Billy Eichner

Billy Eichner (born September 18, 1978) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and television personality. He is the star, executive producer and creator of Funny Or Die's Billy on the Street, a comedy game show that airs on truTV. Eichner was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Game Show Host" in 2013. He is also known for playing Craig Middlebrooks on the sitcom Parks and Recreation. Eichner currently stars in the Hulu original series Difficult People alongside Julie Klausner and will be involved in the upcoming seventh season of American Horror Story, which is set to premiere in September 2017. Early life Eichner is Jewish and openly gay. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1996 two years ahead of fellow actors Telly Leung and Malcolm Barrett and from Northwestern University in 2000. Actor Robin Lord Taylor was his college roommate. Career Eichner gained attention as the host and writer of Creation Nation: A Live Talk Show, a critically acclaimed stage show in New York. He also appeared on Conan as a special correspondent in original video shorts and as himself on Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live with Andy Cohen, Last Call with Carson Daly, The Wendy Williams Show, and Fashion Police with Joan Rivers, among others. Eichner has been a voiceover guest star in several episodes of the animated TV series Bob's Burgers as Mr. Ambrose, the Librarian. He has been a regular performer at New York City's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. On August 5, 2013, Eichner guest starred in the sixth season of Parks and Recreation. Eichner's first episode aired on October 10, 2013. He stars as Donna's Eagleton counterpart, Craig Middlebrooks, who joins the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department when Pawnee absorbs Eagleton. He became a series regular in episode four of the seventh season of the show. During the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards show in 2014, Eichner appeared with show host Seth Meyers on the streets of New York, interviewing random people. Eichner currently stars in a Hulu original series titled Difficult People with Julie Klausner, and executive produced by Amy Poehler, The project was originally set up at USA Network. The series began airing on August 5, 2015. In 2016, Eichner appeared in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, released on May 20. In March 2017, it was announced that Eichner would be joining the cast of American Horror Story for a recurring role in its seventh season. In April 2017, it was reported that Eichner was in talks with Disney and director Jon Favreau to provide the voice of Timon in Disney's live action remake of The Lion King.