Jeff Hiller (born December 7, 1975) is an American actor, improvisor and comedian. He is best known for his portrayal of Joel on the television series Somebody Somewhere, for which he won the 2025 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Early life and education Hiller grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He has a sister, Melissa, and was raised Lutheran.
Hiller is a 1994 graduate of Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, where he performed in some of his earliest theater productions. He enrolled at Texas Lutheran University with the intention of becoming a pastor, and though he completed theology coursework, his love of performing deepened and he earned a bachelor’s degree in theater in 1998. During his junior year of college, he studied in Namibia.
Career 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.
Hiller has appeared in various television series, including Guiding Light, Ugly Betty, 30 Rock, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Psych, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Community. 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, which was directed by Michael Urie.
Hiller played Joel for all three seasons of Bridget Everett's Peabody Award-winning series Somebody Somewhere (2022). Hiller won the 2025 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.
His memoir, Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success, was released June10, 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.
In the 2025 revival of Urinetown, Hiller played the role of Mr.McQueen.
In June 2025, Hiller served as a panelist on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and was interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air in August 2025.
Personal life Hiller is gay and founded the all-gay improv troupe Neely O'Hara. Hiller is married to artist Neil Goldberg with whom he lives in New York City.
Hiller has a medical condition called morphea, which causes hair loss, as well as other dermatological changes. His character on the series Somebody Somewhere, Joel, also has the condition.
Memoir
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes2008Dream AssassinWaiterShortGhost TownNaked Guy2009AdamRom2010Morning GlorySam - Channel 9 Producer2011Bad SeedJeffShort2012GaybyShowgirls Fan Customer2013Gods Behaving BadlyFirst FollowerThat Thing with the CatRickChasing TasteChef MicahSnore (Downton Abbey)Unnamed roleShortThe Little Tin ManGreggIndependent film2015The Last OnesBradShortThe PoetsLeonardShort2016Sing!MarkVoice role2018GretaMaitre D' HenriSet It UpMexican Restaurant Waiter2020First One InFrazzled Salesman2024Lost & Found in ClevelandGraham Hargreaves
Television Year Title Role Notes2004A2ZComedian PanelistEpisode: "Guns N' Roses"2005StarvedGay ManEpisode: "3D"2006The P.A.Jeff1 episode200830 RockHotel ClerkEpisode: "Reunion"2008–2009Guiding LightFrancois the Tailor2 episodes2010Old FriendsWaiterEpisode: "Waverly Place"Submissions OnlyGay 4 (Sonny)Episode: "Old Lace"Wiener & WienerManEpisode: "Always a Bridesmaid"Ugly BettyWilheldiva FanEpisode: "Chica and the Man"201130 RockStewartEpisode: "Double-Edged Sword"CommunityGlee Club GuyEpisode: "Regional Holiday Music"Bored to DeathEmceeEpisode: "Forget the Herring"Death ValleySecurity GuardEpisode: "Tick... Tick... BOOM!"PsychDwayneEpisode: "Last Night Gus"Law & Order: Criminal IntentStan2 episodes2012Squad 85Macey3 episodesPartnersRandy2 episodesNTSF:SD:SUV::DonEpisode: "The Return of Dragon Shumway"Best Friends ForeverThe HostEpisode: "Fatal Blow Out"2012–2013Campus SecurityLyle Moses6 episodes2013Raptor RaptorUnnamed roleEpisode: "How to Get a Job"Go OnEric the ActorEpisode: "Urn-ed Run"2014Dead BossTimothyTV movieThe McCarthysPhillip2 episodesUCB Comedy OriginalsUnnamed roles2 episodesThe Hotwives of OrlandoAntoine Donner4 episodesLong DistanceMatt1 episode2015The Hotwives of Las VegasAntoine Donner3 episodesYour Pretty Face Is Going to HellWolfgang RagekissEpisode: "New-cronomicon"2015–2016ImpastorJeffrey4 episodes2016Crazy Ex-GirlfriendHarryEpisode: "That Text Was Not Meant for Josh!"2016–2017NightcapPhil Miller20 episodes2017Difficult PeopleSubway ManEpisode: "Sweet Tea"Broad CityTimEpisode: "Sliding Doors"Playing HouseJeff3 episodesASAP FablesLionEpisode: "The Lion and His Privilege"New York Is DeadDanteWeb series2018Human Kind OfVarious roles10 episodesWest 40sRyanEpisode: "Forty Candles"2019Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtTomothy / Tomathy2 episodes2020Little AmericaMan with ColdEpisode: "The Silence"2022–2024Somebody SomewhereJoel21 episodes2022American Horror Story: NYCGideon Whitely9 episodesEvilChuckEpisode: "The Demon of Parenthood"The WatcherTherapistEpisode: "Haunting"2023FBI: Most WantedRudolph VaritekEpisode: "Black Mirror" 2023–2024 American Horror StoriesMr. NevinsEpisode: "Bestie"Niles TaylorEpisode: "The Thing Under the Bed"2025Will TrentLanceEpisode: "The Most Beautiful, Fierce, Smart, Powerful Creature in the Entire World"King of DragHimself; guest judgeEpisode: "Comedy"PluribusLarryEpisode: "Please, Carol"2025–2026StumbleAugustus2 episodes2026ElsbethFelix WestEpisode: All's HairGhostsJeffseason 5 episode 13 "St. Hetty's Day 2: The Help"Widow's BayDale6 Episodes
Podcasts Year Title RoleNotes2020Escape from Virtual IslandWaiter / Man No. 1 / Crowd (voice)11 episodes2017Mission To ZyxxBruce the Glam Droid (voice)1 episode
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result 2022Peabody AwardsEntertainmentSomebody SomewhereIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series2025Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series2026 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Pluribus
References
External links
Jeff Hiller's personal website