‘Toy Story’ actor reveals why he left Hollywood for Alabama: ‘Incredibly hospitable place’

Tony Hale, the actor known for voicing Forky in Toy Story 5, has officially traded the fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle for a quieter life in Alabama. The 55-year-old actor, who rose to fame on hit shows like Arrested Development and Veep, revealed he and his family made the move to Birmingham back in 2024.

A Change of Pace

A native of Tallahassee, Hale told PEOPLE that the shift in environment has been a welcome change. While he maintains his love for Los Angeles, he admitted that the constant pressure to look toward the next project was exhausting. In Birmingham, he has found a much-needed sense of simplicity.

“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 said. “And Birmingham is a fantastic town. The restaurant scene, the art scene, there’s so many things, but it’s a slower, simpler pace.”

Family and Hospitality

The decision to relocate was fueled by a desire to be closer to family and his daughter, Loy, 20, who began college in the southeast. Hale, who also stars in the Netflix film Office Space alongside Jennifer Lopez, has been quick to praise his new neighbors.

“As a whole, it’s an incredibly hospitable place,” Hale noted, describing the local community as people who are genuinely “striving for truth and healing.”

Ultimately, Hale is enjoying the small details that make daily life easier, such as the freedom from the constant logistical headaches of big-city living. “In New York and LA, you spend a lot of time like, ‘OK, where’s the parking?’ You don’t think about that kind of stuff here. That kind of simplicity is nice,” he said.

For more on the actor's transition to the South, you can read the full feature at PEOPLE.