Jared Hess Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Height, Movies, Religion, Awards
Jared Lawrence Hess, professionally known as Jared Hess, is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his distinctive blend of quirky, deadpan comedy.
He rose to international prominence with his feature directorial debut, Napoleon Dynamite, a low-budget independent film that became a pop culture phenomenon.
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He later directed successful comedies such as Nacho Libre and Masterminds, earned an Academy Awards nomination for his short film work, and went on to direct the major studio adaptation A Minecraft Movie.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Jared Lawrence Hess |
| Stage Name: | Jared Hess |
| Born: | July 18, 1979 (age 46 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Glendale, Arizona, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | White |
| Height: | 1.78m |
| Religion: | Christian |
| Parents: | Mr. and Mrs. Hess |
| Siblings: | 5 brothers |
| Spouse: | Jerusha Hess (m. 2002) |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Elliot Hess, Greta Hess |
| Occupation: | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Net Worth: | $14 million |
Early Life and Education
Jared Hess was born on July 18, 1979, in Glendale, Arizona, where he spent his initial years under the care of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hess.
Raised alongside five brothers in a bustling household, his childhood routine eventually shifted across state lines, prompting him to attend Manhattan High School in Kansas for two years before finally graduating from Preston High School in Idaho in 1997.
Immersed in the rural environments that would later inspire his art, he pursued his higher educational qualifications at Brigham Young University’s film school, where he rigorously studied the mechanics of moving images and met his lifelong creative partner.
He is of White ethnicity and adheres to the Christian faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Career
Jared Hess initiated his professional journey while still an undergraduate student, creating the short film Peluca as an initial entry point to showcase his distinctive visual style and deadpan comedic sensibilities.
His career started at a spectacular peak when he expanded that student short into his first feature film, Napoleon Dynamite, in 2004, which he co-wrote with his wife; the movie served as a massive breakthrough moment that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and grossed over $46 million against an incredibly modest $400,000 budget.
This sudden explosion brought immediate industry recognition, allowing him to navigate early Hollywood expectations while establishing a highly specific niche for awkward, charming, and hyper-stylized regional stories.
His career grew substantially as he stepped into the studio system, directing Jack Black in the hit 2006 wrestling comedy Nacho Libre, which expanded his international footprint and earned over $80 million at the box office.
He continued to shape his eclectic filmography through cult projects like Gentlemen Broncos, Don Verdean, and the star-studded heist comedy Masterminds.
Showing his impressive range, he eventually transitioned into television directing and earned a prestigious Academy Award nomination for the 2022 animated short Ninety-Five Senses, before asserting immense industry influence by directing the massive global blockbuster A Minecraft Movie, which grossed over $960 million worldwide.
Ultimately, his legacy is defined by a rare ability to bridge the gap between eccentric, low-budget independent storytelling and multi-million dollar studio spectacles without losing his signature eccentric charm.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Nominee)
- Satellite Award for Best Screenplay, Original (Nominee)
- Online Film & Television Association Award for Best First Feature (Nominee)
- US Comedy Arts Festival Best Director Discovery Award (Winner)
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: None
- Facebook Handle: None
Personal Life
Jared Hess is currently 46 years old and stands at a height of 1.78m.
He has been happily married to his college sweetheart and longtime co-writer, Jerusha Hess, since 2002.
Together, they have four children, including Elliot Hess and Greta Hess, and have raised them in a supportive, private environment. The couple met during their years at BYU, where they formed a lasting personal and professional partnership that has spanned their adult lives.
Hess maintains a grounded, family-oriented lifestyle, preferring to focus on his family and community rather than the Hollywood spotlight.
Net Worth
Jared Hess holds an estimated net worth of $14 million. The fundamental core of his wealth stems from his dual earnings as a director and writer on major studio features, supplemented by massive, long-term backend profit percentages from his phenomenally successful independent debut.
Filmography
- Peluca (2002)
- Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
- Nacho Libre (2006)
- Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
- Don Verdean (2015)
- Masterminds (2016)
- Murder Among the Mormons (2021)
- Ninety-Five Senses (2022)
- Thelma the Unicorn (2024)
- A Minecraft Movie (2025)
- A Minecraft Movie Squared (2027)
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