Bill Hader has voiced plenty of memorable characters, but his latest role earned him a rare prize at home: genuine approval from his three daughters. The actor told E! News that his children—Hannah, 17, Harper, 14, and Hayley, 11—attended the premiere of The Cat in the Hat and came away impressed by his turn as the titular Dr. Seuss character.
The Bill Hader daughters Cat in the Hat connection became a sweet family milestone, as the Saturday Night Live veteran joked that his girls even looked him in the eye to deliver their verdict. He recalled them telling him they were proud and that the film was good, a moment he described with mock astonishment.
A Rare Moment of Parental Cool
Hader, 48, shares his daughters with ex-wife Maggie Carey. In the joint interview with costars Xochitl Gomez and Tiago Martinez, he quipped that receiving direct eye contact from his kids was a huge deal. He added playfully that he had momentarily forgotten the color of their eyes—blue—as if the experience of being truly seen by them was that uncommon.
Even with their seal of approval, Hader admitted he was not the main attraction for his daughters at the premiere. They were more excited to meet Gomez, whom they recognized from her 2023 Dancing With the Stars Mirrorball Trophy win. Gomez, who also appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, called their enthusiasm the biggest compliment.
Voicing an Iconic Character
Hader steps into the role of the anthropomorphic cat with the red-and-white striped hat as The Cat in the Hat arrives in theaters Nov. 6. He described feeling honored to take on such a huge, iconic character and said working with directors Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni made the experience especially rewarding. Hader noted he had known Rivinoja for years and had collaborated with both filmmakers on other projects.
The film marks another animated credit for Hader, whose voice work and comedy background have made him a familiar presence. But for his daughters, the premiere offered a chance to see their dad in a new light—and to meet a star they had cheered for on a different kind of stage.
What the Milestone Means
For Hader, the moment was less about red-carpet glamour and more about a quiet shift in how his children view his work. Their simple praise and eye contact became a funny, tender anecdote about parenting teens and tweens who rarely hand out compliments. The story also highlighted how a family outing to a premiere can turn into a memory worth retelling.
With The Cat in the Hat opening nationwide, Hader’s daughters have already given their review. The actor can now add “impressing his kids” to the list of achievements that come with playing one of literature’s most recognizable characters.
