--- name: "Jon Heder" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jon-heder" fi1m_id: "jon-heder" imdb_id: "nm1417647" tmdb_id: 53926 wikidata_id: "Q392370" roles: ["Actor"] born: "26 October 1977" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 76 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-10-07T14:19:13.460749+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jon Heder ## Identity Jon Heder - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jon-heder - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jon-heder - **IMDb ID:** nm1417647 - **TMDB ID:** 53926 - **Wikidata ID:** Q392370 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Heder, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q392370, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1417647/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53926 Actor. Born 26 October 1977 in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 26 October 1977, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA - **Active:** 2004–2005 - **Also known as:** 존 헤더, جان هدر - **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 2 titles - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Heder, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q392370, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1417647/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/53926 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Napoleon Dynamite*](https://film.one/film/napoleon-dynamite.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jon Heder > Jon Heder makes social awkwardness funny without making it painless. We value the deadpan patience of *Napoleon Dynamite*, though the repeated misfit roles can narrow an actor whose physical comedy gives him more to offer. In *Napoleon Dynamite* (2004), Jon Heder lets an awkward encounter stay awkward after the joke has landed. His deadpan delivery gives the boy little help in making himself likeable, which is a large part of why the performance works. We felt protective of Napoleon because Heder keeps his discomfort apparent after we have finished laughing. Jared Hess’s comedy wanders, and the thin story cannot support every pause between jokes. Heder is the reason we forgive as much of that as we do. Hess’s short *Peluca* (2003) led to the feature that made Heder’s name, and the socially awkward outsider soon became his familiar assignment. Studio comedies followed, including *Just Like Heaven* (2005) and *The Benchwarmers* (2006). *Blades of Glory* (2007) paired him with Will Ferrell and put his physical comedy to work as Jimmy MacElroy. That broader slapstick is a useful reminder that he has more than a deadpan voice to work with. Repeated variations on Napoleon risk making his performances seem more predictable than they need to be. Voice work offered another outlet, through *Monster House* (2006) and Chicken Joe in *Surf’s Up* (2007). The subsequent mix of independent films and animation included a return to Napoleon in the 2012 animated series. We would not ask him to abandon the awkward characters simply to prove he can do something else. But casting him as an oddball is not enough on its own: the character needs to matter once the initial amusement has worn off. Hess gets that right in *Napoleon Dynamite*, giving us a teenager whose embarrassment matters even when his behaviour is tiresome. Some of the surrounding caricatures are broad enough to make the film’s kindness doubtful, and Heder cannot settle that problem for the whole cast. He does, however, stop Napoleon becoming someone we can laugh at and promptly forget. That is why we recommend the performance despite the film’s unevenness. Start there, but give it a few encounters before committing the evening; a busier plot will not arrive to do the entertaining for him. ## Biography Jon Heder is an American actor. He is best known for his breakout role as the title character in the 2004 comedy film *Napoleon Dynamite*. Heder was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, and raised in Salem, Oregon. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 2002 with a degree in computer animation. While there, he starred in Jared Hess's short film *Peluca*, which was expanded into *Napoleon Dynamite*. He has appeared in films including *The Benchwarmers* (2006), *Blades of Glory* (2007) and *When in Rome* (2010), and provided voice work for *Monster House* (2006) and *Surf's Up* (2007). He also voiced the character in the 2012 animated series *Napoleon Dynamite*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *My Name Is Earl* (2005), Fi1m 77, as Joel Malone — [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md) - *Napoleon Dynamite* (2004), Fi1m 74, as Napoleon Dynamite — [page](https://film.one/film/napoleon-dynamite.md) ## Complete filmography (63) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Tapawingo* (2025), as Nate Skoog - *Waltzing with Brando* (2025), as Bernard Judge - *I See the Demon* (2025), as Roger - *Plan B* (2024), as Evan Ebert - *Thelma the Unicorn* (2024), as Reggie (voice) - *The Legend of Vox Machina* (2022), series, as Lionel (voice) - *Pinocchio: A True Story* (2021), as Tybalt (English) - *Funny Thing About Love* (2021), as Charlie - *Tremors: Shrieker Island* (2020), as Jimmy - *The Aquabats! RadVentures!