T. J. Miller

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T.J. Miller
Miller at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Miller at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born Todd Joseph Miller
(1981-06-04) June 4, 1981 (age 42)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Alma mater George Washington University
Occupation Actor, stand-up comedian, producer, writer
Years active 2007–present
Spouse(s) Kate Gorney (m. 2015)
Website Official website

Todd Joseph Miller (born June 4, 1981) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, producer, and writer.[1]

From 2014 to 2017, he starred as Erlich Bachman in the HBO sitcom Silicon Valley.[2] Miller has also starring roles in films such as Cloverfield, She's Out of My League, Yogi Bear, Deadpool, Office Christmas Party and The Emoji Movie.[3]

Early life and education

Miller was born in Denver, Colorado, the son of Leslie Miller, a clinical psychologist, and Kent Miller, an attorney.[4][5] His father is of English, Swedish, German, and Scottish ancestry, whereas his mother is of German-Jewish, Austrian-Jewish, and Russian-Jewish descent.[6][7][8]

He attended Graland Country Day School and graduated from Denver's East High School, where he participated in drama productions.[4] His drama teacher at East High, Melody Duggan, confirms Miller was a "typical class clown", but said he was much more intuitive than the average teenager. "He understands the frailty of the human condition better than any kid I've ever had.[5]

In 2003, Miller graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. with a B.A. in psychology with a concentration in situation theory and social influence.[9][10]

At GWU, he was a member of the comedy group receSs and the Lambda chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.[4] While in college, Miller studied the circus arts at Frichess Theatre Urbain in Paris, and attended the British American Drama Academy in London, where he studied Shakespeare for a summer.[5][11]

Career

Stand-up

After college, Miller moved to Chicago and began to perform improvisation and stand-up comedy, performing with many local troupes.[12][13][14] He toured with The Second City for two years.[11] In 2008, he was named one of Variety's 10 Comics To Watch.[15]

In 2011, Miller released an hour comedy special, No Real Reason, and a comedy album, Mash Up Audiofile in 2012.[16][17]

In 2015, he was part of Funny or Die’s Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival, a touring show which included Amy Schumer, Aziz Ansari, and other comics.[18]

On June 17, 2017, HBO premiered his hourlong comedy special, T.J. Miller: Meticulously Ridiculous, which was filmed in Miller's native Denver at the end of his 2016 Meticulously Ridiculous Tour.[19]

Television

Miller appeared frequently as a member of the "round table" on Chelsea Lately. He appeared as Marmaduke Brooker in Carpoolers, which ran for 13 episodes on ABC in 2007–2008. In 2012, he voiced Robbie Valentino on the Disney channel cartoon Gravity Falls. On December 13, 2010, October 28, 2011, and June 14, 2012, he performed stand-up on Conan. On November 15, 2011, his stand-up special No Real Reason premiered on Comedy Central. In 2011, he hosted a special called Mash Up, which was picked up in 2012 for a full season by Comedy Central.[20][21] He starred in the Fox TV series The Goodwin Games as Jimmy Goodwin.[22]

Miller starred in the HBO sitcom Silicon Valley, which has been met with widespread critical acclaim and he won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2015. In May 2017, Miller and HBO jointly announced that Miller will not be returning for the 5th season of Silicon Valley.[23][24][25]

As a commercial actor, he voices a talking ball of mucus in commercials for Mucinex[18] and stars as Greg the Genie in a promotional campaign for Slim Jim meat snacks.[26]

Film

In Miller's film debut, Cloverfield, he appeared onscreen for only a few minutes, but his voice was heard in almost every scene as the character who videotaped most of the events depicted. In 2009, he played Cessna Jim in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard and the dim-witted grindcore musician Rory in Mike Judge's comedy Extract. In 2010, he co-starred in She's Out of My League as Stainer, played Brian the Concierge in Get Him to the Greek and appeared in a supporting role in the film Unstoppable.[4]

He voiced the character ‘Tuffnut’ in the Oscar-nominated animated films How to Train Your Dragon and How to Train Your Dragon 2. He also played Dan in Gulliver's Travels, released in December 2010. He played the supporting character of Ranger Jones in the live-action/animated Yogi Bear 2010 film.[27]

Unlike his character on the cartoon show, he is "dumb-but-not-in-a-funny-way", according to the Buffalo News.[28] He was cast in the part after two auditions; as a joke, he sent Warner Bros. an improvised video audition with an actual bear, though he had already been offered the part before they received it.[29]

