Actor and filmmaker Jonah Hill has traded in the hustle and bustle of Hollywood for a quieter lifestyle in a small San Diego-area town to raise his family away from the limelight.
The 42-year-old shared details of his move during a live taping of the “SmartLess” podcast in Los Angeles on April 25, explaining the decision came shortly after becoming a father.
“I live in a very small town in San Diego, and it’s amazing, and my neighbors are incredible people. And when we had our first kid, we moved out there three years ago,” he told hosts Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett during the episode to be released on May 7.
The two-time Oscar nominee and his wife, Olivia Millar, secretly tied the knot earlier this month, according to People magazine, and also announced that they welcomed their second child.
Best known for his roles in the films “Superbad” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Hill is a Los Angeles native who boasted about his upbringing and what it was like for him living in the city.
“I wanted to leave L.A. and raise a family outside of Los Angeles,” he said. “I grew up here. L.A. was such a cool place to grow up in the ’90s because you could go skateboard downtown, or you could sneak into a movie premiere, or you could go sneak into a comedy club and see Chris Rock or something.
“You had access to show business stuff, but you had access to punk and skating and graffiti and all the naughty stuff,” he continued. “And there was no internet. It was just so awesome.”
In contrast to the more high-profile areas in L.A., Hill was seeking a more balanced lifestyle for his family, describing their move as providing a sense of normalcy, particularly with his neighbors.
“They never treat me weird or ask me about my job or anything,” Hill explained during the taping. “And my neighbor is one of my great friends, Dr. Sean, he never asked—he’s here tonight—he never bothered me or was like, ‘Oh, what’s this person like?’”
Despite relocating, Hill has not abandoned Hollywood forever and continues to maintain professional ties, traveling to and from the city for work while keeping his home life private.
His newest project is the upcoming Apple TV original film “Outcome,” which he wrote, directed, and stars in, alongside Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Bomer. The comedy-drama blends Hollywood satire with fame, guilt, and public image.
