Will Ferrell began his career on a few TV series however his career really took off once he got to Saturday Night Live. His skills of improvisation and ability to take on a wide variety of roles has propelled him towards becoming one of the best cast members ever to appear on SNL. He even became one of the few members of the cast to receive an Emmy nomination for a SNL performance.


image via Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com

He has a seven year run with the show until calling it quits to pursue his career in film making. He is now one of the biggest names in comedy when it comes to the big screen. He takes on roles that involve mindless cursing and drugs, than the next day will be playing a boring yet serious accountant.

In film he is famous for being obnoxious and stubborn to start but as his films go on he slowly begins to realize what he is doing and soon enough makes everything right at the end.

[new page = 10. Megamind, 2010]

This is one of Ferrell’s only animated films and it was a pretty good finished product. This film has a lot of big names such as Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. He did a really good job getting into the mindset of the character and eventually it is easy to forget the voice is Will Ferrell. It was very funny and Ferrell’s character has a few speeches that provide a good laugh. This was a good role for him.

[new page = 9. Zoolander, 2001]

This is one of the few times Ferrell is the bad guy throughout the whole film. He is very easy to hate in this film but at the same time is hilarious. The majority of his humor comes from dealing with Ben Stiller’s character. Stiller says a lot of dumb things throughout the film and Ferrell’s facial expressions are too funny.

[new page = 8. Semi-Pro, 2008]

Jackie Moon, Ferrell’s character, made big bucks off his hit single ‘Love Me Sexy’. As if the song wasn’t funny enough, his character takes the cash to purchase the Flint Tropic, a semi-professional basketball team. He is also their point guard. This is one of the funnier sports films. I love how Woody Harrelson’s character is traded to the Tropics for a washing machine.

[new page = 7. Old School, 2003]

When three friends are tired of being adults this is the result. Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn are all hilarious in this film. Ferrell’s most iconic moment is when he shoots himself in the neck with a tranquilizer gun.

[new page = 6. Stranger than Fiction, 2006]

Since his emergence into film, a lot of people wondered what Ferrell would be like as a serious actor. While there is a good amount of humor in this film and it is indeed a comedy, his character is a lot calmer than in nearly all of his other film. This is probably the closest he will come to serious acting based off the role he typically gets a call for. He is chasing through time to save his life as a writer is trying to find the perfect way to kill him.

[new page = 5. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, 2006]

One of his more obnoxious roles this film comes full circle when he makes everything right at the end. Two classic scenes from this film are Ferrell trying to put out the imaginary fire and when Sacha Baron Cohen breaks his arm in the bar. This movie also has two somewhat famous lines, ‘Shake and Bake’ and ‘if you’re not first, you’re last.’

[new page = 4. A Night at the Roxbury, 1998]

This is one of Ferrell’s first starring roles. The film idea came from a SNL skit. This is a different role than most of his other films as his character is much calmer than usual. The humor comes from the two lead roles constantly trying to live the club life. A big part of this movie is the song “What is Love.”

[new page = 3. Step Brothers, 2008]

Just over 30 years old and still living with his mom, they move in with his mom’s boyfriend who coincidentally also has a 30+ year old son living at home. At first, the two clash, but eventually they become best friends. The funniest part is when the two fight because Will Ferrell touches John C. Reilly’s drum set.

[new page = 2. Elf, 2003]

This is the story of what happens when a Santa Claus accidentally adopts a human baby. All grown up the six foot elf is starting to feel out of place. When he finds out he is a human, he travels to New York to find his father. A man believing himself to be an elf in New York City is funny enough but when he is the last chance to save Christmas things get crazy.

[new page = 1. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, 2004]

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you to stop what you're doing and listen. Cannonball!" This is one of the many hilarious lines from the film. In a time when women were considered inferior Ferrell struggles to keep his head anchor position after the brainy Christina Applegate makes a push to take his job. The most widely known scene of this film is the brawl between several news crews. This was also the film that launched Steve Carell’s career.