T.J. Miller Bio
Todd Joseph Miller (born June 4, 1981) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Erlich Bachman on the HBO series Silicon Valley and for portraying the character Weasel in the feature films Deadpool and Deadpool 2. Miller has worked across stand-up, television, film, and voice acting, contributing to animated franchises and mainstream studio comedies while maintaining a visible presence in live performance and podcasts.
Early Life and Background
Todd Joseph Miller was born in Denver, Colorado, the son of Leslie Miller, a clinical psychologist, and Kent Miller, an attorney. He grew up in Denver and attended Graland Country Day School and East High School, where he participated in drama productions. Those early performances introduced him to stage work and set a foundation for a career that combined theatrical training with improvisational comedy.
After high school Miller attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he graduated in 2003 with a B.A. in psychology, concentrating in persuasion theory and social influence. While a student he was active in campus comedy groups and undertook additional training abroad, studying circus arts in Paris at Frichess Theatre Urbain and attending a summer program at the British American Drama Academy in London to study Shakespeare.
Path to Celebrity
Following college, Miller moved to Chicago and began performing improvisation and stand-up with local troupes and touring companies. He spent time with The Second City and built a reputation as an improviser and comic with sharp, offbeat material. By 2007 he was working regularly in comedy clubs, festivals, and on television, developing a public profile through stand-up specials and variety appearances.
Early recognition came from industry lists and touring festivals; in 2008 Miller was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch. He released stand-up recordings and specials that broadened his audience and made him a fixture on comedy circuits, which facilitated a transition into regular television guest spots and recurring roles that raised his national visibility.
T.J. Miller Career
Early Career (2007–2013)
Miller’s on-screen work began with supporting and character roles in a range of studio and independent films. His film debut came with a small onscreen role in Cloverfield, in which his videotaped perspective was a recurring element of the film. He followed with roles in comedies such as The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Extract, She’s Out of My League, Get Him to the Greek, and Unstoppable. He also performed in Yogi Bear and took supporting parts in ensemble comedies and mid-budget studio releases through the early 2010s.
Alongside live-action work, Miller established a steady voice acting résumé. He voiced Tuffnut Thorston in the How to Train Your Dragon films and contributed voices to other animated projects, expanding his reach into family and animated features. He also developed audio projects and comedy recordings, releasing concept albums and appearing frequently on podcasts and comedy networks.
Breakthrough (2014–2017)
Miller’s profile rose significantly when he was cast as Erlich Bachman on the HBO sitcom Silicon Valley, a role he played from 2014 through 2017. The character became a signature part of Miller’s public identity and brought mainstream awards recognition; he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2015 for his work on the show. That period also saw Miller take on high-profile studio roles, most notably his portrayal of the character Weasel in the 2016 superhero comedy Deadpool, a part he reprised in its 2018 sequel.
During this stretch Miller continued to balance voice work and feature roles, appearing in Transformers: Age of Extinction, Big Hero 6, and the controversial animated The Emoji Movie, and appearing in projects such as Ready Player One. In May 2017 it was announced that Miller would not return for the fifth season of Silicon Valley; series creator Mike Judge later described the decision as resulting from Miller’s failure to meet the show’s production expectations.
Notable Works and Milestones
Todd Joseph Miller’s most recognizable credits include his television role on Silicon Valley and his appearances in the Deadpool films, alongside voice work in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise and major animated features. His Critics’ Choice Television Award win in 2015 stands as a verified industry recognition tied directly to his performance on Silicon Valley.
T.J. Miller Awards Won
Miller won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2015 for his performance as Erlich Bachman on Silicon Valley.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Critics’ Choice Television Award | 1 | 2015 |
T.J. Miller Family
Miller is the son of Leslie Miller and Kent Miller. In 2014 he became engaged to actress and installation artist Kate Gorney; the couple were married at the Denver Botanic Gardens on September 6, 2015. Public records and reporting included in available sources identify Kate Gorney Miller as his spouse; no verifiable public information about children is provided in the supplied facts.
Personal Life
Miller has been open about a medical diagnosis from 2011 involving a cerebral arteriovenous malformation on his right frontal lobe and subsequent surgery, which he has described as life-changing. Public commentary and interviews note that the surgery was successful and that Miller discussed its effects on his behavior and outlook. He is reported to speak fluent Spanish and has described his philosophical stance in public remarks.
Miller’s public life has included multiple high-profile controversies that received media attention and legal resolution. In late 2017 an allegation from Miller’s college years resurfaced; the allegation and responses were reported publicly, and DreamWorks Animation removed Miller from a role in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World following the allegation. In April 2018 Miller was arrested on federal charges related to a false bomb threat placed by phone while aboard an Amtrak train; prosecutors later dismissed those charges in July 2021, citing expert medical analyses and reports regarding Miller’s prior brain surgery and its neurological impacts, and Miller agreed to make financial restitution for the law enforcement response and to undertake a program of cognitive remediation. In December 2016 Miller was arrested following an alleged physical altercation with an Uber driver; that matter was later resolved by settlement in March 2018. These incidents and their outcomes are part of Miller’s public record as supplied in the verified inputs.
Throughout his career Miller has continued to perform stand-up, release comedy specials and recordings, and appear on podcasts and in voice roles, maintaining an active profile in multiple areas of entertainment while navigating the professional and legal challenges documented in public sources.
