Comedian and entertainer Murray Hill has released his memoir, “Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man,” offering an intimate account of his personal and professional journey from his early years in Boston to his current career on stage and screen. The memoir was published earlier this month and reveals both the challenges and triumphs Hill has faced as a transgender man navigating the entertainment industry.

Speaking by phone from Florida, where he was preparing for a book event, Hill described “showbiz” as a term embodying both the glamour and the setbacks inherent in his line of work. “It means the jazz hands, the spotlights, the tuxedo, the bow tie,” he said, but also includes the difficulties of performance mishaps and professional disappointments. “It’s irreverent and kind of making light of a tough situation.”

Now 54, Hill is known for his roles as Fred Rococo in the HBO series “Somebody Somewhere,” Murray in “Life & Beth” with Amy Schumer, and as host of the “King of Drag” competition show on the Revry network. However, his story begins decades earlier, when he was a student at Boston University grappling with his gender identity amid an unsupportive environment.

Born in Franklin and raised in Connecticut, Hill experienced an abusive upbringing and isolation due to a lack of LGBTQ+ representation both around him and in media. His mother’s attempts to impose traditionally feminine clothing clashed with Hill’s sense of self, sparking conflict. “I didn’t see myself anywhere in books, in media, pop culture,” he reflected. “So eventually I became what I didn’t see.”

It was during his time in Boston, particularly engaging with the city’s queer nightlife and arts scene, that Hill began to understand and embrace a broader sense of identity. At Boston University, he majored in painting but frequently photographed queer spaces and events, including the 1992 St. Patrick’s Day parade, from which the Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Group of Boston had been excluded. Though not publicly out at the time, Hill used his camera to document the community he admired.

Hill recalled confusion over hostile reactions from Irish communities toward GLiB, saying, “I didn’t understand how Boston Irish people could discriminate against another minority group,” given his own heritage.

Drawing inspiration from Boston’s drag culture and late-night comedians like Johnny Carson and Don Rickles, Hill found a creative outlet that would later define his career. Following his studies in Boston, he moved to New York City to attend the School of Visual Arts, where a professor encouraged him to shift from photography to performance art.

“The idea was to become Murray Hill fully and give a performance for my thesis,” he explained. This transition marked the fusion of his personal and professional identities, leading to a career that blends camp, comedy, original music, and queer culture in cabaret shows around the world.

Hill describes his stage persona as a modern, inclusive iteration of classic vaudeville hosts, emphasizing “reading the room and not punching down.” His shows foster a welcoming environment free from harassment, where humor addresses social issues while maintaining positivity.

Beyond the memoir, Hill is involved in multiple projects, including hopes for a concluding film for “Somebody Somewhere,” development of a scripted comedy titled “Shorty Big Time,” and the launch of a podcast inspired by variety shows like those hosted by Johnny Carson and Dean Martin, set to debut next year.

Writing “Showbiz!” allowed Hill to confront a difficult personal history he had previously avoided sharing, bringing a sense of relief. “I don’t know if I have closure yet, but there is something that’s happened,” he said. “It’s like I’m not holding on to it anymore.”