Ed Helms Nervous About Parents Watching The Hangover

Ed Helms has shared his nervousness about showing his socially conservative Southern parents the 2009 R-rated comedy The Hangover, in which he starred. Despite his parents having seen his previous work on The Daily Show and The Office, Helms was anxious about how they would react to the film’s raunchy humor, given his upbringing in a repressed but politically progressive environment. He took his parents to the movie premiere and was surprised when his mother was moved to tears, but they were tears of joy, as she told him the film was very funny and gave him a big hug. The Hangover was a pivotal moment in Helms’ career, becoming a pop culture sensation and earning over $469 million worldwide, leading to two sequels. Helms described comedy as a way to cope with difficult aspects of his childhood, including a complicated relationship with his father. His parents’ wholehearted acceptance of The Hangover meant a great deal to him personally and professionally.