Jeff Hiller

Last updated

Jeff Hiller
JeffHiller2023.jpg
Hiller in 2023
Born (1975-12-07) December 7, 1975 (age 49)
Education Texas Lutheran University
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present
Notable work Somebody Somewhere
Website hillertime.com

Jeff Hiller (born 1975) [1] is an American actor, improvisor and comedian. Hiller is best known for his portrayal of Joel on Somebody Somewhere , for which he was nominated for his first Emmy Award. He is also known for his role as Mr. Whitely in American Horror Story: NYC .

Contents

Life and career

Hiller grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Texas Lutheran University in 1998. [2] [3]

Hiller started performing improv comedy with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2001 where he was part of the improv teams People People, The Scam, Creep, Rumpleteaser and Police Chief Rumble. He taught improv comedy for a decade. [2]

Hiller has appeared in various television series, including Guiding Light , Ugly Betty , 30 Rock , Law & Order: Criminal Intent , Psych , Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt , and Community . [4] Hiller appeared in the films Morning Glory and Ghost Town . Hiller was well-received for his performance as John Quincy Adams in the hit rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson . In 2018, Hiller replaced Drew Droege's solo show Bright Colors and Bold Patterns off-Broadway and it was directed by Michael Urie. [5]

From 2022-2024, Hiller played Joel in Bridget Everett's Peabody Award-winning series Somebody Somewhere. Hiller was nominated for his first Emmy for his portrayal of Joel in 2025. [6]

His memoir, Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail To Overnight Success, [7] was released June 10, 2025. On the first printing of the book, the spine was misspelled, missing an "R" in the word Certain; Hiller joked about it on The Daily Show with Desi Lydic. [8]

In 2025 revival of Urinetown , Hiller played the role of Mr. McQueen. [9]

In June 2025, Hiller served as a panelist on NPR's Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! [10] and was interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air in August 2025.

Personal life

Hiller is gay [5] and founded the all-gay improv troupe Neely O'Hara. [11] Hiller is married to artist Neil Goldberg and currently lives with his husband in New York City. [12]

Memoir

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008Dream AssassinWaiterShort
Ghost Town Naked Guy
2009 Adam Rom
2010 Morning Glory Sam - Channel 9 Producer
2011Bad SeedJeffShort
2012 Gayby Showgirls Fan Customer
2013 Gods Behaving Badly First Follower
That Thing with the CatRick
Chasing TasteChef Micah
Snore (Downton Abbey)Unnamed roleShort
The Little Tin ManGreggIndependent film
2015The Last OnesBradShort
The PoetsLeonardShort
2016Sing!MarkVoice role
2018 Greta Maitre D' Henri
Set It Up Mexican Restaurant Waiter
2020First One InFrazzled Salesman
2024 Lost & Found in Cleveland Graham Hargreaves

