WILL FERRELL is perhaps best known for his work on the legendary NBC late night hit Saturday Night Live, having taken the nation by storm during INDECISION 2000 by impersonating President George W. Bush on the show. Some of his most memorable SNL characters include Craig the Spartan Cheerleader, the musical middle school teacher Marty Culp, and Tom Wilkins, the hyperactive co-host of "Morning Latte." Among his many impressions were Janet Reno, Alex Trebek, Neil Diamond and the late great Chicago Cubs sportscaster, Harry Caray. His work on SNL garnered him two prestigious Emmy Award nominations in 2001 for Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program and for Outstanding Writing for A Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
In the feature film world, Ferrell helped bring in big numbers for Old School for DreamWorks Pictures and director Todd Phillips (Road Trip). The film follows three men who are dissatisfied with their lives. In an effort to recapture the youthful feelings of their college days, they move in together in a large house near their old college campus that quickly become the hub of the campus party activity. Ferrell stars opposite Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson.
Set for an early 2004 release is the comedy Anchorman for Regency Enterprises and 20th Century Fox. Ferrell co-wrote the script with "SNL" writer Adam McKay. Judd Appatow ("Freaks and Geeks") will produce with David O. Russell (Three Kings) set to executive produce. Ferrell will portray Ron Burgundy, a 1970s anchorman with an inflated ego, who becomes threatened by the arrival of an ambitious female newscaster who, unlike Burgundy, has mastered journalism.
Ferrell will also star in the next as-yet-untitled Woody Allen feature as part the ensemble cast including Josh Brolin, Brooke Smith, Amanda Peet, Zak Orth, Wallace Shawn, Chloe Sevigny, Johnny Lee Miller, Radha Mitchell, Gene Saks and Vanessa Shaw for Fox Searchlight. Shooting has just commenced in typical Woody fashion in New York City, where, immediately following, Ferrell will remain to shoot Winter Passing with Ed Harris, Zooey Seschanel, and Amelia Warner.
In 2001, Ferrell co-starred in two ensemble comedies. In the fashion-world-themed Zoolander, he starred opposite Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, playing Mugatu an over-the-top fashion designer. In the Kevin Smith film, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, he played an ambitious park ranger for Dimension Films. In 2000, Ferrell graced the big screen in the Paramount Pictures/ SNL feature The Ladies Man starring "SNL" castmate, Tim Meadows. Prior to The Ladies Man, he starred in Superstar for Paramount opposite another "SNL" castmate, Molly Shannon; in the Tristar/Phoenix Pictures Nixon parody Dick; and in the Paramount comedy, A Night At The Roxbury, which he co-wrote with castmate Chris Kattan and Steve Koran. Ferrell debuted as a feature film star in the Jay Roach hit, Austin Powers: International man of Mystery.
Raised in Irvine, California, Ferrell attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in sports information. Upon graduation, he worked as a sportscaster on a weekly show broadcast over a local cable channel. Soon after, he enrolled in acting classes and stand-up comedy workshops at a nearby community college. Ultimately, he was asked to join the esteemed comedy/improv group The Groundlings after just one year of training. It was at The Groundlings where Ferrell was discovered for "Saturday Night Live."
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