Full Name: William Thomas Hader Jr.
Date of Birth: June 7, 1978
Age: 47 years (in 2025)
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Nationality: American
Height: 1.85 m (6’1”)
Profession: Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer, Director
Instagram: Not active (Bill Hader does not use any official social media accounts)
Bill Hader, an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director, gained popularity primarily through Saturday Night Live. Later, with the help of HBO’s hit series Barry, he earned tremendous respect for creating and starring in it. He has transitioned through various stages of comedy to develop the image of a strong and serious storyteller.
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Early Life and Background
He was given the name William Thomas Hader Jr. when he was born on June 7, 1978, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. As a child, he was a big fan of movies and storytelling. And also, he spent most of his time watching films, particularly thrillers and dark stories, which later on became a huge influence in his career.
Bill Hader education
Hader finished high school and then went to Scottsdale Community College, but later transferred to The Art Institute of Phoenix to study Film.
In 1999, he relocated to Los Angeles with the intention of eventually working on films, one way or another, with the main focus being behind the scenes.
Early Career and Struggles
Initially, life in Los Angeles was quite tough for Bill Hader. He worked in the film industry as a production assistant and editor, but his income was nowhere close to enough to sustain his basic living. He also suffered from anxiety and panic attacks on a serious level during this period and has been very candid about it in subsequent interviews.
He took it upon himself that even while he was staging these difficult acting jobs, he would continue attending comedy improvisation classes. It was here that his talent for funny characters and impressions began to unfold to the public. Gradually, such performances were welcoming him into the TV industry.
Breakthrough on Saturday Night Live
In 2005, Bill Hader was cast in Saturday Night Live, which totally transformed his destiny. He was a part of the show until 2013 and was one of the most recognizable members of that time.
His character Stefon, along with his impersonation of Al Pacino, Vincent Price, and Keith Morrison, made him especially liked. His presence on the show SNL made him a favorite of the audiences.
Film Career and Voice Acting
Simultaneously with SNL, Bill Hader took up film roles. He was in such famous comedies as Superbad, Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, and Trainwreck. He was in those movies, and it helped him to reach wider audiences.
In addition, he was a voice actor, and his voice acting career was not only good but also very vibrant. A case in point, Pixar’s Inside Out starred his character named “Fear,” who was one of the best roles he did. He later voiced characters in Finding Dory and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The talent for expressing feelings through voice only opened another dimension of the actor’s ability.
On the contrary, Hader’s aspiration to narrate stories that are significant and close to him was persistent.
Barry and Creative Growth at HBO
The major breakthrough in 2018, Barry, an HBO original series where Bill Hader was the leading man, was a significant turning point that changed people’s opinions for him.
Did Bill Hader write Barry?
Yes! Besides Bill Hader, the writing collaboration with Alec Berg and directing were also part of his responsibilities along with episode production.
Who is Bill Hader in Barry?
He takes on the character of Barry Berkman, a former U.S. marine who also works as a hitman but secretly yearns to be an actor. The character is in conflict as he cannot get rid of his violent past and yet has a normal life.
Is Barry an HBO show?
Barry is a series produced by HBO. The series was conceived by HBO, aired from 2018 to 2023, and had a total of four seasons.
Is Barry funny?
The show’s macabre humor is blended with the serious issues of violence, guilt, and mental health. The plot becomes darker and more poignant as the season progresses.
Why did Bill Hader make Barry?
Besides being an actor, he wanted to know how people might succeed in the process of change but still carry their past with them as a burden. The character in his story who suffers from anxiety was partly based on Hader, which made the show emotionally realistic and relatable.
Barry was a huge hit with the reviewers and led to Hader receiving several Emmy Awards, like Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, among others.
IT: Chapter Two (2019)
In IT Chapter Two, Bill Hader got the role of the adult Richie Tozier after Finn Wolfhard, who portrayed the young version of Richie, snitched the name of the comedian to the director and producers. Wolfhard was sure that Hader’s humor, voice, and emotional range were very close to his own characterization of the character.
Director Andy Muschietti was on the same page with the selection, thinking that Hader could easily transition Richie’s character into adulthood. The casting decision turned out to be a success, as Hader’s performance received great reviews and it was one of the most talked-about elements of the picture.
Personal Life and Relationships
Before Hader`s divorce with Maggie Carey, a filmmaker. They have three daughters from this marriage. Hader has never ceased being a very present father to his kids, even after the divorce, and often quotes that fatherhood is his number one priority.
Bill Hader and Ali Wong have been in a romantic relationship. Their love life reportedly began in 2022, and their being very low-profile.
Net Worth
It is estimated that, Bill Hader’s net worth is about $14 million. He have various sources of income like acting, writing, directing, producing, voice work, as well as long-term television productions.
A considerable share of his income is attributed to Saturday Night Live and Barry, where he undertook several roles not only in front of the camera but also behind it.
Recent Work and Current Projects
He didn’t just engage himself in several other projects along with a horror script that could be easily called the hottest story in Hollywood. After the end of Barry, the path of Bill Hader was clear, he vowed that he would keep on giving life to his creative ideas and producing new films and series.
Bottom line
Ever since he was a kid, he has been taking risks and is like a circus acrobat who from the very beginning has been choosing significant projects starting with the legendary Saturday Night Live and going through to Barry.
Bill Hader is already among the most innovative and esteemed personalities in the world of television. His art is the reason behind his being recognized among those who tell the truth, who create strong characters and who have a distinctive style.