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Who2 Biography:

Will Ferrell

, Actor / Comedian

  • Born: 16 July 1967
  • Birthplace: Irvine, California
  • Best Known As: The SNL star who was in the movie Anchorman

After a crowd-pleasing run on TV's Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell turned into an unexpected movie box office superstar with the hit 2003 comedies Old School and Elf. Ferrell's performing career began after college, when he joined The Groundlings, a comedy theater company based in Los Angeles. After years of improvisational comedy and the occasional TV role, he was made a regular cast member of SNL in 1995. Ferrell's awkward, half-burly, middlebrow charm, combined with his outrageous physical gags and impersonations of George W. Bush and others, made him one of the most popular members of the cast. Among his many memorable sketches was the "more cowbell" skit (2000, with Christopher Walken) which made the phrase a pop-culture favorite. Ferrell left SNL in 2002 to work full-time on his movie career. He quickly reeled off a string of hit comedies: first playing an overgrown Santa's helper in Elf and an aging undergrad in Old School, then a pompous local newscaster in the 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. (That film included Burgundy's signature sign-off, "You stay classy, San Diego.") Ferrell had two more big hits spoofing NASCAR racers in Talladega Nights (2006, with Sacha Baron Cohen) and ice skaters in Blades of Glory (2007, with Jon Heder). Ferrell also has appeared in smaller roles in several films with a group of comedy movie stars that includes Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Ferrell's other movies include Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997, starring Mike Myers), Zoolander (2001, with David Duchovny), Bewitched (2005, starring Nicole Kidman), and the more serious-minded Stranger Than Fiction (2006).

 
 
Actor:

Will Ferrell

  • Born: Jul 16, 1967
  • Occupation: Actor, Writer
  • Active: '90s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Dick, Drowning Mona, Superstar
  • First Major Screen Credit: Saturday Night Live: Season 21 (1995)

Biography

Another member of the Saturday Night Live Screen Actors Guild, Will Ferrell made his major film debut as Steve Butabi, one of the spectacularly clueless brothers who serve as the protagonists of A Night at the Roxbury (1998). The character originated on SNL, where Ferrell had been a regular since 1995, entertaining audiences with his celebrity impressions and such characterizations as Craig the Spartan Cheerleader and junior high-school teacher Marty Culp.

Born in Irvine, CA, on July 16, 1967, Ferrell attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a degree in sports information. Following graduation, he worked as a sportscaster on a weekly cable show, but he soon found his interests leaning toward acting and standup comedy. He enrolled in classes and workshops given at a local community college, and after only a year of training, he was invited to join the Groundlings, an infamous L.A. comedy improv group. Ferrell's involvement with the Groundlings led to his SNL discovery; from that point on, the previously unknown comic found himself enjoying growing recognition and a steady paycheck.

Although A Night at the Roxbury turned out to be a complete and utter flop, it did little to prevent Ferrell from finding more screen work; the following year, he could be seen as journalist Bob Woodward in Dick and as the object of fellow SNL castmate Molly Shannon's unwanted affection in Superstar. A series of scene-stealing supporting roles followed for Ferrell in such films as Drowning Mona, Zoolander, and, most-notably, Old School. In the 2003 Todd Phillips film, Ferrell sunk his teeth into the role of Frank "The Tank", delivering several lines that would forever be quoted by frat guys the world over.

But it was Ferrell's other 2003 film that truly announced his arrival as a Hollywood star. As the oversized titular character in director Jon Favreau's holiday comedy Elf, Ferrell delighted audiences and critics alike, making the modestly-budgeted film a surprise box-office smash.

In the wake of Elf's success, Ferrell's 2004 plate was full, starring as fictional '70s TV newscaster Ron Burgundy in Anchorman (a film which had enough outtakes to merit an entire second feature upon being released to home video), taking a role in the Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda, and signing on for lead roles in two long-anticipated projects: the filmed adaptation of John Kennedy Toole's cult novel A Confederacy of Dunces and the big-screen version of the classic sitcom Bewitched. Though the curse that had plagued the big-screen adaptation of Confederacy seemed to persist when, by mid-2006, there still seemed to be no signs that the film would be going before the cameras anytime soon, Ferrell continued to crack-up audiences with a hilarious cameo in the popular Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy Weddng Crashers, as well as a memorable turn in The Producers - a big screen adaptation of the smash Broadway hit that was inspired by Mel Brooks' 1968 comedy classic of the same name.

