Biography
With his first-ever feature role as the gaping über-nerd "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004), actor Jon Heder became a cult hero overnight. The film did more than just propel the young actor into celebrity; it also galvanized an entire generation of nerds, geeks and dweebs who could relate to being shoved into lockers, playing lonely games of tetherball and their pocketful of Tater-Tots being smashed by class bullies. The rabid fandom that arose from "Napoleon Dynamite" turned weird, however, when accounts of Heder's death began circulating the Internet, complete with fictitious quotes from his bereaved mom. Though most actors would have cringed at such notoriety, Heder took it all in stride, continuing to land plum comedic roles in such films as "The Benchwarmers" (2005), "School for Scoundrels" (2006) and "Blades of Glory" (2007). The latter was a box office hit and solidified his status as a rising comedic talent. After playing one of Kristen Bell's suitors in the underwhelming romantic comedy "When in Rome" (2010), Heder returned to the role that made him famous with the animated series "Napoleon Dynamite" (Fox, 2012), which featured most of the main players from the original cast and promised Heder continued success.