In 2011, he appeared in the film Our Idiot Brother. He had a cameo as administrative personnel for Rolling Stone in the 2012 film Rock of Ages. He starred in the 2016 movie Search Party alongside Adam Pally.[30]

In 2014, he appeared in Transformers: Age of Extinction.[31]

In November 2014, he was the voice of Fred in the superhero CGI film Big Hero 6. Miller portrayed Weasel in Deadpool. In 2017, he portrayed the voice of the main protagonist Gene, a meh emoji with different expressions, in the animated The Emoji Movie.[32]

Music

On September 12, 2011, Miller released a comedy rap concept album titled The Extended Play E.P. The album features comedians Bo Burnham, Doug Benson, Pete Holmes and hip-hop artists Ugly Duckling and Johnny Polygon.[33]

In 2012, Miller released The Extended Play E.P. Illegal Art Remix Tape.[34] Also in 2012, Miller released Mash Up Audiofile on Comedy Central Records to mixed reviews.[35]

Podcasting

Miller started appearing on Chicago-based comedy Podcast Red Bar Radio in 2006 as a semi-regular co-host. He hosts a podcast with friend and fellow comedian Cash Levy, titled Cashing in With TJ Miller, which began airing in March 2012 on the Nerdist Network.[36] He is also a frequent guest on Doug Benson's podcast Doug Loves Movies.[37]

Personal life

In 2014, Miller became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, actress and mixed-media artist Kate Gorney, who changed her surname to Miller.[25] They were married at the Denver Botanic Gardens on September 6, 2015.[38][39]

A self-described "enthusiastic marijuana user", Miller notes other similarities between himself and Erlich Bachman, his character on Silicon Valley. "He is just sort of, unfortunately for me, a magnification of certain aspects of my personality, mixed in with a couple of fictional things...I am, at times, a Falstaffian figure; he very much is that too. We are in line with each other as nihilists: He thinks you should tell it like it is ... because everybody's opinion including yours doesn't mean anything."[5]

Miller described learning about an undiagnosed cerebral arteriovenous malformation on his right frontal lobe on the Pete Holmes podcast You Made It Weird on October 28, 2011. He stated that he became more philosophical, narrated his behaviors, and was unable to sleep while filming Yogi Bear in New Zealand in 2010. His brain surgery was successful, though there was a 10 percent risk of fatality.[18][40]

On December 9, 2016, Miller was arrested and jailed in Los Angeles for allegedly assaulting a driver of the Uber car service company because of an argument he had with the driver over Donald Trump. He was released on his own recognizance after bail was set at $20,000.[41][42]

In 2015, Thomas Middleditch stated he and Miller were atheists.[43]

Legal issues and controversies

Uber assault incident

On December 9, 2016, Miller was arrested and jailed in Los Angeles for allegedly assaulting a driver of the Uber car service company because of an argument he had with the driver over Donald Trump. He was released on his own recognizance after bail was set at $20,000.[41][42]

Sexual misconduct allegations

In late 2017 allegations against Miller from his college days back in 2001 resurfaced, part of a growing movement of people coming forward with sexual abuse claims about Harvey Weinstein and other Hollywood insiders. An anonymous woman who attended George Washington University with Miller and his wife Kate told The Daily Beast reporter Asawin Suebsaeng that Miller (her then boyfriend)[44] became violent with her during a sexual encounter; he allegedly choked, shook, and punched her in the mouth, all without her consent. Suebsaeng attempted to contact witnesses and other people involved with the case, some of whom corroborated the accuser's story, adding that it was brought to the attention of the college at the time. Student conduct proceedings were held, the results of which are sealed, although it has been claimed that, despite Miller having graduated by that time, he was expelled as a form of appeasement to the accuser.[45]

The Millers responded to the allegations, characterizing the accuser as a vindictive former colleague in a campus comedy troupe who was asked to leave due to inappropriate behavior. The statement said that "[s]adly she is now using the current climate to bandwagon and launch these false accusations again", and also stated that her accusation "undermines the important movement to make women feel safe coming forward about legitimate claims against real known predators".[46]

