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Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell48 posts

Will Ferrell is an American actor and comedian born in 1967 in Irvine, California. He is known for his roles as a cast member on Saturday Night Live in the mid-1990s and in films like Old School, the Anchorman series, and Talladega Nights. Before his on-camera success, Ferrell was a member of Los Angeles-based improv group The Groundlings.

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1990

Graduates USC

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Ferrell graduates from the University of Southern California with a degree in sports broadcasting. He is a member of the fraternity Delta Tau Delta. Ferrell says his time at the school prepared him for a life in comedy:

It’s not like you have a source or a confidante you can bounce ideas off of when it comes to comedy. You really just have to believe it. In a way, my time here at school was a stage.

Stand-up comedy training

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After graduating, Ferrell’s mother urges him to take a stand-up comedy course at Irvine Community College. Ferrell is initially nervous and leaves the first class without doing anything, then skips the second class. On his third class, he finally performs his material.

There was dead silence. The next time I did it again. Suddenly everybody was laughing. I couldn’t figure it out. Finally someone said they couldn’t understand what I was saying before. I was so nervous and speaking so fast, I was, like, eating the mike.

Instructor Steve Klasky says:

I’ve seen a lot of talented people come through my course. But I never assume they’re going to reach success. Will had it right from the start. You could tell from his first routine. He was dynamic on stage. He had it comedically and, more than that, he was focused. He was my prize student.

12 Sep, 1995

A Bucket of Blood

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Ferrell makes his film debut as “Young Man” in the 1995 remake of Roger Corman’s 1959 film. The plot follows a busboy who uses the bodies of his murder victims to create acclaimed sculptures. The film is released on home video as The Death Artist.

SHADOE-Bucket of Blood-Maxwell's Final Tribute

30 Sep, 1995

Saturday Night Live repertory debut

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Ferrell makes his debut as an SNL repertory player after several guest star appearances. He hopes to help “rejuvenate” the show:

There are a lot of entertainment options on a Saturday night. I don’t think SNL was much of an option in the last two years. At least the people I hung out with didn’t watch it. Everyone said, ‘ “Saturday Night Live?” It’s bad.’ But it’s the type of show that always has the potential to regenerate itself and turn everything around.

Five other new rep players join the cast alongside four returnees.

2 May, 1997

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

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In this pastiche of James Bond films directed by Jay Roach, Myers stars as Austin Powers and as his arch-villain, Dr. Evil. Myers also wrote the script for the film in about three weeks after spouting the hero’s trademark catchphrases to his wife. Myers says Roach encouraged the cast to go off-script: “About 30 to 40 percent is improv.”

Fellow SNL star Ferrell appears in a small role as Mustafa, Dr. Evil’s Moroccan (and resilient) henchman.

7 Mar, 2004

Magnus Ferrell born

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Ferrell and Paulin’s first child, Magnus Paulin Ferrell, is born, weighing 8 lb. 12 oz. Magnus appears in the Sea World scene in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

30 Dec, 2006

Mattias Ferrell born

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Mattias Ferrell is born to parents Will Ferrell and Viveca Paulin. Ferrell explains first son Magnus’s reaction:

He doesn’t like it. He’s in denial about it. … I’m like, ‘You better live it up now, cause No. 2 is coming and it’s not going to be fun for you.’

Mattias appears in the Sea World scene of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

30 Mar, 2007

Blades of Glory

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Ferrell plays a competitive ice skater named Chazz Michael Michaels in this comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck. After getting banned from the World Winter Sports Games with fellow gold medal winner Jimmy MacElroy because of an unfortunate accident, they both descend into obscurity. An opportunity to compete again against their brother-and-sister nemesis arises, and they perform an extremely dangerous move to ensure victory. Jon Heder, Will Arnett, and Amy Poehler co-star. On his chemistry with Heder:

We met in the parking lot of Pickwick Ice Rink in Burbank. It was like, ‘Hey, nice to meet you.’ ‘Yeah, you too.’ ‘This should be fun, right?’ ‘It’s going to be hard, huh?’ ‘You don’t know how to skate, do you?’ ‘No.’ ‘I don’t either.’ ‘Okay, I’ll see you later.’ (Laughing) That was kind of it.

Blades of Glory - Trailer

25 Jun, 2007

Good Cop, Baby Cop

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McKay once again directs Ferrell and daughter Pearl in this short for Funny or Die. McKay also stars as a policeman alongside Henchy. Pearl appears as “The Confession Maker” as she interrogates Ferrell’s character.

14 Dec, 2007

Worst Autograph Signer

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Autograph magazine names Ferrell the worst celebrity autograph signer of 2007.

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.

