Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell, whose full name is John William Ferrell, is an American actor, comedian, producer, writer, and businessman. He was born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California, USA. His father, Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., was a musician who played keyboard and saxophone in the Righteous Brothers’ band. His mother, Betty Kay Overman, was a teacher.

Will Ferrell has credited his parents’ support and sense of humor as influences on his comedic career. They have been supportive of his endeavors, and his father’s musical background also contributed to Will’s interest in performing and entertaining.

He graduated from the University of Southern California, and Ferrell became interested in performing while a student at University High School in Irvine, where he made his school’s daily morning announcements over the public address system in disguised voices. Ferrell first gained prominence as a cast member on the sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) from 1995 to 2002, where he became known for his comedic talent and memorable characters.

Following his success on SNL, Will Ferrell transitioned to a successful film career. Some of his most notable films include:

1. “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004) – He played the lead role of Ron Burgundy, a clueless and egotistical news anchor.
2. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006) – Ferrell portrayed the character Ricky Bobby, a NASCAR driver.
3. “Step Brothers” (2008) – He starred alongside John C. Reilly as one of two grown men who become stepbrothers and struggle to get along.
4. “Elf” (2003) – In this Christmas comedy, Ferrell played Buddy, a human who was raised by elves at the North Pole.
5. “The Other Guys” (2010) – He starred as Detective Allen Gamble alongside Mark Wahlberg, playing mismatched cops.
6. “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (2013) – The sequel to “Anchorman,” in which Ferrell reprised his role as Ron Burgundy.

Ferrell’s most successful film at the box office was The Lego Movie which grossed $257.8 million in the United States and Canada and $210.3 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $468.1 million.

Will Ferrell‘s distinctive comedic style, often involves over-the-top characters and absurd situations. He has been nominated for and received numerous awards for his work, including Golden Globe nominations.

In addition to his acting career, Ferrell is a successful producer and writer, and he co-founded the comedy website Funny or Die (which he sold in 2021). He has remained a prominent figure in the entertainment industry and continues to work on various film and television projects.

Ties to Ireland

Ferrell purchased a gorgeous lakeside property on the banks of Lough Sheelin in the town of Mountnugent. The eight-bedroom home has only changed ownership once over its 400-year history. Ferrell has visited Ireland numerous times in recent years in personal and professional capacities and says his family can be traced to Longford.

Ferrell has previously spoken of his County Longford roots and told TV host Jay Leno how he and his family visited there in 2008. “We took two weeks to travel around the countryside and stopped in County Longford. That’s where all the Farrells are from,” he said. “We wanted to do some research and we were told to go to Eamon Farrell’s pub, which is a real place. We went there in the afternoon and said hello and said we might stop by later that night.

“Well, we came by and there were literally a thousand people there who all said they were Farrells. I must have taken a hundred photos, and we ended up in some guy’s house at three in the morning, my body shaved.”

In 2017, the 6’3″ Ferrell wore a Longford GAA jersey while being interviewed for the film “Daddy’s Home” which was given to him by Today FM hosts Dermot and Dave a few years earlier.

Ferrell is married to Viveca Paulin whom he met in an acting class, the pair eventually tied the knot in 2000. Viveca was born in Sweden but raised in the U.S. In fact, it was his wife who introduced him to Eurovision. Since then, they have welcomed three children and built a wonderful life together.