Will Ferrell, the great comedian, writer, and producer’s ethnicity, can be traced to a few countries. Surprising right? In this article, we have summarized the details of his heritage.
Key Takeaways
- Will Ferrell’s father, Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., is a musician for the Righteous Brothers, while his mother, Betty Kay, was a teacher.
- Ferrell is of mixed ethnicity, English, Irish, and German, and has strong connections to his Irish heritage.
- The comedian has achieved significant success throughout his illustrious career.
Mixed Ethnicity Of The Actor
John William Ferrell was born to his parents, father Roy Lee Ferrell Jr. and mother Betty Kay (née Overman).
Dad (born in 1941) is an entertainment veteran who is a saxophonist and keyboardist for the Righteous Brothers.
Meanwhile, his mother, Betty (born 1940), taught at Old Mill School Elementary School and Santa Ana College.
Will Ferrell in High School 1986 pic.twitter.com/hokINhVPyx
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Both of his parents are natives of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, so he is English-ethnic.
Moreover, Will’s patrilineal line appears to originate from Ireland, making his ancestry Trish.
The actor is proud of his Irish roots and loves returning to the country.
In an interview, he said,
“I’ve been [to Ireland] six or seven times. The last trip I toured around with my brother and my Dad for two weeks and we ended with the James Joyce award.”
Will Ferrell
The award he mentions is from 2008 when he was honored in front of 1,000 University College Dublin students.
While he was there, Will, his dad, and his brother, Patrick, were also having fun tracing their family roots in the ancestral County Longford of the Ferrells.
Donning an Irish rugby jersey, shorts, and cap, he said,
I’m so committed to my Irish roots that I intend to continue wearing this outfit upon my return to the United States. I will also continue to drive on the left-hand side of the road. Will it be dangerous? Yes. Is it illegal? Highly. But that’s just how committed I am.
Will Ferrell
On the other hand, Will’s maternal lineage has traces of German roots.
As a result, he has a mixed ethnicity of English, Irish, and German.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Will Ferrell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. The same year, he was named the best comedian in British GQ.
- He founded the comedy website “Funny or Die” in 2007 with his former writing partner Adam McKay.
- His parents have been divorced since Ferrell was eight.
