Before he became a household name on “Saturday Night Live” and an Emmy-winning creator and star of HBO’s Barry, Bill Hader held a much less glamorous job: tearing tickets at a movie theater. During a recent appearance on Netflix’s Everybody’s in L.A. with John Mulaney, Hader recounted the moment he was fired from that job—for spoiling the ending of Titanic in an act of petty revenge.
“I got fired from a movie theater for ruining the end of Titanic,” Hader told Mulaney in a segment that quickly gained traction online. The actor and comedian shared the story with his trademark deadpan delivery, recalling a teenage moment of frustration that led to an unforgettable encounter with a group of sorority members.
A Prank with Consequences
According to Hader, the incident occurred before the 1997 release of Titanic, James Cameron’s epic romance and disaster film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Hader was working as an usher and ticket taker at a local movie theater when a sorority rented out the entire theater for a private screening. As they gathered at the entrance, Hader attempted to keep order.
“They were in the doorway and I was going, ‘Hey, guys. Can you move?’” he recalled. The group responded with mockery rather than cooperation. “They were making fun of me. They said I looked like Charles Manson. Which I kinda did,” Hader joked. “I had a little bowtie on and cummerbund, and I was like, ‘Hey guys, please move.’ And they were like, ‘No.’”
Fed up with their behavior, Hader took matters into his own hands.
“The Boat Sinks. Leo Dies.”
“So when they went in, as I tore the tickets, I was like, ‘Enjoy the movie. The boat sinks at the end. Leo dies,’” Hader said. The girls protested, claiming that DiCaprio’s character couldn’t possibly die. Hader doubled down: “‘Yeah, you think he’s asleep. But he’s frozen.’ And that showed them.”
It wasn’t long before theater management caught wind of the prank. Hader said the manager approached him with a smile but still delivered the bad news.
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“The manager came down smiling, and he was like, ‘Hey, Bill. I have to fire you,’” Hader said. “He loved it. Couldn’t look me in the eye, though.”
Titanic’s Tragic Ending Still Sparks Debate
More than 25 years after its release, Titanic remains one of the most beloved—and most debated—films in movie history. The ending, in particular, continues to inspire passionate discussion among fans. In the film’s climactic scene, Jack (DiCaprio) dies in the freezing Atlantic Ocean after helping Rose (Winslet) climb onto a makeshift raft.
Many viewers have long argued that there was enough room on the door for both Jack and Rose to survive. Director James Cameron, however, insists that the ending was both scientifically accurate and narratively necessary.
In 2022, Cameron told National Geographic that he conducted a “scientific study” to settle the debate once and for all.
“We have done a scientific study to put this whole thing to rest and drive a stake through its heart once and for all,” Cameron said. “We did a thorough forensic analysis with a hypothermia expert who reproduced the raft from the movie.”
Using stunt actors of similar body types to Winslet and DiCaprio, the team placed sensors on the actors and submerged them in cold water to test the plausibility of both characters surviving. The results supported the film’s original conclusion.
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“The answer was, ‘There was no way they both could have survived.’ Only one could survive,” Cameron said.
Hader’s Rise From Movie Theaters to Emmy Stages
Although his early theater job ended on a sour note, Hader has gone on to enjoy an illustrious career in entertainment. After joining the cast of NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 2005, he quickly became a standout performer, best known for his recurring character Stefon and uncanny celebrity impressions.
Hader left SNL in 2013 and later co-created and starred in Barry, a dark comedy that aired on HBO from 2018 to 2023. The show, in which Hader plays a hitman attempting to leave his criminal past behind by becoming an actor, earned critical acclaim and multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Despite his success, Hader remains open about his humble beginnings and awkward early jobs, including his brief stint in the service industry.
Streaming Now on Netflix
Hader’s full story—and many more—can be seen in his episode of Everybody’s in L.A. with John Mulaney, now streaming on Netflix. The unscripted comedy talk show features Mulaney speaking with guests about Los Angeles culture, entertainment, and the absurdities of daily life in the city.
The episode offers a humorous glimpse into Hader’s pre-fame days, providing fans with a deeper appreciation for the man behind the characters—and the relatable teenager who once spoiled the most famous ending in modern film history.
