On October 17, The Westport Library welcomes two alums from the critically-acclaimed HBO series Somebody Somewhere: Murray Hill will discuss his new memoir, Showbiz!: My Life as a Middle-Aged Man, alongside co-star Jeff Hiller. Ahead of his appearance, Murray sat down with Westport Lifestyle to chat about growing up in Connecticut (he’s from Simsbury), his career, his decision to write a memoir, and what fans can expect from the duo’s visit to Westport.
Westport Lifestyle: You’re from Connecticut originally, right? Tell me about coming back here for the book tour.
Murray Hill: Back then, Connecticut was a lot different. Being a New Englander is in my blood, and there were many positives, but it wasn’t always easy growing up there. I’m happy to come back because the most important thing now, from my standpoint, is to connect with people who’ve felt discriminated against and tell them: I survived. I made a whole life for myself, and they can too.
WL: That’s beautiful. You know, I read an interview with you where you said you’ve always had a spirit, a candle that never went out. How did you know you wanted to channel that spirit into performing?
MH: I didn’t perform growing up. Where I was from, you either played sports or were in the arts, but not both. I talk about this in the book—I went to school one day dressed as Schneider from One Day At a Time, with the mustache painted on, tool belt, and cigarettes rolled up in my t-shirt. I was embodying a persona and performing it without realizing it. In senior year of high school, I somehow volunteered to host a battle of the bands show and fell in love with the adrenaline, applause, and community! Ever since, my career has been hosting. I fell into it. I started creating my own opportunities to do characters in nightclubs, and it went on from there.
WL: While you were performing in N.Y.C., you met Bridget Everett, who eventually called you up to offer you the role of Fred Rococo on Somebody Somewhere. What was getting that call like?
MH: In showbiz, there is so much rejection. People always told us: ‘You’re too niche. We don’t know what to do with you.’ But when the SBSW writers started working on the script, they based the character of Fred on my relationship with [Bridget]. I didn’t have to audition. She just called me and said, ‘OK, they wrote a character based on you, named Fred, and HBO just agreed to shoot the pilot.’ I couldn’t believe it! There were tears. In this business, you’re always trying to break through. It wasn’t until we were both in our 50s that we cracked that glass ceiling.
WL: So speaking of being in your 50s, your book is called Showbiz!: My Life as a Middle-Aged Man. How did you land on that title?
MH: The ‘showbiz’ piece of the title is from the fact that showbiz has given me this incredible chosen family, friends, the ability to travel all over the world—it’s given me a life on my terms. And then it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek. I say this joke in my act—I’m finally my character’s age now!—that’s SHOWBIZ!
WL: What made you want to write a memoir?
MH: I’m not from a generation that shares a lot about their personal experiences. But on Somebody Somewhere, as Fred, I met so many people who told me what a positive role model both Fred and I were. And I thought: Well, they’re just seeing the end result and not the blood, sweat, and tears. I decided that I was going to share my full story of how I got here so people know what is possible, and to never give up.
WL: What do you hope readers take away from it?
MH: The point of the book is that you can survive. You can find your people. That was such a huge piece of Somebody Somewhere—Sam (Bridget) found her people. My story is a testament to the fact that you can overcome anything and find chosen family.
WL: Tell us about having Jeff come along to talk about the book with you. What will the night be like?
MH: Jeff and I relate to each other on so many levels, especially comedically, our love of showbiz memoirs and improv. Also, we both have been othered, in different ways, but now we are more empowered about it and have made careers from it! When we’re together, we joke around—it’s like our own comedy show. And there’s a bit of a Tom & Jerry vibe, because he’s 20 feet tall, and I’m around five feet. We go for the laugh, but also both can get real. So [the talk] will be a master class of improv, getting real, and laughing. Throughout my career, and Somebody Somewhere, touring, and doing shows, what brings me the most joy is connecting with an audience and setting the tone for laughter and acceptance. When I do a show–or anywhere I go—I create the environment I wish I grew up in.
Murray Hill discusses Showbiz!: My Life as a Middle-Aged Man with Jeff Hiller on Saturday, October 17, at 7 p.m. at The Westport Library. Tickets, $35, include a copy of the book. For more information visit westportlibrary.org , or to purchase the book, visit Murray’s website, mistershowbiz.com or on IG: @MurrayHill
This interview has been edited and condensed.