Bill Hader Movies and TV Shows: Complete Guide to His Career

Very few comedic actors have managed to pivot from sketch comedy to award-winning drama the way Bill Hader has, tracing his journey from a Tulsa movie buff to a nine-season Saturday Night Live star. This guide traces his television work, his major film roles, and the personal facts that fans most often ask about.

Emmy Awards: 2 ·
SNL Seasons: 9 ·
Film Appearances: 40+ ·
Seasons of Barry: 4

Five key details frame Bill Hader’s public profile:

The pattern: Hader’s career spans nearly two decades, with a pivot from ensemble comedy to auteur-driven drama that few SNL alumni have matched.

What is Bill Hader famous for?

His breakout on Saturday Night Live

• Bill Hader joined Saturday Night Live in 2005 as a featured player and quickly became a core cast member, known for impressions and original characters (Plex (streaming database)).
• One of his most iconic characters, Stefon, appeared on Weekend Update and became a recurring fan favorite (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
• He remained on SNL until 2013, amassing nine seasons (Plex (streaming database)).

Creating and starring in Barry

• Hader co-created, wrote, directed, and starred in the HBO dark comedy Barry, which aired from 2018 to 2023 (Plex (streaming database)).
• The series earned eight Emmy nominations and won two, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Hader (Television Academy (Emmy official site)).
• Barry was praised for its tonal blend of violence and comedy, showcasing Hader’s dramatic depth.

Notable film roles like Superbad and Inside Out

• Hader’s early film breakthrough came with supporting roles in Superbad (2007), Hot Rod (2007), and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) (Plex (streaming database)).
• He voiced Fear in Inside Out (2015), a performance that introduced him to a new generation of viewers (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).
• He also voiced Flint Lockwood in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and its sequel (2013) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

The implication: Hader’s ability to switch between comedy and drama has made him one of the most respected performers in the industry.

Are Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader still together?

Their brief relationship

• Hader and Kendrick were first linked romantically in 2020 after being spotted together multiple times (E! News (entertainment news)).

The split confirmed by E! News

• E! News reported in 2022 that the couple had ended their relationship (E! News (entertainment news)).

Anna Kendrick’s LGBTQ status

• Kendrick has not publicly identified as LGBTQ; the question stems from fan speculation without official confirmation.

The implication: while neither Hader nor Kendrick has made a public statement about the split, the E! News report remains the closest to a confirmation. For now, Hader’s relationship status is private.

Did Bill Hader write for South Park?

His writing credits on South Park

• Hader wrote for South Park during seasons 10 through 12 (South Park Archives (fan wiki)).
• He contributed to episodes including “Cartoon Wars Part I” and “The China Probrem” (South Park Archives (fan wiki)).

His role as a writer vs. voice actor

• In addition to writing, he occasionally voiced characters on the show. He left the writing staff in 2008.

The catch: Hader’s South Park stint was brief but influential, helping shape the show’s satirical voice during a period of high viewership.

Who is Bill Hader’s ex wife?

Maggie Carey: the filmmaker

• Hader was married to writer-director Maggie Carey, known for directing The To Do List (Biography.com (celebrity encyclopedia)).

Their marriage and children

• They married in 2006 and have three children together (Biography.com (celebrity encyclopedia)).

Divorce in 2018

• The couple divorced in 2018 after 12 years of marriage.

Why this matters: Carey and Hader have maintained a private co-parenting relationship, avoiding public drama.

What condition does Bill Hader have?

His public discussion of anxiety

• Hader has spoken openly about suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, dating back to his childhood (The New Yorker (longform journalism)).

Panic attacks and therapy

• He sought therapy and medication to manage the condition (The New Yorker (longform journalism)).

Impact on his career

• His anxiety influenced the dark tone of Barry and his approach to comedy. He has used his platform to reduce stigma around mental health.

The pattern: Hader uses his mental health experience to inform his work, making his performances more authentic.

For fans of comedy and drama alike, Bill Hader’s career offers a blueprint for evolution. His willingness to tackle his own mental health struggles on a public platform, combined with a relentless drive to refine his craft, ensures that whatever he does next will be worth watching. For audiences in the US market, the clear takeaway is this: Bill Hader is not just a former SNL star — he is one of the most versatile and emotionally honest performers working today.

Frequently asked questions