* (2019), series, as The Mauler - *The Unexpected Race* (2018), as Harry - *When Jeff Tried to Save the World* (2018), as Jeff - *Gloria Talks Funny* (2018), as Harrison - *Sunshine Brownstone* (2017), as Balloon / Clerk / Underwater Giant - *All Hail King Julien: Exiled* (2017), series, as Tentacle (voice) - *When Jeff Tried to Save the World* (2017), as Jeff - *The Tiger Hunter* (2017), as Alex - *Surf's Up 2: WaveMania* (2017), as Chicken Joe (voice) - *Ghost Team* (2016), as Louis - *Bling* (2016), as Wilmer (voice) - *Christmas Eve* (2015), as James - *Pickle & Peanut* (2015), series, as Pickle - *Walt Before Mickey* (2015), as Roy Disney - *Weepah Way For Now* (2015), as Ernie - *Critical Role* (2015), series, as Lionel Gayheart - *Reality* (2015), as Dennis - *Star vs. the Forces of Evil* (2015), series, as Oskar Greason (voice) - *The Visitant* (2014), Producer - *My Dad Is Scrooge* (2014), as Raffi (voice) - *Clarence* (2014), series, as Randy (voice) - *About a Boy* (2014), series, as Computer Virus Guy — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/about-a-boy-2014.md) - *Wildlife* (2014), as Raymond Hinckley - *A Monsterous Holiday* (2013), as Frankenstein - *Uncle Grandpa* (2013), series, as Kev / Additional Voices (voice), Additional Voices (voice) - *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2012), series, as Napoleon Bonafrog (voice) - *The Legend of Korra* (2012), series, as Ryu (voice) - *For Ellen* (2012), as Fred Butler - *Napoleon Dynamite* (2012), series, as Napoleon Dynamite (voice) - *All Star Bowling Trick Shots* (2012), Actor - *L!fe Happens* (2011), as Wrong Number Caller - *Dead Grandma!* (2011), series, as Jon Heder - *Woke Up Dead* (2010), as Drex Greene - *FCU: Fact Checkers Unit* (2010), series, as Jon - *When in Rome* (2010), as Lance - *Woke Up Dead* (2009), series, as Drex - *Mama's Boy* (2007), as Jeffrey Mannus - *Moving McAllister* (2007), as Orlie - *Surf's Up* (2007), as Chicken Joe (voice) - *Blades of Glory* (2007), as Jimmy MacElroy - *School for Scoundrels* (2006), as Roger Waddell - *Monster House* (2006), as Reginald "Skull" Skulinski (voice) - *On Location Napoleon Dynamite* (2006), as Napoleon Dynamite (Archival Footage) - *The Benchwarmers* (2006), as Clark - *The Sasquatch Gang* (2006), as Laser Tag Employee - *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Joel Malone — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md) - *How I Met Your Mother* (2005), series, as Narshall — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/how-i-met-your-mother.md) - *Just Like Heaven* (2005), as Darryl - *Tankman Begins* (2005), as Napoleon Dynamite/Batman - *Napoleon Dynamite* (2004), as Napoleon Dynamite — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/napoleon-dynamite.md) - *Sockbaby* (2004), series, as Black Ops Frogmen - *Peluca* (2003), as Seth - *The Big Kill*, as Peter - *Killing Winston Jones*, as Edwin Jones ## Gallery - ![Jon Heder](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-8b1a2b64c3d6.jpg) Jon Heder — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Jon_Heder_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Jon_Heder_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jon Heder at the 2014 Supanova Pop Culture Expo](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-15446671f1a6.jpg) Jon Heder at the 2014 Supanova Pop Culture Expo — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Jon_Heder%2C_2014_Supanova_Pop_Culture_Expo.jpg/1280px-Jon_Heder%2C_2014_Supanova_Pop_Culture_Expo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jon Heder at Xbox 360 Halo 3 Sneak Preview at Quixote Studios in West Hollywood, California United States (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-85d00717fb99.jpg) Jon Heder at Xbox 360 Halo 3 Sneak Preview at Quixote Studios in West Hollywood, California United States (2007) — gamerscoreblog, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Jon_Heder.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-d1a9ecbe39f9.jpg) Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Jon_Heder_%26_Efren_Ramirez_%285965901557%29.jpg/1280px-Jon_Heder_%26_Efren_Ramirez_%285965901557%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jon Heder](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-492ae1108b4a.jpg) Jon Heder — Image via TMDB - ![Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-8eb1dda8879b.jpg) Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Jon_Heder_%26_Efren_Ramirez_%285966459864%29.jpg/1280px-Jon_Heder_%26_Efren_Ramirez_%285966459864%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jon Heder at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.](https://film.one/media/person/98565/gallery-f7d487dbace5.jpg) Jon Heder at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Jon_Heder_%285966442502%29.jpg/1280px-Jon_Heder_%285966442502%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jon-heder