Wild Card with Rachel Martin Jeff Hiller
Oct 9, 2025
Jeff Hiller, an Emmy-winning actor and author, shares his unexpected journey to fame from side roles to starring as Joel on HBO's Somebody Somewhere. He reflects on his parents' support and how they shaped his identity, particularly his mother's influence. The conversation touches on his belief in an afterlife, the impact of his Emmy win on his career and sense of belonging, and the importance of kindness as a moral compass. With humor, he addresses his feelings of being an outsider and his evolving relationship with faith.
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Coming Out And A Supportive Mother
- Jeff Hiller recounts childhood moments when his parents tried to make him conform and later supported his coming out in his own time.
- He credits his mother with researching and preparing to be supportive and later becoming an unconditional presence in his life.
San Antonio Shaped His Palate And Perspective
- Jeff describes growing up in San Antonio and how its Mexican-American culture shaped his appreciation for food and community.
- He highlights traditions like tamales at Christmas and the blended Tex-Mex culture he values.
Infant Church Trip Gone Wrong
- Jeff tells a family story about being brought to church at one week old and disastrously pooping up the neck of his onesie.
- The tale is the family's recurring, slightly embarrassing memory about his infancy.