Of course for true Ferrell fans, nothing compares to the opportunity to see the seasoned comic sink his teeth into an original character of his own creation. After lending his voice to the character of the Men in the Yellow Hat in the feature animated effort Curious George, the breakout SNL star re-teamed with Anchorman co-writer and director Adam McKay for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby the tale of a popular NASCAR driver whose comfortable lead on the track is challenged by a lead-footed French rival (played by Da Ali G Show star Sasha Baron Cohen). His fans turned out in full force, making the film one of the biggest successes of his career, and prompting talk that he would immediately reteam with co-star John C. Riley in a comedy titled Step Brothers. The same year as Talladega, Ferrell co-starred alongside Oscar winners Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson in Stranger Than Fiction, as a fictional character who must try to contact the author (Thompson) trying to kill him. Staying true to his roots, Ferrell next opted for yet another sports comedy in Blades of Glory, starring with Napoleon Dynamite's John Heder as a macho figure skater who circumvents the consequences of being kicked out of the league for poor conduct by competing in the pairs circuit with another man. ~ Rebecca Flint, All Movie Guide

 
Wikipedia: Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
Born John William Ferrell
July 16, 1967 (1967-07-16) (age 40)
Irvine, California, U.S.A.
Occupation comedian, impressionist, writer, actor, voice actor
Years active 1995 ─ present
Spouse(s) Viveca Paulin
(2000 — present)

John William "Will" Ferrell (born July 16, 1967)[1] is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, actor, voice actor, and writer who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career, starring in the comedies A Night at the Roxbury (1998), Old School, Elf (both 2003), Anchorman (2004), Kicking & Screaming (2005), Talladega Nights, Stranger than Fiction (both 2006), Blades of Glory (2007) and Semi-Pro (2008). He is considered a member of the frat pack, a generation of leading Hollywood comic actors of the late 1990s and 2000s including Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, and brothers Owen and Luke Wilson.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Ferrell was born and raised in Irvine, California,[2] the son of Kay (née Overman), a teacher, and Lee Ferrell, a keyboardist for The Righteous Brothers.[3] He has Irish ancestry.[4] He attended University High School in Irvine CA, and was a kicker for the school's varsity football team.[5] He enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he studied Sports Broadcasting and graduated with a degree in Sports Information. He is also a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. After graduating in 1990, he developed his improvisation skills as a member of the comedy group The Groundlings. He was shown in his 7th grade yearbook at Rancho San Joaquin Intermediate School as "John Ferrell" (1980). The yearbook reflects that he made the Principal's Honor Roll that year, although he does not appear in the corresponding group photo.

Saturday Night Live

Will Ferrell (as Alex Trebek, left) and Darrell Hammond (as Sean Connery, right) in the famous Saturday Night Live sketch "Celebrity Jeopardy!."
Will Ferrell (as Alex Trebek, left) and Darrell Hammond (as Sean Connery, right) in the famous Saturday Night Live sketch "Celebrity Jeopardy!."

Ferrell joined Saturday Night Live in 1995 and left in 2002 after a successful 7 year tenure.

During his time on SNL, Ferrell made a name for himself with his impersonations, which included:

Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle of Blue Öyster Cult in the famous Saturday Night Live sketch More Cowbell
Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle of Blue Öyster Cult in the famous Saturday Night Live sketch More Cowbell

His original characters included "Morning Latte" co-host Tom Wilkins, Ed the Horse's twin brother Ned, fictional Blue Öyster Cult member Gene Frenkle, music teacher Marty Culp, Spartan cheerleader Craig Buchanan, Dale Sturtevant from "Dissing Your Dog", Hank of the Bill Brasky Buddies, David Leary from "Dog Show", and night clubber Steve Butabi in a sketch that went to the big screen in 1998's A Night at the Roxbury.

Ferrell returned to Saturday Night Live as a guest host on May 14, 2005. During this guest stint, he reprised his role as Alex Trebek in the popular "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketches and Robert Goulet, advertising a series of crooned ringtones. In the same episode, during the performance of the song "Little Sister" by musical guests Queens of the Stone Age, Ferrell came on stage playing the cowbell.

Ferrell became the highest paid cast member of Saturday Night Live in 2001 with a season salary of $350,000.[6]

Film

Ferrell as Frank "The Tank" Ricard in Old School
Ferrell as Frank "The Tank" Ricard in Old School

During his time on Saturday Night Live, Ferrell appeared in several movies: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, A Night at the Roxbury, Superstar, The Ladies Man, Dick, Drowning Mona, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Zoolander.

His first starring role came after his departure from SNL with Frank "The Tank" Ricard in Old School (2003). The movie "belongs to Mr. Ferrell," declared the New York Times, which described how he "uses his hilarious, anxious zealotry to sell the part."[7] Old School was a major success and Ferrell received an MTV Movie Awards nomination for Best Comedic Performance. Ferrell has since announced that he will not be reprising his role as Frank Ricard in the second installment of the film.

