Jonah Hill says fatherhood made him happier, ready to 'be funny again'
The actor admits he 'wasn’t that happy' during his serious film phase
Jonah Hill says he is ready to return to comedy after a period of personal reflection, revealing that finding happiness in family life has reignited his passion for making people laugh.
Speaking during a live taping of the SmartLess podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes in Los Angeles on April 25, Hill admitted he “wasn’t that happy” in recent years as he shifted his focus toward more serious projects.
“I’ve been gone for a while,” Hill said, referring to his reduced presence in comedic roles. “I got all serious for a while and I wasn’t that happy. Then I had my family and I got happy, and now all I want to do is be funny again.”
The 42-year-old actor recently confirmed that he married his longtime partner, Olivia Millar.
The couple, who began dating in 2022, share two children and now live in a small town in San Diego, having moved away from Los Angeles to focus on raising their family.
Hill said becoming a father helped him reconnect with the joy that first drew him to comedy, recalling how the experience brought him back to a simpler time when humor came naturally.
“When you’re happy, you feel like being funny,” he said, adding that fatherhood reminded him of his childhood love for making people laugh.
In recent years, Hill has maintained a lower profile in Hollywood, focusing on directing projects such as Mid90s and the documentary Stutz, which explored his own experiences with therapy.
He has also appeared in films including Don’t Look Up and You People, while his latest project, Outcome, is currently streaming.
Looking ahead, Hill is set to return to theaters with Cut Off, a comedy he co-wrote, directed and stars in, scheduled for release on July 17.