Comedian Jeff Hiller loves listening to a good celebrity memoir
Comedian Jeff Hiller loves listening to a celebrity memoir while he exercises.
“I don’t just read celebrity memoirs, but it is definitely my favorite genre,” he tells Page Six, adding, “I love a Michael Cunningham or Miranda July novel too, but I am a middle-aged homosexual.
“There’s only so much fighting it before you just have to lean in and admit that you can’t get enough of Candice Bergen talking about her life.”
Hiller explains he used to do most of his reading on the subway, but post-pandemic, he pivoted to audiobooks during his workouts.
Hiller’s own collection of autobiographical essays, “Actress of a Certain Age,” came out on June 10.
“I hope my book makes people feel like they’re hanging out with a friend, but also makes them laugh while they’re reading it in public causing them to cover their mouth with their hand so they don’t look like a weirdo even though the hand makes them look like a weirdo,” Hiller says.
“I guess what I’m saying is, I want people to feel like a weirdo because we are ALL weirdos,” he concludes.
See below for Hiller’s six must-read books.
“Handbook for an Unpredictable Life” by Rosie Perez
“This fun book details Perez’s intelligence, creativity and resilience. Her writing style shows off her unique (metaphorical) voice, and if you listen to the audiobook you get to hear her unique (literal) voice!”
“Just As I Am” by Cicely Tyson
“This book is profound, but not humorless. Tyson discusses meaty topics like her art, activism and tumultuous marriage to Miles Davis, but also talks about being Lenny Kravitz’s godmother and how she sued Liz Taylor for a half million bucks. Depth and dish? Sign me up.”
“I Said Yes to Everything” by Lee Grant
“Grant details an incredible life that included being blacklisted by Hollywood and a facelift, both of which occurred when she was only in her 30s. She goes on to win an Oscar at 49 and become a director in her late 50s!”
“Dying of Politeness” by Geena Davis
“This woman has starred in iconic films, become an expert Olympic level archer (yes, ARCHER, like Katniss), and she also has a pet donkey. That’s a recipe for a damn fine read.”
“Yours Cruelly, Elvira” by Cassandra Peterson
“Peterson takes off the wig and the eyeliner and tells her story with vulnerability, but she never loses the wit that makes us love Elvira. She started off her career as a Las Vegas showgirl and includes stories about Elvis, Sammy Davis Jr. and having sex with Tom Jones!”
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do” by Adrienne Barbeau
“Did you know Barbeau was the original Rizzo in Broadway’s ‘Grease’? I did, but I didn’t know she was primarily known for having a legendarily bodacious rack which I guess says more about me than her.”
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