Meet Queue: The Comedy Chameleon You Didn’t Know You Already Knew, T.J. Miller

So far, Deadpool has been dominating at the box office and is looking to be one of the most profitable R-rated hits of all time. Pretty impressive for a superhero who is just as likely to draw cartoons as he is to beat up baddies. Everyone has been focusing on Ryan Reynolds’ vulgar portrayal of the spandex-clad anti-hero, but today we’re turning our sights on an equally funny force behind Marvel’s Deadpool — T.J. Miller.

Miller plays a bartender and Deadpool’s best friend, Weasel. It’s a role that doesn’t have any of Deadpool’s kill shots but is packed with oddly grounding one-liners. You’ve probably seen (or heard) Miller in the background of some major projects, but Deadpool is the first mainstream hit that has given Miller a substantial amount of exposure. Consider this your rom-com “meet cute” to Miller’s earlier work. However, instead of ending in a romantic kiss in the rain, Miller’s filmography leads to disturbing testicle jokes. Read away, and get ready to put a name to some of your favorite comedy moments.

Cloverfield (2008)

What happens when a giant creature the size of skyscraper starts attacking New York City? Chaos and destruction. Whether you hated and were slightly nauseated by this J. J. Abrams found footage flick or loved it, shaky camera and all, I think we can all agree that T.J. Miller’s Hudd added some much needed humor into this often too-serious thriller. This monster flick was Miller’s first screen debut, and it’s a pretty impressive debut at that.

[Where to stream Cloverfield]

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

After a couple of shorts and failed shows (I’m still sad that Carpoolers was never given a second season), Miller found his stride voice acting. His first role was in Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon, where he was the voice of Tuffnut, the male trouble-making twin. Miller continues to provide the voice of Tuffnut, which, as we’ve covered before, is part of the reason that makes the How to Train Your Dragon universe so great. Later, Miller became the voice of superhero and mascot Fred in Big Hero 6 and Robbie in Gravity Falls.

[Where to stream How to Train Your Dragon]

This Is Not Happening, “T.J. Miller Has a Seizure” (2013)

From Get Him to the Greek to Transformers: Age of Extinction, Miller has been in the background of several big blockbusters, but the best way to learn any comedian’s style is to listen to their standup. This is where Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening comes in. The storytelling show focuses on the worst moments from very funny people, and in his 13-minute set, Miller talks about — you guessed it — having a seizure. The set is blends a dark story with Miller’s over-the-top, smart, and often silly style.

[Where to stream This Is Not Happening]

Photo: HBO/Everett Collection

Silicon Valley (2014 – 2015)

This is where you probably know Miller best, especially if you’re a big fan of HBO originals. In this comedy about startup culture, Miller plays the super confident and successful entrepreneur Erlich Bachman. There are a lot of things to love about this tech obsessed series, and a lot of that love can be traced to Miller’s character. In the ever-changing world of startup culture, stoner Bachman constantly swings from being the voice of reason to hitting small bullying children. This series shows off Miller’s straight-faced comedic range well.

[Where to stream Silicon Valley]

Deadpool (2016)

Since its Presidents’ Day weekend release, Deadpool has dominated the box office. So far, the movie has made over $491.1 million globally and is looking to be one of the most profitable R-rated movies of all time. Everyone is rightfully talking about Ryan Reynolds’ performance as the vulgar, meta, and violent Deadpool, but some attention needs to be paid to this superhero’s sidekicks — Weasel (Miller) and Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). Weasel is Wade Wilson’s alleged best friend — alleged because when we first meet Weasel, he’s betting that Wade will die. Some of the funniest moments in the movie come from Reynolds and Miller bouncing off each other, but Miller is more than just comic relief. His character provides a grounding anchor to Deadpool’s weird and violent world and past. But be warned — this movie slips into being vulgar for vulgarity’s sake. If that’s not your cup of tea, skip it. Otherwise, have fun.

Deadpool is in theaters now.

Photos: Everett Collection, HBO