Will Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California.

Ferrell was educated at University High School before going on to study at the University of Southern California, where he attended the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He also trained at The Groundlings. His career has extended across both film and television, and he has worked in those forms as an actor, screenwriter, producer, and television producer. He has additionally worked as a voice actor and has used both English and Spanish in his work.

Among his notable film works are Elf, Old School, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and Step Brothers. His work in television has drawn its own recognition, reflected in his receipt of a Primetime Emmy Award. He has also received the MTV Comedic Genius Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor — distinctions that together trace the arc of a career sustained across multiple decades and multiple roles within the industry.

The breadth of Ferrell's professional activity — spanning acting, writing, producing, voice performance, and work across both film and television — marks a career that has moved consistently between the front and back of the camera. The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, awarded in recognition of his contributions to the field, stands as a formal acknowledgment of the body of work he has built since his early education at The Groundlings through his long-running presence in American comedy.