Tim Heidecker
A subversive comedy architect who, with partner Eric Wareheim, built a surreal and influential empire from public access absurdity.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American actor, director, producer and screenwriter·Birthday: February 3·Generation X
Biography
Tim Heidecker operates as a master deconstructor of American media's empty forms. Teaming with Eric Wareheim, he created 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!,' a public-access nightmare that became a cult phenomenon and a comedy incubator. Their work is deliberately awkward, visually jarring, and punctures the veneer of cheap local TV, infomercials, and corporate training videos. Heidecker isn't just a performer; he's a meticulous world-builder whose aesthetic—low-resolution graphics, aggressive editing, and uncomfortable performances from non-actors—has influenced a generation of comedians. Beyond the duo, he has forged a multifaceted path, releasing sincere folk-rock albums under his own name, starring in dark indie films, and hosting a political satire podcast. Heidecker's career is a sustained experiment in exploring the space between earnestness and irony, often leaving the audience to wonder which side he's really on.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Tim was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Tim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created and starred in the influential Adult Swim series 'Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!'
- Co-wrote and starred in the feature film 'The Comedy' and the cult series 'Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule.'
- Released several albums of original music, ranging from parody to earnest singer-songwriter material.
- Created and stars in the tragicomic series 'The Heidecker Talent Agency' and 'On Cinema at the Cinema.'
Did You Know?
He and Eric Wareheim met as students at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Heidecker ran a satirical campaign for President in 2020, releasing political ads and a platform.
He voiced the character of 'DJ' on the animated series 'Bob's Burgers.'
His music has been performed live with a full band, separate from his comedy work.
“I like to think of what we do as holding up a mirror to society, but the mirror is made of meat and it's screaming.”