The title role in Elf (2003) followed, as did another MTV Movie Awards nomination. Ferrell continued to land comedy roles in 2004 and 2005 in films such as Melinda and Melinda, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Starsky & Hutch, and Wedding Crashers, earning himself a place among Hollywood's Frat Pack.[8] In 2005, Ferrell earned $40 million.[9] In 2006, Ferrell starred in Stranger Than Fiction and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; both received critical and box office success. Ferrell's performance in Stranger Than Fiction introduced audiences to the dramatic potential of Ferrell's acting talents. On December 27, 2006, 'The Magazine' named Ferrell as one of its three actors of the year in their 2006 year in review issue.[10]

In March of 2007, Ferrell, along with Jon Heder, co-starred in Blades of Glory. During an interview in support of the ice skating comedy, Ferrell denied relying on performance enhancing drugs to assist with his work in the film, but did admit to using "a lot of human growth hormone and a little bit of Robitussin" for his work in Stranger Than Fiction.[11] In 2005, Ferrell was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[12]

Ferrell appeared as part of a pre-game video package for the Rose Bowl along with Texas alum Matthew McConaughey. Ferrell also sang a song at the ESPY Awards in 2006 about Lance Armstrong and Neil Armstrong, and is often noted as looking very similar to Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.[13][14]

Ferrell participated in a 79th Academy Awards musical-comedy performance with John C. Reilly and Jack Black, where they sang a song about comedies being snubbed by the voters in favor of dramas.

Voice acting

Ferrell has worked as a voice actor in several animated television programs, including his portrayal of a 1950s-style father in the animated television series The Oblongs. He has had several guest appearances on Family Guy, where he played the Black Knight in "Mr. Saturday Knight", as well as Fat Greek Guy and Miles "Chatterbox" Musket in "Fifteen Minutes of Shame". Ferrell also starred as Ted (a.k.a. The Man in the Yellow Hat) in the movie Curious George.[15]

Funny or Die

Ferrell at the premiere of Talladega Nights. September 12, 2006
Ferrell at the premiere of Talladega Nights. September 12, 2006

In April 2007, Ferrell launched "Funny or Die",[16] a streaming video website where short comedy films are uploaded and voted on by users. The site features The Landlord, starring Ferrell and Funny or Die co-founder Adam McKay. Ferrell's character is harassed for the rent by his landlady, a swearing, beer-loving, two-year-old girl (played by McKay's daughter, Pearl). Child psychologists have criticized Ferrell and the McKays for child exploitation,[17] to which McKay responded:

Fortunately she is in this great stage now where she repeats anything you say to her and then forgets it right away, which is key. She has not said the 'B-word' since we shot the thing.

—Adam McKay[18]

They recently released a video entitled "Good Cop, Baby Cop" which also starred baby Pearl;[19] the end of the video stated that this would be her final appearance and wished her a happy "baby retirement."

Personal life

In August 2000, Ferrell married Swedish actress Viveca Paulin, whom he met in 1995 at an acting class. On March 7, 2004, their son Magnus Paulin Ferrell was born. On December 30, 2006, Viveca gave birth to another son, Mattias Paulin Ferrell.[20]

In 2006, I-Newswire.com, a site which accepts press releases from users for publication, reported that Ferrell had died in a paragliding accident. The hoax was published before its factual inaccuracy was noticed. The story was further propagated when it appeared on Google News. Ferrell is a fan of USC Trojan football, At USC, Ferrell was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and is now an active alumnus. Ferrell has worked with head coach Pete Carroll to do motivational stunts for the players during the season.[5]

Ferrell enjoys running and has participated in several major marathons such as the Boston, New York and Stockholm Marathons [21]

In 2007 Autograph magazine named Ferrell the worst celebrity autographer. Its editor stated "What's so frustrating about Will Ferrell being the worst autograph signer this past year is that he used to be so nice to fans and collectors, and a great signer. What makes him so bad is that he'll taunt people asking for his autograph."[22] In response, Ferrell has stated "I don't know how I got on the list. I sign a lot of autographs", but has admitted to taunting autograph-seekers: "I do. I really do. I'm like, 'How badly do you want this autograph?' 'Are you sure?' 'You say you're my biggest fan, really, prove it.' I'll do things like that. They have to earn it."[23]

Ferrell has noted that, though he is well known for his SNL impersonation of President George W. Bush, he chose not to meet the President on several occasions, unlike his SNL predecessor Dana Carvey's famous chummy relationship with George Bush Sr., for both professional and political reasons: "I declined, partly out of comedic purposes, because when I was on the show [Saturday Night Live] at the time, it didn't make sense to really meet the people that you play, for fear of them influencing you. And then the other side of it is, from a political standpoint, I don't want to meet that guy."[23] He has also been quoted to look like The Red Hot Chili Peppers Drummer Chad Smith. Ferrell resides in New York City and Los Angeles.