Amtrak bomb threat incident

Miller was arrested on the night of April 9, 2018 at LaGuardia Airport on federal charges related to a fake bomb threat made while aboard an Amtrak train. According to a Department of Justice press release, he placed an emergency call on March 18, 2018, and reported that a female passenger had "a bomb in her bag" while traveling on Amtrak Train 2256 from Washington, D.C., toward Penn Station in New York City. After authorities evacuated passengers and searched Amtrak Train 2256, it turned out that Miller was actually on Amtrak Train 2258, which was also evacuated of passengers and searched.[47] No evidence of any explosive device or materials was detected after officials stopped and inspected both trains. According to witnesses interviewed by Amtrak investigators, he had appeared to have been heavily intoxicated and involved "in hostile exchanges with a woman who was sitting in a different row from him in the first-class car", and that he had been removed from the train prior to his intended stop due to his intoxication. On April 10, 2018 he was released on a $100,000 bond following an appearance at a federal court hearing in New Haven, Connecticut. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.[48][49][50][51]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Cloverfield Hudson "Hud" Platt
2009 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Cessna Jim
Extract Rory
2010 She's Out of My League Wendell ("Stainer")
How to Train Your Dragon Tuffnut Thorston (voice)
Get Him to the Greek Brian
Unstoppable Gilleece
Yogi Bear Ranger Jones
Gulliver's Travels Dan Quint
Successful Alcoholics Drake Short film, also co-writer
2011 Our Idiot Brother Billy Orwin
Charlie on Parole Charlie Short film
2012 Rock of Ages Rolling Stone Receptionist
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Darcy
2014 How to Train Your Dragon 2 Tuffnut Thorston (voice)
Transformers: Age of Extinction Lucas Flannery
Big Hero 6[52] Fred (voice)
Search Party Jason
2015 Hell and Back Augie (voice)
2016 Deadpool Jack Hammer / Weasel
Office Christmas Party Clay Vanstone
2017 Goon: Last of the Enforcers Chad Bailey
The Emoji Movie[32] Gene (voice)
2018 Ready Player One i-R0k
Underwater Post-production
Deadpool 2 Jack Hammer / Weasel Post-production
2019 How to Train Your Dragon 3 Tuffnut Thorston (voice)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007–2008 Carpoolers Marmaduke Brooker 13 episodes
2011 Traffic Light Jason Episode: "Breaking Bread"
2011 Happy Endings Jason Shershow Episode: "The Shershow Redemption"
2011 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Prancer (voice) Television short
2011 The League Gabriel Episode: "The Light of Genesis"
2011 Fact Checkers Unit Cop Episode: "Excessive Gass"
2011 T.J. Miller: No Real Reason Himself Stand-up special
2012 Romantic Encounters Toy Story 5 Episode: "Toy Story 5"
2012 How to Rock Danny Mango 2 episodes
2012–2013 The Gorburger Show Gorburger 16 episodes; also writer
2012–2016 Gravity Falls Robbie Valentino (voice) 13 episodes
2012–present DreamWorks Dragons Tuffnut Thorston (voice) 82 episodes
2013, 2014 American Dad! Benji / Cowboy (voices) 2 episodes
2013 The Goodwin Games Jimmy Goodwin 7 episodes
2013 High School USA! Brad Slovee (voice) 12 episodes
2013 The Jeselnik Offensive Himself 3 episodes
2014 Garfunkel and Oates Matthew Uncredited
Episode: "Speechless"
2014–2017 Silicon Valley Erlich Bachman 38 episodes
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2015)
Nominated–Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2016)
2015 Family Guy Premature Volcano (voice) Episode: "Roasted Guy"
2016 21st Critics' Choice Awards Himself (host) Television special
2016 Those Who Can't Uncle Jake Episode: "What's Eating Uncle Jake?"
2016 22nd Critics' Choice Awards Himself (host) Television special
2017 The Gorburger Show Gorburger 8 episodes; also writer and executive producer
2017 Crashing Himself 2 episodes
2017 F is for Family Randy (voice) 3 episodes
2017 T.J. Miller: Meticulously Ridiculous Himself Stand-up special

Video games

Year Title Voice role
2010 How to Train Your Dragon Tuffnut Thorston
2010 Yogi Bear: The Video Game Ranger Jones

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ https://www.jta.org/2016/12/09/arts-entertainment/jewish-comedian-t-j-miller-arrested-in-altercation-over-trump-with-uber-driver
  8. ↑ https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-comedian-arrested-for-uber-fight-over-trump/
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "People-UberArrest-2016" defined multiple times with different content
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Reuters-UberArrest-2016" defined multiple times with different content
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ T.J. Miller arrested for alleged fake bomb threat, accessed April 10, 2018
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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