29 Feb, 2008

Semi-Pro

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Ferrell stars in this sports comedy film directed by Kent Alterman. He plays a former singer named Jackie Moon who uses the money he earns from his only hit song Love Me Sexy to buy the Flint Tropics, an ABA team based in Flint, Michigan. Apart from owner, he also serves as the team’s coach, promoter, and starting forward. He hires former NBA bench-warmer Ed Monix, played by Woody Harrelson, to improve the struggling team’s performance. The film also stars André Benjamin, David Koechner, and Maura Tierney. On his basketball skills:

Probably, well, one of the best celebrity basketball players in the world. Even though I wasn’t invited to the Celebrity NBA All-Star game that happened last night or two nights ago. No, I’m okay, you know I played a lot in high school, I still play pick-up ball here and there, so that’s probably the sport I played the most, so to get to do a basketball comedy was like a dream come true.

Semi-Pro Official Trailer

20 Jan, 2009

You’re Welcome, America

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McKay and Ferrell’s Broadway show You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George Bush opens in previews at the Cort Theatre on Bush’s last night in office. The show opens on February 1 and runs through March 15. The show is also broadcast on HBO on March 14. On the week ending February 15, the show breaks the theatre’s house record, taking in over $846,500.

Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W Bush - Wood (HBO)

5 May, 2009

Tony Award nomination

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Ferrell is nominated for a Tony for “Best Special Theatrical Event”, competing against Liza’s at The Palace, Slava’s Snowshow, and Soul of Shaolin.

2 Jun, 2009

Man vs. Wild

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Ferrell appears on a special episode of Man vs. Wild where he tackles the Arctic Circle with Bear Grylls. During the show, Ferrell descends a cliff in a “dead man’s anchor,” impersonates the host, and eats a reindeer’s eyeball.

I figured it would be pretty strenuous, pretty kind of intense. When you’re hanging from a ladder off a helicopter 600 feet in the air, that exceeds your expectation.

21 Jul, 2009

Honorary Chelsea captain

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Ferrell acts as honorary captain for Chelsea at the Rose Bowl. He is seen wearing the same shirt he wore on The Daily Show.

Chelsea have just reached out to me a couple of times and, I can’t say that I only follow Chelsea, I try to keep an eye on all the teams in the Premiership and I love soccer in general. I’m a big sports fan as a whole, and was a sports journalist, a very, very good sports journalist.

23 Jan, 2010

Axel Ferrell born

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Will Ferrell and Viveca Paulin’s third son, Axel Ferrell, is born after Will performs Free Bird on Conan. At age 2, Axel is known for insulting strangers:

He thinks it’s hilarious – and so do his brothers – to walk up to anyone, male or female, and say, ‘You have a little penis’. He’ll get on a roll and say it over and over again.

Axel appears in the Sea World scene in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

6 May, 2010

Minor League Baseball pitch

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Ferrell takes on the persona of Billy Ray “Rojo” Johnson for a special appearance at a Round Rock Express Minor League Baseball game. Nolan Ryan’s son makes an announcement before the game:

The Round Rock Express have acquired Billy Ray “Rojo” Johnson. The right-handed pitcher will be in uniform for Thursday’s 7:05 p.m. CDT game against the Nashville Sounds. Johnson, who was born in East Texas but was raised in Venezuela, recently had his prison sentence commuted. He served time for running a smuggling ring that imported rare and illegal species of reptiles into the United States from South America during the mid-to-late 1990s. Thursday night’s game marks Johnson’s first in American professional baseball after a storied career in the Venezuelan leagues.

Ferrell makes one pitch and is ejected after it lands behind the Nashvill Sounds batter.

10 Sep, 2010

Everything Must Go

Film Appearance0 Comments

Ferrell stars in this comedy drama film based on the short story Why Don’t You Dance? by Raymond Carver. He plays alcoholic salesman Nick Halsey who gets fired from his job of 16 years, loses his wife, and gets locked out of his house at the same time. With his bank accounts frozen and all of his possessions strewn about the front lawn, he tries to get to grips with his life as he sells his belongings one by one.

First of all, I just really thought it was one of the stronger scripts I had read in a long time. Dan Rush the writer and director had done such a remarkable job and I loved getting a chance to play a character like this, you know, a real piece of acting for me. I also love the unique premise of this movie, I felt like you know, to watch a guy be exposed to the entire world and live his life in front of everyone was something I hadn’t seen before.

Everything Must Go (2010) Movie Trailer HD

20 Oct, 2011

Mark Twain Prize

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Ferrell accepts the 2011 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ferrell’s Bush impersonation is one of the highlights recognized at the show, including his Broadway performance in You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush.

We hit it at the perfect time when people wanted some sort of comedy after the eight years we just went through.