of the four guys (the others being Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis and the host) who reveal crazy aspects about themselves while singing a song on the jukebox in the Song Memories sketches.

One half of the Same Sex Couple from New Jersey (or Connecticut), the other half played by Fred Armisen

DJ Frontal Assault on Deep House Dish

Danny, a guy who has the mutant 'Kuato' (played by Andy Samberg) living in his stomach

Mike Underballs, the director of PSAs who has to deal with the shenanigans of Jeff (Jason Sudeikis), a crew member.

Mr. Triggs, the father of an ugly, socially inept girl named Stacia (played by Kristen Wiig)

Impersonations (on and off "Saturday Night Live")

Hader has said he did impressions of teachers and friends when he was growing up, but did not do impressions of famous people until his "Saturday Night Live" audition. His Al Pacino impression came after watching the actor's Emmy acceptance speech for "Angels in America". Hader's Vincent Price impression came from his love of Price's Edgar Allan Poe films, such as" The Fall of the House of Usher". His Peter O'Toole impression came partly from O'Toole in "My Favorite Year" and Jack Lemmon's drunken Prince Hapnick from "The Great Race."

Another one of Hader's more popular impersonations from Saturday Night Live is his impersonation of 'disgraced former governor' Elliot Spitzer.

Film roles

He first appeared alongside Owen Wilson and Matt Dillon in "You, Me and Dupree". Since then he's had a wide range of roles such as Katherine Heigl's editor at E! in "Knocked Up", the acid-taking mechanic Dave in "Hot Rod" (alongside" SNL" castmate Andy Samberg), a recumbent biker in" The Brothers Solomon" (which also featured SNL castmate Will Forte in one of the film's co-leading roles) and, most famously, as Officer Slater in the Judd Apatow produced" Superbad". His role in Superbad helped boost his public awareness and allowed him to appear on mainstream programs like Total Request Live, The Tonight Show, and MTV's Video Music Awards.

Hader appeared in two other Apatow projects: "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Pineapple Express" (with Seth Rogen). He also appeared alongside Ben Stiller, Brandon T. Jackson, Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., Matthew McConaughey, Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Tom Cruise, and Nick Nolte in "Tropic Thunder". He teamed back up with "Superbad" director Greg Mottola for the film "Adventureland", which also featured fellow "SNL"er Kristen Wiig. In addition to these films, Hader has also made several short films, including "Back in the Day" (alongside Derek Waters and wife Maggie Carey), "Sounds Good to Me: Remastering the Sting", and ("The Jeannie Tate Show") with "SNL" writer Liz Cackowski and wife Maggie Carey. Hader will lend his voice in the Sony Pictures Animation film "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs". Hader appeared in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" as Major General George Armstrong Custer. The film opened in the U.S. on May 22, 2009.

Hader has also written a slasher film to be produced by Judd Apatow, which he shall also star in if the film is produced.

In an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Bill Hader voiced a balloon with the personality of a reincarnated Adolf Hitler in the episode 'Der Inflatable Fuhrer'.

In April 2009, Hader was a part of "Vanity Fair"s list of 'Comedy's New Legends'.

Other work

Hader was a creative consultant on the 12th season of "South Park". He is now a producer on the 13th season, which premiered March 11, 2009.

Hader and SNL castmate Seth Meyers penned a Spider-Man one-shot entitled 'The Short Halloween'. It was drawn by comic book legend Kevin Maguire and came out May 29, 2009 to positive reviews.

In the game "Grand Theft Auto IV" he played Wilson Taylor Sr (On in-game radio show: "Pacemaker)

In July 2008, Hader starred in the web series "The Line" on Crackle.