Jon Heder
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Joseph "Jon" Heder (born October 26, 1977) is an American
screenwriter, actor
, and filmmaker. His feature film debut came in 2004 as the title character of the comedy film Napoleon Dynamite
. He has also acted in the films The Benchwarmers
, School for Scoundrels
, Blades of Glory
, Mama's Boy, and When in Rome, and provided voice talents in the animated films Monster House
and Surf's Up
.
, the son of Helen (Brammer) and Dr. James Heder, a practicing physician. He has an identical twin brother, Dan, as well as an older sister and brother, Rachel and Doug, and two younger brothers, Adam and Matt. Heder is the nephew by marriage of former NFL
running back
and current WCAU
sportscaster, Vai Sikahema
. Heder is of part Swedish descent. Heder attended Walker Middle School in Salem, Oregon
, and graduated from South Salem High School in 1996, where he was on the swim team and was a member of the Drama Association.
Heder is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served an LDS mission
in Japan
, for which he learned to speak Japanese
. He, his brothers and father are Scouting
enthusiasts with Heder and several of his brothers becoming Eagle Scouts
. He currently serves as a Scoutmaster.
A 2002 alumnus of Brigham Young University
, Heder worked on the short CGI
animated film "Pet Shop", written by Logan Deans, which earned a non-traditional animation student Emmy in 2005. After his movie career took off, he did not return to complete the work he started on the short, although his name does appear in the credits. Also, while attending BYU he befriended Jared Hess
and starred in Hess' short film Peluca
, which was later expanded into Napoleon Dynamite
. Peluca received rave reviews on the BYU campus after showing at a few college and local film festivals and competitions.
. The two have been married since 2002. The couple have a daughter, Evan Jane Heder, born April 6, 2007. On February 2, 2010, edition of Lopez Tonight
, he announced that he and his wife now have a son who is 6 months old.
that he and his identical twin, Dan, think alike and, as children, often finished each other's sentences. When Letterman asked him whether being an identical twin is a good experience, Jon replied that it is mostly good and that as children "we caused a lot of trouble by pretending to be the other, the memories still give me a good chuckle."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and filmmaker. His feature film debut came in 2004 as the title character of the comedy film Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....
. He has also acted in the films The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers is a 2006 American sports-comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Rob Schneider, Jon Heder, and David Spade. It is produced by Revolution Studios and Happy Madison Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures.-Plot:...
, School for Scoundrels
School for Scoundrels (2006 film)
School for Scoundrels is a 2006 American comedy film, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, and directed by Todd Phillips. The film is based on the 1960 British film of the same name...
, Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks and MTV Films...
, Mama's Boy, and When in Rome, and provided voice talents in the animated films Monster House
Monster House (film)
Monster House is a 2006 computer animated motion capture horror/comedy film produced by ImageMovers and Amblin Entertainment, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Executive produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, this is the first time since Back to the Future Part III that they have...
and Surf's Up
Surf's Up (film)
Surf's Up is a 2007 American computer-animated mockumentary family comedy film directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck. It stars the voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder among others....
.
Early life
Heder was born in Fort Collins, ColoradoFort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
, the son of Helen (Brammer) and Dr. James Heder, a practicing physician. He has an identical twin brother, Dan, as well as an older sister and brother, Rachel and Doug, and two younger brothers, Adam and Matt. Heder is the nephew by marriage of former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and current WCAU
WCAU
WCAU, channel 10, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WCAU has its studios on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in the...
sportscaster, Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema
Vai S. Sikahema is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League , he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was...
. Heder is of part Swedish descent. Heder attended Walker Middle School in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, and graduated from South Salem High School in 1996, where he was on the swim team and was a member of the Drama Association.
Heder is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served an LDS mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, for which he learned to speak Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
. He, his brothers and father are Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
enthusiasts with Heder and several of his brothers becoming Eagle Scouts
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
. He currently serves as a Scoutmaster.