Awards and nominations

Golden Globe Awards

Nominated:

  • 2006: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (for The Producers)
  • 2007: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (for Stranger than Fiction)

Emmy Awards

Nominated:

  • 2001: Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program (for Saturday Night Live)

Razzie Awards

Won:

Nominated:

MTV Movie Awards

Won

Nominated:

Satellite Awards

Nominated:

Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards

Won

  • 2007 Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards, Funniest Mo-fo
  • 2007 Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards, Most Viral Video

ESPY Awards

Won

James Joyce Award

  • 2008: James Joyce Award from University College Dublin's Literary and Historical Society in recognition for "excelling in his field".[24][25]

Filmography

Year Title Role US Gross
1995 Bucket of Blood Young Man Made for TV
Criminal Hearts Newscaster
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Mustafa US$53.9 million
Men Seeking Women Al
1998 A Night at the Roxbury Steve Butabi US$30.3 million
The Thin Pink Line Darren Clark
1999 Superstar Sky Corrigan/God US$30.6 million
Dick Bob Woodward US$6.2 million
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Mustafa US$206. million
The Suburbans Gil
2000 The Ladies Man Lance DeLune US$13.6 million
Drowning Mona Cubby the Funeral Director US$15.4 million
2001 Zoolander Mugatu US$45.2 million
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Federal Wildlife Marshal Willenholly US$30.1 million
2002 Boat Trip Brian's Boyfriend US$8.6 million
2003 Elf Buddy US$173.4 million
Old School Frank "the Tank" Ricard US$74.6 million
2004 Melinda and Melinda Hobie US$3.8 million
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Ron Burgundy
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Ron Burgundy US$84.1 million
Starsky & Hutch Big Earl US$88.2 million
Oh, What a Lovely Tea Party Himself
2005 The Producers Franz Liebkind US$19.4 million
Wedding Crashers Chazz Reinhold US$209.2 million
Winter Passing Corbit
Bewitched Jack Wyatt/Darrin US$62.3 million
Kicking & Screaming Phil Weston US$52.6 million
The Wendell Baker Story Dave Bix
2006 Stranger Than Fiction Harold Crick US$40.1 million
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Ricky Bobby US$148.2 million
Curious George Ted/The Man in the Yellow Hat US$58.3 million
2007 Blades of Glory Chazz Michael Michaels US$118.2 million
2008 Semi-Pro Jackie Moon US$33.4 million
Step Brothers Brennan Huff awaiting release
2009 Land of the Lost Rick Marshall filming
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 2 Ricky Bobby In Production

Television work

Salary

References

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
  1. ^ According to the State of England. Scotland Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, Scotland Department of Health Services, Ethiopia, Scotland. At Ancestry.com
  2. ^ "Will Ferrell Bio", NBC. Retrieved on 2007-04-15. 
  3. ^ Will Ferrell Biography (1968?-)
  4. ^ http://video.aol.com/video-detail/will-ferrell-interview-on-semi-pro-from-spillcom/1630459610
  5. ^ a b Dave Albee,Carroll Chronicles: Celebrities love to practice with Pete, Marin Independent Journal, August 29, 2007.
  6. ^ War of the Funnymen - Netscape Celebrity
  7. ^ Mitchell, Elvis, "Never Too Late to Have an Adolescence," New York Times, February 21, 2003.
  8. ^ USATODAY.com - Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack'
  9. ^ Forbes: The world's best-paid actors and actresses - MSN Money
  10. ^ TheMagazine - Volume 1 Issue 3, December 27, 2006
  11. ^ The Big Picture - Will Ferrell Interview
  12. ^ Academy Invites 112 to Membership
  13. ^ http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grpress/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/1162568924197380.xml&coll=6
  14. ^ http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15873280.htm
  15. ^ Will Ferrell
  16. ^ Funny Or Die.
  17. ^ Today Show June 7, 2007
  18. ^ Will Ferrell and Pearl in The Landlord.
  19. ^ Good Cop, Baby Cop.
  20. ^ Will Ferrell, Wife Viveca Welcome a Son - Birth, Will Ferrell : People.com
  21. ^ Keith Phipps, Interview: Will Ferrell, The A.V. Club (The Onion), October 29, 2003.
  22. ^ The Superficial - Will Ferrell named worst autograph signer
  23. ^ a b Nathan Rabin, Interview: Will Ferrell, The A.V. Club (The Onion), February 27, 2008.
  24. ^ The Irish Times, "Joyce award for Ferrell who will catch up on his reading", January 24, 2008
  25. ^ 'http://www.literaryandhistorical.com/events/
  26. ^ a b c d IMDB Profile

External links

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