Jeff Hiller is getting a bigger seat at the table in Widow's Bay.
The actor, who played Dale, a town hall employee, as a guest star in the first season of the Apple TV Plus horror-comedy, has been upgraded to series regular for season 2, according to Screen Rant. The promotion gives the character significantly more room in the story heading into the new season.
Dale became one of the show's more unexpectedly entertaining figures during the first season, despite starting as a supporting presence. The character's role became more significant following a discovery in the season 1 finale, which sets up a larger part in what comes next.
Hiller brings a track record that supports the promotion. He won the 2025 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Joel in HBO's Somebody Somewhere. The performance earned wide recognition for his ability to mix awkward humor with genuine emotional depth.
He has also demonstrated he can handle darker material. In American Horror Story: NYC, Hiller appeared as Mr. Whitely across nine episodes, working within the show's unsettling tone rather than relying on comedy. That range is relevant to Widow's Bay, which blends horror and comedy throughout its story.
More recently, Hiller appeared in Vince Gilligan's Pluribus as Larry, a member of a hive mind, in a single episode substantial enough to earn him a 2026 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. His film credits include the 2018 thriller Greta, in which he played Maître d' Henri.
Widow's Bay was renewed for a second season before the first season had finished airing. Creator and showrunner Katie Dippold also signed a multi-year overall deal with Apple TV Plus around the same time, according to Deadline. No premiere date for season 2 has been announced.