A 2002 alumnus of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, Heder worked on the short CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
animated film "Pet Shop", written by Logan Deans, which earned a non-traditional animation student Emmy in 2005. After his movie career took off, he did not return to complete the work he started on the short, although his name does appear in the credits. Also, while attending BYU he befriended Jared Hess
Jared Hess
Jared Lawrence Hess is an American filmmaker known for his work Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre , which he co-wrote and directed with his wife, Jerusha Hess....
and starred in Hess' short film Peluca
Peluca
Peluca is a short film by director Jared Hess, produced for an assignment while attending Brigham Young University in 2003. It was made in two days for under $500, and was shown at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival.-Plot:...
, which was later expanded into Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca....
. Peluca received rave reviews on the BYU campus after showing at a few college and local film festivals and competitions.
Personal life
Heder lives with his wife Kirsten Heder in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The two have been married since 2002. The couple have a daughter, Evan Jane Heder, born April 6, 2007. On February 2, 2010, edition of Lopez Tonight
Lopez Tonight
Lopez Tonight was an American late-night television talk show hosted by comedian George Lopez. The hour-long program premiered on November 9, 2009, on cable network TBS. Lopez was the first Mexican American to host a late-night talk show on an English-language network in the United States. The...
, he announced that he and his wife now have a son who is 6 months old.
Jon and Dan
Jon stated during an appearance on Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
that he and his identical twin, Dan, think alike and, as children, often finished each other's sentences. When Letterman asked him whether being an identical twin is a good experience, Jon replied that it is mostly good and that as children "we caused a lot of trouble by pretending to be the other, the memories still give me a good chuckle."
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Wrong Brother | Audience Member | |
| Funky Town | Officer Hardy | as Jonathan Heder | |
| 2003 | Peluca Peluca Peluca is a short film by director Jared Hess, produced for an assignment while attending Brigham Young University in 2003. It was made in two days for under $500, and was shown at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival.-Plot:... |
Seth | |
| 2004 | Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 comedy film co-written and directed by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess and stars Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite. The film was Jared Hess' first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca.... |
Napoleon Dynamite | Lead Role |
| 2005 | Just Like Heaven | Darryl | Supporting Role |
| Tankman Begins | Batman | TV movie | |
| 2006 | The Benchwarmers The Benchwarmers The Benchwarmers is a 2006 American sports-comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Rob Schneider, Jon Heder, and David Spade. It is produced by Revolution Studios and Happy Madison Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures.-Plot:... |
Clark Reedy | Main Role |
| Monster House Monster House (film) Monster House is a 2006 computer animated motion capture horror/comedy film produced by ImageMovers and Amblin Entertainment, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Executive produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, this is the first time since Back to the Future Part III that they have... |
Reginald "Skull" Skulinski | Voice Role | |
| School for Scoundrels School for Scoundrels (2006 film) School for Scoundrels is a 2006 American comedy film, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, and directed by Todd Phillips. The film is based on the 1960 British film of the same name... |
Roger | Main Role | |
| 2007 | The Sasquatch Gang | Lazer Tag Employee | Cameo |
| Blades of Glory Blades of Glory Blades of Glory is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks and MTV Films... |
Jimmy MacElroy | Main Role | |
| Surf's Up Surf's Up (film) Surf's Up is a 2007 American computer-animated mockumentary family comedy film directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck. It stars the voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder among others.... |
Chicken Joe | Voice Role | |
| Moving McAllister Moving McAllister Moving McAllister is a 2007 American comedy film starring Mila Kunis, Jon Heder, Rutger Hauer, and Billy Drago. The film was shot largely in Utah and St Johns County, Florida and was produced by Camera 40 Productions... |
Orlie | Main Role | |
| Mama's Boy Mama's Boy (film) Mama's Boy is a 2007 comedy starring Diane Keaton and Jon Heder, and features music by Mark Mothersbaugh. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. for a limited release to certain parts of the United States. Mama's Boy was directed by Tim Hamilton.... |
Jeffrey McMannus | Main Role | |
| 2008 | Sockbaby 4 | Manatu | Pool diver (with his brother, Dan) |
| 2010 | When in Rome | Lance | |
| Woke Up Dead Woke Up Dead Woke Up Dead is an American horror/comedy web series starring Jon Heder as a young man who awakes in a full bathtub after 'drowning' and has no heartbeat, prompting his friends to believe him to be a zombie. The show premiered on Sony Pictures Entertainment owned Crackle on October 5, 2009... |
Drex Greene | Main Role | |
| For Ellen | TBA | (pre-production) | |
| Alive and Well | Oliver Vale | (pre-production) | |
| Three Men Seeking Monsters | TBA | in development | |
| Loudermilk | TBA | in development | |
| Mr. Machine | TBA | in development | |
Television
- Dead Grandma- 2011 as Himself
- My Name Is EarlMy Name Is EarlMy Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
- 2008 as Joel the bagger - Punk'dPunk'dPunk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers...
- Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
(as Napoleon Dynamite) - Woke Up DeadWoke Up DeadWoke Up Dead is an American horror/comedy web series starring Jon Heder as a young man who awakes in a full bathtub after 'drowning' and has no heartbeat, prompting his friends to believe him to be a zombie. The show premiered on Sony Pictures Entertainment owned Crackle on October 5, 2009...
- 2009 as Drex Greene, all episodes, executive producer - Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
- 2005 - The Late Show with Craig Kilborn - 2004
- The View - 2004
- The Teen Choice Awards 2004
- The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards - 2005
- Dinner for FiveDinner for FiveDinner for Five is a television program in which actor/filmmaker Jon Favreau and a revolving guest list of celebrities eat, drink and talk about life on and off the set and swap stories about projects past and present...
- 2005 as Himself - 2005 MTV Movie Awards Himself - Winner
- The Teen Choice Awards 2005
- Robot ChickenRobot ChickenRobot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show...
- 2005 - MADtvMADtvMADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
- 2004-2005 as Himself - Late Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
- Jim Rome is BurningJim Rome is BurningJim Rome Is Burning, originally titled Rome Is Burning and often abbreviated as JRIB, is a sports conversation and opinion show hosted by Jim Rome. Debuting on May 6, 2003 as Rome Is Burning, it was originally a once a week show in primetime at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday nights on ESPN...
- 2006 Himself - The Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
- 2005-2006 (3 episodes) - Jimmy Kimmel Live! - 2006 (2 episodes)
- Last Call with Carson DalyLast Call with Carson DalyLast Call with Carson Daly is an American late night talk show that is broadcast on NBC. The show is hosted by Carson Daly, the half-hour show featuring celebrity interviews, documentary-style coverage of a topic, and musical performances. Last Call airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. Eastern / 12:35 a.m....
- 2006 (2 episodes) - Fuse Celebrity Playlist - 2006
- The Ellen DeGeneres ShowThe Ellen DeGeneres ShowThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
- 2006 - Celebrities on Thin Ice - 2007 Himself/Jimmy MacElroy
- 2007 Kids' Choice Awards2007 Kids' Choice AwardsThe 20th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards were held on March 31, 2007, hosted by Justin Timberlake.It was the highest rated show in the history of the Kids Choice Awards.The show was held at Pauley Pavilion at the University of California, Los Angeles....
- Up Close with Carrie Keagan - 2007
- The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThe Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
- 2007 - Entertainment TonightEntertainment TonightEntertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
- 2007-2008 (4 episodes) - WWE RawWWE RAWWWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
- Jan 18, 2010 episode as guest host (with Don JohnsonDon JohnsonDonnie Wayne "Don" Johnson is an American actor known for his work in television and film. He played the lead role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s TV cop series, Miami Vice, which led him to huge success. He also played the lead role in the 1990s cop series, Nash Bridges...
) - Napoleon DynamiteNapoleon Dynamite (TV series)Napoleon Dynamite is an upcoming American animated television sitcom based on the 2004 cult film of the same name, to be broadcast on Fox. The show will be overseen by the film's director Jared Hess, his wife Jerusha, and veteran television writer/producer Mike Scully...
– Napoleon Dynamite (voice)