Billy Eichner

Billy Eichner
Eichner in 2014
Born (1978-09-18) September 18, 1978
New York City, U.S.
Nationality American
Education Stuyvesant High School
Alma mater Northwestern University
Years active 2005–present
Genres

Billy Eichner (born September 18, 1978) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and television personality, commonly focusing on self-deprecation and pop culture. He is the star, executive producer and creator of Funny Or Die's Billy on the Street, a comedy game show that airs on truTV. Eichner was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Game Show Host" in 2013. He is also known for playing Craig Middlebrooks on the sitcom Parks and Recreation.

Eichner starred in the Hulu original series Difficult People alongside Julie Klausner and he had a recurring role in the seventh season of American Horror Story, which premiered on September 5, 2017, where he portrayed Harrison Wilton. In April 2018 Eichner was confirmed to appear in the eighth season of the show.

Personal life

Eichner is Jewish,[1] and is also gay.[2][3][4] He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1996[5] two years ahead of fellow actors Telly Leung and Malcolm Barrett and from Northwestern University in 2000.[6] Actor Robin Lord Taylor was his college roommate.[7]

Career

Eichner gained attention as the host and writer of Creation Nation: A Live Talk Show, a critically acclaimed stage show in New York.[8] He also appeared on Conan as a special correspondent in original video shorts[9] and as himself on Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live with Andy Cohen,[10] Last Call with Carson Daly,[11] The Wendy Williams Show,[12] and Fashion Police with Joan Rivers, among others.

Eichner has been a voiceover guest star in several episodes of the animated TV series Bob's Burgers as Mr. Ambrose, the Librarian. He has been a regular performer at New York City's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.[13]

On August 5, 2013, Eichner guest starred in the sixth season of Parks and Recreation.[14] Eichner's first episode aired on October 10, 2013. He stars as Donna's Eagleton counterpart, Craig Middlebrooks, who joins the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department when Pawnee absorbs Eagleton.[15] He became a series regular in episode four of the seventh season of the show.

During the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards show in 2014, Eichner appeared with show host Seth Meyers on the streets of New York, interviewing random people.[16]

Eichner starred in a Hulu original series titled Difficult People with Julie Klausner, and executive produced by Amy Poehler, The project was originally set up at USA Network.[17] The series began airing on August 5, 2015.[18] In 2016, Eichner appeared in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, released on May 20.[19] In March 2017, it was announced that Eichner would be joining the cast of American Horror Story for a recurring role in its seventh season.[20] In April 2017, it was reported that Eichner was in talks with Disney and director Jon Favreau to provide the voice of Timon in Disney's live action remake of The Lion King,[21] which was confirmed in November 2017 by Disney's official Twitter account.[22]

