{"product_id":"actress-of-a-certain-age-my-twenty-year-trail-to-overnight-success-9781668031858","title":"Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success","description":"\u003cb\u003eA humorous collection of autobiographical essays from comedian and\u003ci\u003e Somebody Somewhere\u003c\/i\u003e actor Jeff Hiller, who shares his journey from growing up \"profoundly gay\" in 1980s Texas to his experiences as an inept social worker and how he clawed, scraped, and brawled to Hollywood's lower middle-tier.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhile struggling to find success as an actor and pay the bills, something accidentally happened to Jeff Hiller: he aged. And while it's one thing to get older and rest on the laurels of success from the blood, sweat, and tears of your youth, it's quite another to be old and have no laurels. At forty, stuck in a temp job making spreadsheets, the dream of becoming a star seemed out of reach. But after twenty-five years of guest roles on TV and performing improv in a grocery store basement, he finally struck gold with a breakout role on HBO's \u003ci\u003eSomebody Somewhere\u003c\/i\u003e, playing Joel--the kind of best friend everyone wishes they had. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn his book, Jeff dives into the grit and grind of climbing the Hollywood ladder. It's a raw and often hilarious tale of the struggles, triumphs, and humiliations that shaped him into the wonderfully imperfect person he is today. With a mix of awkward charm and heartfelt honesty, Jeff shares his journey: growing up very Lutheran in Texas, navigating bullying as a gay kid, working as a social worker for unhoused youth and HIV prevention, and the endless ups and downs of being a struggling actor. For every one of us who have a dream that we're chasing--and chasing, and chasing--his is a funny, moving, and utterly relatable story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHiller, Jeff:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Jeff Hiller is an actor, writer and comedian who has appeared on TV shows such as \u003ci\u003eSomebody Somewhere\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Horror Story: NYC\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Crazy Ex-Girlfriend\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e 30Rock\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLaw and Order: CI\u003c\/i\u003e, among numerous others. His film roles include \u003ci\u003eGreta\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMorning Glory\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGhost Town\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSet it Up\u003c\/i\u003e, and he has performed on Broadway, off-Broadway, in Shakespeare in the Park, Disney musicals, and regional theater. Jeff regularly performs solo shows at Joe's Pub at the Public Theatre and improvises at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in LA and NYC.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51324610609426,"sku":"9781668031858","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0cdff911-b329-4a69-ad4b-7a52cf3b72f4.jpg?v=1748687938","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/actress-of-a-certain-age-my-twenty-year-trail-to-overnight-success-9781668031858","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}