Jeff Hiller Is Everything You Dreamed He’d Be
Plus, our mutual ties to the Sausage Capital of Texas
Confirmed: Jeff Hiller is a once-in-a-lifetime angel. Tina Fey described him as “a human crochet blanket” in her blurb for his delectable new memoir Actress of a Certain Age. And after spending time with him strolling through the Lower East Side, I can confirm.
Just five days before our interview, Jeff took home his first Emmy for the role of Joel on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Both the show and character can only be described as completely perfect and amazing. I’m jealous of anyone who hasn’t watched yet.
Jeff took me for a colorful stroll through his favorite neighborhood and we popped into Coming Soon and Susan Alexandra for some photos. He’s everything you’d dream he’d be: thoughtful, hilarious, and kind to everyone he encounters—including the five fans that stopped us throughout the interview to say hello and congratulate him on the Emmy win. He made them all feel special.
Here are a few highlights from our conversation.
Have you read Cher’s memoir?
Hell yeah, the week it came out!
I have the second one pre-ordered from LibroFM, thankyouverymuch.
My favorite show growing up was Desperate Housewives… yours?
Golden Girls. I love how much younger gay guys live for Desperate Housewives. I was an adult when it was coming out, so it wasn’t that big for me. But that is where I fell in love with Eva Longoria…
Favorite color?
Growing up, it was purple... Now whenever I see purple it’s like ew, sick... The Joker. Hunter green catches my eye most these days.
What do you want people to know you for?
Professionally, I want to be known for elevating a project. Personally, kindness. People are so mean right now…
Around this point in the conversation, I mentioned that my dad had moved out of Austin into a more rural town nearby. When I mentioned the name, Jeff’s eyebrows raised and he had me repeat myself. Turns out, both of his parents were born and raised in Elgin and attended Elgin High School. He’s been visiting the town of 8,000 his entire life. Who knew we’d both have ties to the Sausage Capital of Texas? My favorite bit was when he mentioned that his grandmother’s house sat just between the Methodist and the Baptist church off of Main Street. I knew exactly where he meant.
Did you have a job in high school?
I worked at Fiesta Texas in the summers. It was before they fixed The Rattler… all those people sued because of permanent neck damage…
On a road trip, what are you listening to?
Isaac Oliver’s Intimacy Idiot. A Nora Ephron book. A Sedaris. I love relistening to funny books. When I was writing mine, I wanted to write a book that was like Bossypants or Girl Walks Into a Bar…
Tell me about your Emmys look!
I wore a pink suit at the Emmys, because I wanted something that fucks with gender. I did want bubblegum pink with a big pussybow off to the side, but the stylist thought I should go with a white shirt.
Lesbians?
If there was a biopic about my life, it’d be accused of having the trope of the magical lesbian. They’re the only queer people who ever liked me!
My advice? Read Actress of a Certain Age, watch Somebody Somewhere, see Jeff’s show Jeff Hiller Reads (to) You at Joe’s Pub January 27 - 30th. Tickets: HERE
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His confrontational yet sweet obsession…