Will Ferrell

John "Will" William Ferrell (born July 16, 1967) is a comedian, impressionist, and actor who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live (1995–2002).

Related Topics:
July 16 - 1967 - Comedian - Impressionist - Actor - Saturday Night Live - 1995 - 2002

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Born in Irvine, California, Ferrell attended University High School in Irvine and became interested in performing while making his school's daily morning announcements over the public address system in disguised voices. He then enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he studied Sports Broadcasting and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. After graduating in 1989, Ferrell developed his improvisation skills as a member of the comedy group The Groundlings.

Related Topics:
Irvine, California - University High School - University of Southern California - Delta Tau Delta - 1989 - Improvisation skills - The Groundlings

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During his time on SNL, Ferrell made a name for himself with impersonations of

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• U.S. President George W. Bush ("strategery" was just one of several Bushisms he used during skits about the 2000 campaign),
• announcer Harry Caray,
• singer Robert Goulet (crooning a cappella versions of songs by Sisqó, Baha Men, and Notorious B.I.G.),
• entertainer Neil Diamond,
• Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton,
• Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy,
• U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno,
• convicted Unabomber Ted Kaczynski,
• game show host Alex Trebek, and
• professional wrestler-turned-Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura.

His original characters included "Morning Latte" co-host Tom Wilkins, music teacher Marty Culp, Spartan cheerleader Craig Buchanan, Dale Sturtevant "Dissing Your Dog", and night clubber Steve Butabi in a sketch that became the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury.

Related Topics:
1998 film - A Night at the Roxbury

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His final performance as a regular on Saturday Night Live was May 18, 2002, in which the real Alex Trebek made an appearance at the end of the last Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch. Ferrell then followed in the footsteps of fellow SNL alumni by switching to a career focused on movies.

Related Topics:
May 18 - 2002 - Alex Trebek - Celebrity Jeopardy!

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Ferrell returned to Saturday Night Live as a guest host on May 14, 2005. In one sketch, he reprised his role as Robert Goulet, advertising a series of crooned ringtones. Also on the same episode, during the performance of the song "Little Sister" by musical guests Queens of the Stone Age, Ferrell came onstage playing the cowbell: this was in reference to a famous 2000 sketch in which he portrayed Gene Frenkle, a (fictitious) member of Blue Öyster Cult, who played cowbell in a maniacal but arythmic manner during the band's recording of (Don't Fear) The Reaper. (Eric Bloom said that he was the person who did the cowbell in the actual recording.)

Related Topics:
May 14 - 2005 - Ringtones - Little Sister - Queens of the Stone Age - Cowbell - Blue Öyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper - Eric Bloom

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He hosted the USC School of Cinema-Television?s 75th Anniversary Gala http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/story.php?id=10406, where his alma mater was recognized as the first educational institution of its kind in the country. Ferrell is part of the unofficial Frat Pack, having appeared in a number of movies with the actors.

Related Topics:
USC School of Cinema-Television - Alma mater - Frat Pack

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Will Ferrell: Personal life ►