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004A2ZComedian PanelistEpisode: "Guns N' Roses"
2005 Starved Gay ManEpisode: "3D"
2006The P.A.Jeff1 episode
2008 30 Rock Hotel ClerkEpisode: "Reunion"
2008–2009 Guiding Light Francois the Tailor2 episodes
2010Old FriendsWaiterEpisode: "Waverly Place"
Submissions Only Gay 4 (Sonny)Episode: "Old Lace"
Wiener & WienerManEpisode: "Always a Bridesmaid"
Ugly Betty Wilheldiva FanEpisode: "Chica and the Man"
2011 30 Rock StewartEpisode: "Double-Edged Sword"
Community Glee Club GuyEpisode: "Regional Holiday Music"
Bored to Death EmceeEpisode: "Forget the Herring"
Death Valley Security GuardEpisode: "Tick... Tick... BOOM!"
Psych DwayneEpisode: "Last Night Gus"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent StanEpisode: "Boots on the Ground" and "To the Boy in the Blue Knit Cap"
2012 Squad 85 Macey3 episodes
Partners Randy2 episodes
NTSF:SD:SUV:: DonEpisode: "The Return of Dragon Shumway"
Best Friends Forever The HostEpisode: "Fatal Blow Out"
2012–2013Campus SecurityLyle Moses6 episodes
2013Raptor RaptorUnnamed roleEpisode: "How to Get a Job"
Go On Eric the ActorEpisode: "Urn-ed Run"
2014Dead BossTimothyTV movie
The McCarthys Phillip2 episodes
UCB Comedy OriginalsUnnamed roles2 episodes
The Hotwives of Orlando Antoine Donner4 episodes
Long DistanceMatt1 episode
2015 The Hotwives of Las Vegas Antoine Donner3 episodes
Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell Wolfgang RagekissEpisode: "New-cronomicon"
2015–2016 Impastor Jeffrey4 episodes
2016 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend HarryEpisode: "That Text Was Not Meant for Josh!"
2016–2017 Nightcap Phil Miller20 episodes
2017 Difficult People Subway ManEpisode: "Sweet Tea"
Broad City TimEpisode: "Sliding Doors"
Playing House Jeff3 episodes
ASAP FablesLionEpisode: "The Lion and His Privilege"
New York Is DeadDanteWeb series
2018 Human Kind Of Various roles10 episodes
West 40sRyanEpisode: "Forty Candles"
2019 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Tomothy / Tomathy2 episodes
2020 Little America Man with ColdEpisode: "The Silence"
2022–2024 Somebody Somewhere Joel21 episodes
2022 American Horror Story: NYC Gideon Whitely9 episodes
Evil ChuckEpisode: "The Demon of Parenthood"
The Watcher TherapistEpisode: "Haunting"
2023 FBI: Most Wanted Rudolph VaritekEpisode: "Black Mirror"
2023–2024 American Horror Stories Mr. NevinsEpisode: "Bestie"
Niles TaylorEpisode: "The Thing Under the Bed"
2025 King of Drag Himself; guest judgeEpisode: "Comedy"

Podcasts

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020Escape from Virtual IslandWaiter / Man No. 1 / Crowd (voice)11 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2022 Peabody Awards Entertainment Somebody Somewhere Won [14]
Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series Nominated [15]
2025 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Pending [16]

References

  1. "Vital Records Index". sanantonio.gov. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Rizzo, Carita (August 28, 2023). "Jeff Hiller Is the Heart of 'Somebody Somewhere'". Shondaland . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  3. "2016 Bulldogs Football" (PDF). TLUBulldogs.com. p. 3. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  4. "Last Night Gus". USA Network. September 17, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Voss, Brandon (January 25, 2018). "Actor Jeff Hiller Is Always the Life of the Gay Party". Brandon Voss. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  6. Schwartz, Missy (August 14, 2025). "'Somebody Somewhere' Star Jeff Hiller Is Still Getting Used to Being an Emmy Nominee: 'I Mean, It's Bonkers'". TheWrap. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  7. ACTRESS OF A CERTAIN AGE | Kirkus Reviews.
  8. "Jeff Hiller Talks New Book on 'The Daily Show'". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  9. Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Rainn Wilson, Kevin Cahoon, & More Complete URINETOWN Cast at Encores!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  10. "'Wait Wait' for June 21, 2025: With Not My Job guest Ibtihaj Muhammad". NPR. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  11. "Jeff Hiller". Fort Lauderdale Improv. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  12. "Jeff Hiller Came Out of Nowhere. It Only Took 20 Years". August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  13. Martinez, Kiko (June 22, 2025). "Actor Jeff Hiller shares journey from San Antonio to Hollywood in new memoir Churchill HS grad uses humor to relive memories in 'Actress of a Certain Age'". MySanAntonio.com .
  14. Voyles, Blake (September 20, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Nominees" . Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  15. Lattanzio, Ryan; Bergeson, Samantha (December 13, 2022). "'Severance,' 'Pachinko,' 'The Rehearsal' Among Independent Spirit Award TV Nominees: Full List". IndieWire. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  16. Gonzalez, Shivani (July 15, 2025). "Emmy Nominees 2025: The Complete List". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2025.