Is Sian Heder Related to Bill Hader? Who Are They?
by A Maria
Updated May 05, 2023
Who is Sian Heder?
Sian Heder is an American television writer, producer, and filmmaker, most recognized for her work as the writer and director of the films Tallulah and CODA. She received widespread critical acclaim and recognition after winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for her work on CODA, which also took home the award for Best Picture. Heder was born on June 23, 1977, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Mags Harries, a Welsh artist, and Lajos Héder, a Hungarian artist. Her sister, Thyra, is also an artist, and interestingly, Ben Affleck's mother, Chris Boldt, was one of Heder's sixth-grade teachers. She earned a BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
As a filmmaker, Heder has worked on a variety of television shows, including Men of a Certain Age, Orange is the New Black, and The Path. Her debut film as a director, Tallulah, was released in 2016 and starred Ellen Page and Allison Janney. Her second feature film, CODA, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021, where it was acquired by Apple TV+. CODA was a critical and commercial success, earning Heder numerous accolades, including the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for the U.S. Dramatic Competition.
DOB
June 23, 1977
Age
45
Place of birth
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)
Television writer, television producer, and filmmaker
Notable work
Tallulah
CODA
Spouse
David Newsom
Children
2
Parent
Mags Harries and Lajos Héder
Awards
Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
CODA (2021)
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Is Sian Heder Related to Bill Hader?
Sian and Bill Hader arn't related to each other. Bill Hader, the creator of the TV show "Barry," revealed that Sian Heder appeared in Season 4, Episode 4, in a cameo role. Heder plays herself in the show, directing a Marvel/DC-style superhero movie called "Mega Girls" about women dressed in Amazonian clothing searching for "infinity orbs." Sally, one of the show's characters, is thrilled to be working with her, having landed a role in the new blockbuster. Heder's inclusion in the episode is the second significant cameo in the show's final season. Hader, who plays the show's titular character, has a reduced presence in the show as his victims and targets struggle in the aftermath of his escape.
Hader admitted in an interview with The Wrap that he was initially worried about approaching Heder to appear in the show, given that she won an Oscar for directing "CODA." After sending her various versions of the scene, she eventually agreed to appear, having realized that the joke was more about her taking on a big Hollywood job than it was about mocking "CODA." Hader said that the scene was respectful of Heder and that he did not want to be cruel.
Who is Bill Hader?
William Thomas Hader Jr. is a versatile American entertainer, born on June 7, 1978. He has made a name for himself as an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director. Hader rose to prominence during his eight-year tenure as a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live, a popular sketch comedy show that ran from 2005 to 2013. He received several accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Peabody Award, for his work on the show. Hader is well-known for his impressions and is particularly remembered for his contributions to the Weekend Update segments, where he portrayed Stefon Meyers, an eccentric New York City tour guide who recommended bizarre nightclubs and parties with peculiar characters.
As an accomplished performer, Hader has continued to showcase his versatility in various film and television projects. He has appeared in numerous movies, including Trainwreck, Superbad, and It Chapter Two, among others. Hader has also lent his voice to several animated films, such as Inside Out and Monsters University, and has directed and produced television shows like Barry and Documentary Now! In addition to his acting and comedy career, Hader has also worked as a writer for South Park and co-created the IFC mockumentary series Documentary Now!
Name
William Thomas Hader Jr.
DOB
June 7, 1978
Age
44
Place of birth
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma mater
Scottsdale Community College
Occupations
Spouse
Maggie Carey - (m. 2006; div. 2018)
Children
3
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Professional Career of Sian Heder
Following her graduation, Sian Heder moved to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actress and screenwriter. While working for a nanny agency, she cared for children of guests staying in four-star hotels, and her experiences inspired her to write and direct her first short film, Mother. Her script for Mother was chosen for the American Film Institute's DWW fellowship and won the Grand Jury Award for "Best Narrative Short" at the Florida Film Festival, as well as honors at the Cannes Film Festival and Seattle International Film Festival. The film was also selected to appear in competition at the Palm Springs International Festival of Shorts and the British Film Institute's London Film Festival.
Heder continued to work as a writer and director, winning a Peabody Award for her work on the U.S. television series Men of a Certain Age, and writing for the first three seasons of the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. In 2015, she directed Tallulah, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later acquired by Netflix. Her most recent film, CODA, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021, and after a deal with Apple, the film's rights were bought for $25 million. Heder's work on CODA won her the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Professional Career of Bill Hader
Hader dropped out of college and moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. His parents supported him and provided him with the money they had saved for his education to cover his living expenses. He started working as a production assistant (PA) while scouring The Hollywood Reporter for opportunities, with the goal of becoming an assistant director. He worked long hours as a PA, leaving him little time to pursue his creative ambitions. He was a PA on various films and TV shows, including The Surreal Life, The Scorpion King, and Night Calls. He eventually got a job as a night-time assistant editor at Triage Entertainment, where he invested money in his own short film but was too embarrassed to release it. After attending comedy classes with friends at the Second City in March 2003, he realized that comedy was his true passion, and he formed a sketch comedy group called Animals from the Future.
After one of their shows, Megan Mullally recommended Hader to Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live (SNL), and he was invited to audition. Though he had no material prepared, he impressed the producers with his spontaneous impression of an Italian man he had once overheard, which led to the creation of his first recurring character, Vinny Vedecci. Hader got an agent and manager and started working on SNL. Just before he was invited to work on SNL, he worked as an assistant editor on Iron Chef America. On SNL, Hader became known for his impressions of celebrities and politicians and his recurring characters, such as Stefon and Herb Welch. He left the show in 2013 to pursue other opportunities, such as starring in and co-creating the IFC series Documentary Now! and providing voices for various animated shows and films.
Is Sian Heder Related to Bill Hader - FAQs
Bill Hader is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for his work on the sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" and as the creator and star of the TV show "Barry."
"Barry" is a TV show created by Bill Hader that premiered on HBO in 2018. The show follows a former Marine turned hitman named Barry Berkman who decides to pursue a career in acting in Los Angeles. The show has received critical acclaim and has won several awards, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.
Sian Heder is an American screenwriter, director, and producer. She is known for her work on the TV shows "Orange Is the New Black" and "Little America" and the film "Tallulah." In "Barry," she appears in Season 4, Episode 4 in a cameo role as herself.
In "Barry" Season 4, Episode 4, Sian Heder appears in a cameo role as herself. She plays a director who is working on a Marvel/DC-style superhero movie called "Mega Girls" about women dressed in Amazonian clothing searching for "infinity orbs." Sally, one of the show's characters, is thrilled to be working with her, having landed a role in the new blockbuster.
According to the information given, Sian Heder's cameo in "Barry" Season 4, Episode 4 is the second significant cameo in the show's final season. No other details are provided about the first cameo.