Few actors really become famous overnight, but Jon Heder proved to be an exception. After starring as an uncomfortable nerd on a bus in the short
Peluca, the seemingly geeky thespian reprised the role---unforgettably---in the full-length 2004 cult film
Napoleon Dynamite. The movie was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival and a subsequent box-office sleeper hit, and suddenly Heder was a hot commodity. Following that successful venture, he made a slew of comedies, including
The Benchwarmers,
School for Scoundrels and
Blades of Glory. He's even demonstrated that he's willing to go so far as to suffer for a laugh: While promoting his film
When in Rome in 2010, he cohosted an episode of
WWE Raw and actually jumped into the ring to participate in a six-man tag-team match. But off-screen, this family man hasn't gone Hollywood. He still adheres to many of the principals of his strict Mormon upbringing, which include avoiding caffeine, swear words and alcohol.
Jon Heder Fast Facts:
- Raised in a strict Mormon household and spent two years in Tokyo as a Mormon missionary.
- Developed an appreciation for 1970s clothing and music, particularly Led Zeppelin.
- Majored in 3-D Animation at BYU, along with his identical twin brother.
- Credited his improvisational dance skills in 2004's Napoleon Dynamite to close observation of Michael Jackson and John Travolta.
- Won Breakthrough Male Performance and Best Musical Performance at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards for his career-making role in Napoleon Dynamite.
- Is a nephew of former NFL player Vai Sikahema.
- Cohosted an episode of WWE Raw in 2010 and went into the ring to fight as part of a six-man tag-team match.
- Dropped out of the lead role in 2010 in the Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake for creative reasons.
- Adheres to Mormon practices of no caffeine, no swear words and no alcohol.
- Jon Heder Relationships:
- Evan Jane Heder - Daughter
- Daniel Heder - Brother
- Matthew Heder - Brother
- Douglas Heder - Brother
- Adam Heder - Brother
- Helen Heder - Mother
- Kirsten Heder - Wife
- Rachel Heder - Sister
- Jim Heder - Father
- College:
- Brigham Young University, Provo, UT