Bill Hader Raves About Discovering Family Link To Comedy Legend Carol Burnett

Apr 21, 2023 by apost team

Carol Burnett and Bill Hader are two iconic entertainers who have left their mark on the world of comedy. While they come from different generations and have different comedic styles, they have both found success through their talent, hard work, and dedication to their craft. Now, the two have discovered an even more incredible link to each other besides their similar vocations.

Burnett was born on Apr. 26, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas. Her parents divorced when she was young. Part of the reason Burnett was able to get into acting was that she moved to live with her grandmother in Hollywood, where she attended Hollywood High School and went on to study theater at UCLA. After performing in nightclubs around New York City post-graduation, Burnett secured her breakout Broadway role as the evil queen in the musical fairytale production, “Once Upon a Mattress.”

Burnett is best known for her variety show “The Carol Burnett Show,” which aired on CBS from 1967 to 1978. “The Carol Burnett Show” was a popular variety show with vaudeville roots featuring dancing, singing, and comedy sketches. It wasn’t long before Burnett became a comedy queen in the acting business. The popularity of her variety show gained her notable roles in film and movies, such as the orphanage owner Miss Hannigan in 1982’s “Annie.”

Burnett continued to work in entertainment throughout her career, appearing in films like “Noises Off,” as well as on TV shows like “Mad About You” “Glee” and “Better Call Saul.” She has also written several memoirs and is a staunch supporter of various charitable causes, including the fight against cancer.

After appearing on the PBS show “Finding Your Roots,” Burnett made an unexpected but pleasant discovery about a biological link to one of comedy’s most celebrated stars today.

Hader was born on June 7, 1978, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He grew up watching comedy shows like “Saturday Night Live” and developed a love for improv and sketch comedy. After attending The Art Institute of Phoenix, Hader moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a comedian.

Hader’s big break came when he was hired as a cast member on the show of his dreams, “Saturday Night Live,” in 2005. He quickly became a fan favorite for his impressions of celebrities like Al Pacino and Vincent Price, as well as original characters like Stefon. Hader was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show and stayed on for eight seasons.

After leaving “SNL,” Hader went on to star in several successful films, including “Superbad,” “The Skeleton Twins,” “Trainwreck” and “It Chapter Two.” He also created and starred in the HBO series “Barry,” which earned critical acclaim. The show garnered eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including for Hader as producer, writer, director, and actor, the last of which he won twice in 2018 and 2019. Hader has continued to work in both film and television, and his unique blend of humor and dramatic acting has earned him a reputation as one of the most versatile performers in the industry.

While Burnett and Hader come from different eras and have different styles of comedy, they both share a love for making people laugh and a desire to entertain audiences. Turns out the traits could even be inherited, after the reveal that the pair are related. 

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Burnett herself was ecstatic to learn about the biological link. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel on Apr. 12, 2023, she told the talk show host she was “very thrilled that we are related.” In a pleasant turn of events, Hader was also interviewed by Kimmel a few days later, and the comedian voiced his elation at the discovery as well.

Hader appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Apr. 14, 2023, and opened up about learning that he and one of the biggest comedic icons of all time were distant cousins.

“It’s insane,” Hader remarked and added that Burnett had reached out to him upon making the discovery.

“She emailed me and said we’re related and I was like, ‘What?’ I turned to my daughters – I’m like, ‘We’re related to Miss Hannigan!” Hader said.

However, during the interview, Kimmel had a surprise for Hader in the form of a clip. The footage was from an interview with Hader from years ago when he discussed Burnett before knowing they were related.

“(I had) a huge crush on Carol Burnett… how could you not?.. I just had a giant crush on her,” Hader said in the clip as Kimmel’s audience erupted in laughter.

While there’s no word yet on whether the two comedic stars will get together on the big or small screen, it’s fun to learn that they share an unexpected but delightful tie to one another that goes beyond working in the same industry. As Burnett and Hader continue building on their already highly successful career, we’ll be sitting back with our fingers crossed and hoping they collaborate soon.

Do you find the link between Burnett and Hader surprising? If so, be sure to pass this along to friends and family who might love to make the discovery themselves!