Will Ferrell is one of the most iconic leading men in comedy. Born and raised in California, Ferrell used comedy as a way to make friends as a youth in suburbia. In his senior year of high school, he and a friend would perform comedy skits over the school’s intercom system (with cooperation from the principal). Ferrell also performed comedic skits in the school’s talent shows and was voted “Best Personality.” In 1991, his mother encouraged him to pursue his passions, so he moved to Los Angeles. He successfully auditioned for the comedy group The Groundlings, where he spent time developing his improvisation skills.

SNL and Beyond

A producer for Saturday Night Live saw Ferrell in the improv group. During a time when SNL was declining in popularity in 1994 and 1995, Ferrell was asked alongside two other members to audition for the sketch comedy show to audition for Lorne Michaels. He nailed it, joining SNL in 1995 and stayed on for seven years. He has hosted the show five times, becoming a member of the show’s Five-Timers Club. During his time on SNL, Ferrell appeared in a multitude of comedy movies: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, A Night at the Roxbury, Superstar, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Zoolander.

Continuing to land comedy roles like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Starsky & Hutch he earned a place among Hollywood’s Frat Pack (usually considered to include Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Vince Vaughn). When he starred in the now-iconic fan-favorite Step Brothers with frequent collaborator John C. Reilly in 2008, viewers were either unamused by the duo, or loved their crazy antics. We are the latter. With 128 acting credits under his belt now, with nine upcoming projects, Ferrell is also a writer and producer. He can next be seen in the Barbie movie, coming out in theaters Friday, July 21.

See below our 5 picks of Will Ferrell at his most feral:

• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

  Ferrell plays Mustafa in the first and second Austin Powers movies. He portrays one of Dr. Evil’s (Mike Myers) henchman, a Lebanese weapons designer who took credit for making the cryogenic chamber which was used to freeze Dr. Evil and the trap fire pit which was used to kill a few of Dr. Evil’s henchmen — including Mustafa himself.

• Zoolander

  With another eccentric name, Ferrell stars as Mugatu, who was actually based on fashion designer of Givenchy and Dior, John Galliano. Mugatu was a faux-fashion model with his crazy white curly ‘do. He commits completely to the role, making Mugatu the film’s most memorable character.

• Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

  Ferrell stars as the titular unhinged famous anchorman. He is comical to the point of turning his new program into an entertainment industry. Despite his good sense of friendship, his success usually gets the better of him and his arrogance takes over.

• Step Brothers

  From the movie that gave us the f—ing Catalina Wine Mixer in 2008, Step Brothers has so many memorable scenes and iconic lines. Two grown men sharing a room when their parents get married start off as friends but they develop an insane rivalry and narcissism that pulls the new family apart.

• Starsky & Hutch

  Ferrell’s Big Earl is definitely his most feral role of all time. Big Earl properly messed with Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller’s characters, feeding them information — but at the cost for his own pleasures.

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