Political

On February 1, 2018, Eichner announced a new initiative called Glam Up the Midterms, during that night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live in conjunction with Funny or Die and with the support of several late night hosts including Sarah Silverman, James Corden, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien, John Oliver, Chelsea Handler, Robin Thede, and Andy Cohen. Glam Up the Midterm’s purpose is getting people to vote in the November 6, 2018 midterm elections, especially millennials of whom only 12% voted in the previous midterm election.[23][24][25][26]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008 What Happens in Vegas Band Leader
2010 The Charlie Sheen Is Too Damn High Timmy McMillan Short film
2013 Glitter and Ribs Taylor Swift Short film
2014 Penguins of Madagascar New York Reporter (voice)
2015 Sleeping With Other People SLAA Speaker
2016 The Angry Birds Movie Chef Pig / Phillip (voices)
2016 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Oliver Studebaker
2018 Most Likely to Murder Speigel
2019 The Lion King Timon (voice) Filming
TBA Noelle Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2011–present Billy on the Street Himself / Host 52 episodes
2013–2015 Parks and Recreation Craig Middlebrooks 17 episodes
2013–2017 Bob's Burgers Mr. Ambrose (voice) 9 episodes
2014 The Millers Leon Episode: "Movin' Out (Carol's Song)"
2014 New Girl Barry Episode: "LAXmas"
2015–2017 Difficult People Billy Epstein 28 episodes
2016 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Himself Episode: "Kimmy Meets a Drunk Lady!"
2016 Hairspray Live! Rob Barker Television special
2017 Friends From College Dr. Felix Forzenheim 5 episodes
2017 American Horror Story: Cult Harrison Wilton 6 episodes
Tex Watson Episode: "Charles (Manson) in Charge"
2018 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself, guest judge 1 episode (season 10)[27]
2018 American Horror Story: Apocalypse Brock 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
2013 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Game Show Host Billy on the Street Nominated
2015 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Kensky, Eitan (March 14, 2013). "Billy Eichner Is the Funniest Man on the Internet". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  2. ↑ Kamp, David (November 2015). "Billy Eichner is Only Shouting Because New York Is Loud". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ Fallon, Kevin (February 12, 2013). "How 'Billy on the Street' Host Billy Eichner Hit the Mainstream". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ Peikert, Mark (May 27, 2009). "Billy Eichner: Gay, White, and Terrified!". Backstage. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Billy Eichner". Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Billy Eichner Biography". Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ Wagner, Curt (October 5, 2014). "Robin Lord Taylor walks the walk as Penguin in 'Gotham'". RedEye. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ Calhoun, Ada (May 15, 2005). "Hey Gang, Let's Put On a Twisted Talk Show". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Team Coco Heads To The Superbowl! [sic]". teamcoco.com. February 3, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Watch What Happens Live - Martha Plimpton and Billy Eichner". BravoTV. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Last Call with Carson Daly". NBC. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "LaToya Jackson and Billy Eichner". The Wendy Williams Show. February 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Billy Eichner". ucbcomedy.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  14. ↑ Evans, Bradford (August 5, 2013). "Billy Eichner to Play Donna's Doppelganger on 'Parks and Rec'". Splitsider. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  15. ↑ Furlong, Maggie (October 10, 2013). "Billy Eichner On 'Parks And Recreation' – And Every Other Show Ever, Please (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  16. ↑ Shorey, Eric. "Billy Eichner and Seth Meyers Harass New Yorkers About The Emmy Awards". thebacklot.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Hulu Orders Amy Poehler's Difficult People Starring Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner". Hulu.
  18. ↑ "Watch the First Difficult People Teaser -- Vulture". Vulture.
  19. ↑ Kroll, Justin. "Billy Eichner Joins Cast of 'Neighbors 2'". Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  20. ↑ Stack, Tim (March 28, 2017). "'American Horror Story': Billy Eichner Cast in Season 7". EW.com. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (April 25, 2017). "Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner in Talks to Voice Timon and Pumbaa in New 'Lion King'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  22. ↑ Disney [@Disney] (November 1, 2017). "#TheLionKing. 2019. 🦁👑" (Tweet). Retrieved November 3, 2017 – via Twitter.
  23. ↑ "Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Andy Cohen, and More Are Joining Forces to Glam Up the Midterms". Vogue. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  24. ↑ Hamilton, Isobel. "Billy Eichner is on a mission to make the mid-terms glam again". Mashable. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  25. ↑ "Billy Eichner Launches Star-Studded Campaign to Get Millennials to Vote in Midterm Elections". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  26. ↑ "Glam Up The Midterms". glamupthemidterms.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  27. ↑ "Shania Twain, "Broad City" Stars And More Join The Judges' Panel On "Drag Race" Season 10". New Now Next.

Further reading

  • D'Addario, Daniel (June 6, 2012). "(Crazy) Man on the Street: Comedian Billy Eichner Will Accost You in Chelsea". New York Observer. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  • Bierly, Mandi (December 19, 2011). "Billy Eichner's Top 6 Reasons To Watch 'Funny or Die's Billy On the Street'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  • Kandell, Steve (June 14, 2012). "Billy Eichner's Street Hassle". Spin. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
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