Emmy-Winning ‘Somebody Somewhere’ Star Jeff Hiller Makes His Stern Show Debut
Actor and comedian also talks beating Harrison Ford, playing a gay serial killer, and his autobiography, “Actress of a Certain Age”
September 30, 2025
When “Somebody Somewhere’s” Jeff Hiller bested Hollywood superstar Harrison Ford earlier this month to win the Emmy for Supporting Actor, he was just as shocked as everyone else. “I know that people say that, but I’m serious,” the 49-year-old actor and stand-up comedian told Howard with a laugh. “I’ve been in this business for 25 years—if Harrison Ford is nominated, he’s going to get it.”
Making his Stern Show debut Tuesday morning on the heels of both his huge award win and the release of his autobiography, “Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success,” Jeff revealed he was still getting comfortable with his newfound fame. “I feel like I’m going to cry because for the past 25 years I’ve been like, ‘World, I want to be an actor’—and the world’s like, ‘Maybe computers?’” he said during his hilariously poignant acceptance speech, which quickly went viral.
After playing Joel for three celebrated seasons of “Somebody Somewhere,” Hiller already has plenty of passionate fans. But now, after accepting an Emmy in front of 7.4 million viewers, he’s becoming a household name.
“Does your life change at all?” Howard asked.
“I’ve gotten a lot of offers to like ‘host a gala’ but no, like, work,” Jeff laughed, adding that he might still need to audition for his next big role, but he truly doesn’t mind: “I’ll do it. I don’t care. I’m good at auditioning. It’s one of my superpowers.”
Though Hiller’s well-deserved Emmy should do plenty for his acting career, he’s not sure it’s doing much for his apartment.
“This sounds like a joke, but it really does make my apartment feel smaller,” he told Howard with a laugh. “The Emmy’s too tall to fit on the shelf and not hit the ceiling, so I don’t know where to put it yet. Right now, it’s just sitting right next to the TV.”
Howard, meanwhile, an ardent “Somebody Somewhere” fan, couldn’t understand why HBO refused to commission a fourth season of the acclaimed comedy-drama. “Were you heartbroken when they didn’t renew the show?” he asked.
“Yeah, I would [have done] this for 100 more years,” Hiller said, explaining he enjoyed working on the show immensely, in part because he got to live with co-stars Bridget Everett and Murray Hill while filming. “But I am sort of excited because a lot of people — because I won the Emmy — are like, ‘Oh, I started watching because you won that gold statue,’ and I’m happy people are watching it.”
Howard and his guest’s captivating sit down touched upon a variety of other subjects, from Hiller’s San Antonio upbringing to playing a gay serial killer on “American Horror Story.” They also discussed his short-lived career as a social worker. “I had been a social worker before I was an actor,” Jeff said. “And I was so, so — I mean like truly — terrible.”
“Why were you so bad at it?” Howard wondered.
“It was almost like I had too much compassion,” the actor and comedian concluded. “A couple times I gave people money. You’re not supposed to do that.”
See Jeff in “Lost & Found in Cleveland,” in theaters Nov. 7. His autobiography, “Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success,” is available now.
