Billy Eichner

Eichner gained attention as the host and writer of Creation Nation: A Live Talk Show, a critically acclaimed stage show in New York.[1] He also appeared on Conan as a special correspondent in original video shorts[2] and as himself on Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live with Andy Cohen,[3] Last Call with Carson Daly,[4] The Wendy Williams Show,[5] 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.[6]

In 2011, Eichner starred the show Billy on the Street. This aired on truTV and was created by Funny or Die. It is available on Netflix. In this show, Eichner goes around the streets of New York City, asking people random questions, or having them compete in trivia games. He often has famous celebrities on his show that will compete in games or go around the streets with him.

On August 5, 2013, Eichner guest starred in the sixth season of Parks and Recreation.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] The series began airing on August 5, 2015.[11] In 2016, Eichner appeared in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, released on May 20.[12] In 2017, he joined the cast of American Horror Story for recurring roles in its seventh and eighth seasons.[13]

In 2019, Eichner provided the voice of Timon in Disney's live action remake of The Lion King, from director Jon Favreau.[14][15] Eichner said that Timon "[is] such a great role that allows you to do so much. But... the bigger the project and the bigger the names that you're working with, the more you have to ignore it. If you get to the soundstage and you're thinking, 'Oh my God, what a full-circle moment! Nathan Lane did it originally! Beyoncé's in this!' then you're paralyzed creatively. You just have to put that out of your head in order to get the job done."[16]

Eichner is a native of Queens and grew up in Forest Hills.[17] He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1996,[18] and from Northwestern University in 2000 with a BA in Theater.[19] Actor Robin Lord Taylor was his college roommate.[20] Eichner is Jewish[21] and gay.[22][23][24][25]

• LGBT culture in New York City
• List of self-identified LGBTQ New Yorkers

• D'Addario, Daniel (June 6, 2012). "(Crazy) Man on the Street: Comedian Billy Eichner Will Accost You in Chelsea". The 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.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Billy Eichner.

• Billy Eichner on Twitter
• Billy Eichner at IMDb 
• Profile at Funny or Die; accessed January 3, 2015.