Tony Hale has spent decades making audiences laugh through some of TV and film’s most chaotic, fast-paced worlds, from Arrested Development to Veep to voicing the ever-panicked Forky in Pixar’s Toy Story franchise.
But off-screen, the actor has made a surprisingly grounded life decision: leaving Los Angeles behind for Birmingham, Alabama.
In a new People exclusive, Hale opens up about why he and his family decided to relocate after more than two decades in Hollywood, and how the slower rhythm of Southern life has reshaped his day-to-day mindset in ways he didn’t fully expect.
A Family Move Rooted in Timing, Change, and Being Closer to Home
For Tony Hale, 55, the decision wasn’t about running away from Hollywood, it was about stepping into a new phase of life.
After spending 22 years in Los Angeles with his wife, Martel Thompson, and raising their daughter Loy there, the family felt the timing naturally aligned with a transition.
Their daughter graduated from high school and enrolled in college in the Southeast, which played a big role in their decision to relocate in 2024.
As Hale explained, the move was deeply tied to family connection and proximity. “We love being close to her,” he said, speaking about their daughter.
But like most teenagers adjusting to major family shifts, Loy wasn’t immediately thrilled about the relocation. Hale acknowledged that reality with honesty and a bit of humor.
“I think she wasn’t thrilled about us leaving LA. And I get it. She’s an L.A. girl. She grew up in LA, so that’s her home.”
It’s a sentiment many families can relate to: parents seeking a reset or a new environment, while children feel rooted in the only place they’ve truly known.
For the Hales, Los Angeles wasn’t just a city; it was a chapter filled with memories, milestones, and a full childhood for their daughter. Still, the pull toward a different pace of life ultimately won out.
Why Birmingham Feels Like a Reset Button for Tony Hale
For someone whose career thrives in fast-moving creative environments, Birmingham, Alabama, might seem like an unexpected landing spot. But for Hale, it’s exactly that contrast that makes it work.
He describes the city as offering something Los Angeles rarely does: the ability to slow down.
“I love being in L.A., but it’s very easy to be thinking about ‘What’s next?’ Down here, I’m not thinking about that as much,” Hale shared.
That shift, from constant forward-thinking to present living, has been one of the biggest changes in his life since moving.
He also spoke warmly about Birmingham itself, pushing back against any assumptions that a smaller Southern city lacks culture or energy.
“And Birmingham is a fantastic town. The restaurant scene, the art scene, there’s so many things, but it’s a slower, simpler pace.”
In many ways, Hale seems to have found a version of life that still feeds creativity without the constant pressure cooker of Hollywood expectations. The industry hasn’t disappeared from his world… far from it, but it no lo