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Will Ferrell

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Actor Will Ferrell dressed up as the animated character Megamind at a fun comic convention.

John William Ferrell, born on July 16, 1967, is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is known for his funny movies and work as a television producer. Ferrell has won several awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and a British Academy Television Award. He also received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2011 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015.

Ferrell started his career in the mid-1990s on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he worked from 1995 to 2002. After that, he starred in many popular comedy films. He joined a group of famous funny actors called the "Frat Pack," which includes Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, Paul Rudd, and brothers Owen and Luke Wilson. In 2007, he created the comedy website Funny or Die with his writing partner Adam McKay.

Ferrell has starred in many funny films such as A Night at the Roxbury, Elf, Anchorman, and Elf. He has also acted in more serious movies like Stranger than Fiction and Everything Must Go. In addition to acting, he has voiced characters in animated films such as Curious George and Megamind. He has also worked as a producer for television series like Succession and I'm Sorry.

Early life and education

John William Ferrell was born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California. His mother, Betty Kay, taught at Old Mill School elementary school and Santa Ana College. His father, Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., played saxophone and keyboards for the Righteous Brothers. Ferrell's parents were from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina but moved to California in 1964.

When Ferrell was eight, his parents divorced but stayed friendly and focused on their children. As a child, Ferrell liked to make his friends laugh by pretending to fall or bump his head. He went to University High School in Irvine, where he played football, soccer, and basketball. He also enjoyed doing comedy skits and was voted "Best Personality" by his classmates. Later, he studied sports broadcasting at the University of Southern California.

Career

1990–1995: Early career

After finishing school in 1990, Will Ferrell decided not to work in broadcasting. He tried being a hotel valet and a bank teller, but those didn’t work out. In 1991, his mother encouraged him to move to Los Angeles to chase his dreams. There, he joined a comedy group called The Groundlings, where he learned improvisation and started creating his own funny characters.

Ferrell at the premiere of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, December 2007

1995–2001: Saturday Night Live

Ferrell joined Saturday Night Live in 1995 and stayed until 2002. He became famous for his funny impressions of real people and for creating unique characters. During his time on the show, he impersonated many famous figures, including U.S. President George W. Bush and singer Neil Diamond. He also created memorable characters like Tom Wilkins from Morning Latte and Steve Butabi, who later appeared in a movie.

2002–2010: Film stardom

Ferrell dressed as Megamind at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con.

After leaving Saturday Night Live, Ferrell started starring in movies. Some of his early films include Old School, where he played a funny college student, and Elf, where he played a cheerful elf. He continued to make popular comedies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Step Brothers. Ferrell also tried his hand at voice acting, like in the animated movie Curious George.

2011–2019: Career expansion

Ferrell kept making movies and even tried new things like podcasts. He appeared in films such as The Campaign and Daddy's Home. He also worked on projects like The Ron Burgundy Podcast and started his own podcast network.

2020–present

In recent years, Ferrell has been in movies like Downhill and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. He also starred in Barbie as a company boss and produced and acted in Quiz Lady. In 2024, he made a documentary called Will & Harper about his friend’s journey of discovering who they truly are.

Other ventures

In 2007, Ferrell and Adam McKay started "Funny or Die", a website for funny short videos. Ferrell acted in a video called The Landlord, playing a man with a funny landlady, a two-year-old girl played by McKay’s daughter, Pearl. They made another video called "Good Cop, Baby Cop" with Pearl.

Ferrell helped make an HBO show called Eastbound & Down with Danny McBride, where he sometimes played a car dealer. He also helped create The Chris Gethard Show, which was on Fusion and later truTV. He was one of the creators of Dead to Me, starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini.

In 2019, Ferrell ended his work partnership with McKay and closed their company, Gary Sanchez Productions.

Personal life

Will Ferrell married Swedish actress Viveca Paulin in 2000. They live in New York City and Orange County, California and have three sons.

Ferrell was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at USC. He has run several marathons, including the Boston, New York, and Stockholm marathons. Ferrell raises money for charity, including his Scholarships for Cancer Survivors campaign.

Ferrell at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con with Mark Wahlberg

In 2016, Ferrell became a part-owner of Los Angeles FC, a Major League Soccer team. In 2017, he received an honorary D.H.L. degree from the University of Southern California.

Political views

Ferrell supports the Democratic Party. He supported Barack Obama in the 2012 election and later endorsed Eric Garcetti for mayor of Los Angeles. In 2018, he helped with campaigns in Georgia. In 2024, he encouraged people to vote for Kamala Harris.

President Barack Obama with Ferrell and Viveca Paulin in 2011

Sports

Ferrell enjoys playing sports for fun and charity. In 2010, he pretended to be a baseball pitcher to help raise money. In 2015, he played in Major League Baseball spring training to support a charity special. He is a big fan of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and often watches their games. In 2016, he became a part-owner of Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.

Filmography

Will Ferrell has been in many funny movies and TV shows. Here are some of his most popular works:

Awards and honors

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell has won many awards and been nominated for more during his career. He won Primetime Emmy Awards, including one for the show Succession in 2020 and two for Live in Front of a Studio Audience in 2019 and 2020. He was also nominated for Golden Globe Awards for his roles in The Producers in 2005 and Stranger than Fiction in 2006. He received a Tony Award nomination in 2009 for a special show called You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush.

Ferrell has received other special honors too. In 2008, he received the James Joyce Award. In 2011, he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2015, he earned a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his movie work. In 2022, the soccer team he co-owns, Los Angeles F.C., won the MLS Cup.

Images

Actor Will Ferrell attending the Deauville Film Festival in 2014.

Related articles

Hollywood Walk of Fame
University of Southern California

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