With his first-ever feature role as the titular, gaping über-nerd lead in “Napoleon Dynamite” (2004), actor Jon Heder became a cult hero overnight – one who would be forever canonized on celluloid and DVD. The film did more than just propel the young actor into celebrity, however – it also galvanized an entire generation of nerds, geeks and dweebs who could relate to being shoved into lockers, playing lonely games of tetherball or having a pocketful of Tater-Tots smashed by the class bully. The rabid fandom that arose from “Napoleon Dynamite” got weird, though, when accounts of Heder’s death – by either car accident or a supposed drug overdose – began circulating the Internet, complete with fictitious quotes from his bereaved mom. Though most actors would cringe at such notoriety, Heder – as with most things in his life – took it all in stride and continued to land plum comedic roles in such films as “The Benchwarmers” (2005), “School for Scoundrels” (2006) and “Blades of Glory” (2007). Born in Fort Collins, CO on Oct. 26, 1977, Jonathan Joseph Heder was reared in Salem, OR since he was 2. Raised in a Mormon household that fostered an innocent and wholesome outlook on life, Heder attended Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City. There, he met future director Jared Hess and future producer Jeremy Coon, whom he would later work with on “Napoleon Dynamite.” Though Heder started off at BYU’s film program, he later switched to computer animation, eventually earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999. In 2003, Hess began casting his short film, “Peluca” (2003), a nine-minute comedy about a geeky outcast named Seth who is obsessed with ninja books, unicorns and fanny packs. Frustrated by the lack of talent passing through his casting office, Hess remembered a skit Heder had performed in class back at BYU and decided the aspiring young animator (and sometime-actor) would be perfect for the part. Based on director Hess’ own experiences while growing up in Preston, ID, “Peluca” was shot over a period of two days on grainy black-and-white film stock. Surprisingly, the short became a cult hit and was lauded at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival. Audience response to “Peluca” was so overwhelming, that Hess subsequently decided to write a feature-length version. Though the director would rename the character, he retained Heder in the role. With $400,000 in the production coffers, thanks to “Peluca,” Hess returned to Preston to film “Napoleon Dynamite” – a comedy that follows a bespectacled, red-afroed social reject who was partial to wearing moon boots and drawing pictures of ligers. Napoleon was also known for his bungled ramp jumps off “sweet” bikes and routinely getting hit in the face with a raw steak by his eccentric Uncle Rico (played by Jon Gries). Among Napoleon’s other idiosyncrasies were feeding ham to the family’s pet llama, building an Internet-bought time machine, drinking raw eggs, and dancing freestyle to Jamiroquai. Despite his quirks, however, Napoleon would reveal his inner goodness with his willingness to help his new pal, Pedro, in his bid to become class president. A fun, strangely heartwarming film about friendship and being true to oneself, “Napoleon Dynamite” roused audiences at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and was bought for a reported $3.5 million by Fox Searchlight Pictures. The movie went on to earn over $44 million at the box office and assured Hess and Heder future employment prospects in Hollywood. After the success of “Napoleon Dynamite” at the box office, Heder moved to Los Angeles and began fielding offers for other films. Out of respect for his upbringing, however, the actor had strict caveats about the types of characters he would play – no drinking, drugs, sex or profanity would be allowed. Clearly unconcerned about being typecast, Heder immediately signed on to supporting roles in a few features. In the supernatural romantic comedy “Just Like Heaven” (2005), starring Mark Ruffaloand Reese Witherspoon, Heder played the owner of a New Age bookshop. Though the role was initially meant to be much smaller, positive responses from test audiences for Heder’s character prompted filmmakers to beef up his role and add more scenes featuring him. Next came two projects in rapid succession. The first was “Monster House” (2005), an animated tale about three kids who think their neighbor’s house is a monster, followed by “The Benchwarmers” (2005), a baseball comedy that starred David Spade and Rob Schneider Next up for Heder was “School for Scoundrels” (2006), director Todd Phillips’ lame and rather predictable comedy about an anxiety-ridden meter maid (Heder) who enrolls in a confidence-building seminar run by the suave, but underhanded Mr. P (Billy Bob Thornton. Heder fared better in his next project, the competitive ice-skating themed farce, “Blades of Glory” (2007). In it, Heder and co-star Will Ferrellplayed two rival ice skaters who exploit a loophole that allows them to compete as a pair. A behemoth hit at the box office, “Blades of Glory” would eventually skate off with a domestic take of $92.5 million. The following year, Heder played a 30-something slacker living at home in “Mama’s Boy” (2007). Cast as the son of an angelic Diane Keaton, Heder finds his comfy existence threatened when she falls in love with a self-help guru played by Jeff Daniels. That same year, Heder also signed up to do another animated feature, supplying his voice talents to “Surf’s Up!” (2007), a mockumentary about penguins who may have actually invented surfing. YahooMovie