Will Forte

Will Forte
Name	Will Forte
Caption	Forte at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
Birth name	Orville Willis Forte IV
Birth date	17 June 1970
Birth place	Alameda, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Actor, comedian, writer, producer
Years active	1997–present

Will Forte is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer renowned for his distinctive brand of absurdist humor and versatile character work. He gained widespread recognition as a cast member on the iconic sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he created memorable characters like the clueless MacGruber and the crotchety Tim Calhoun. His career successfully transitioned to film and television, highlighted by his critically acclaimed performance in the indie road-trip drama Nebraska, which earned him an Academy Award nomination, and his creation and starring role in the acclaimed post-apocalyptic comedy series The Last Man on Earth.

Early life and education

Orville Willis Forte IV was born in Alameda, California, and raised in the nearby city of Moraga. He is the son of a former United States Navy pilot and a schoolteacher, and he has two older sisters. Forte attended Campolindo High School before enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he graduated with a degree in History. During his time at UCLA, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and initially pursued a career in business, working briefly as a financial analyst and a Nestlé sales representative before deciding to pursue comedy.

Career

Forte began his comedy career performing with the Groundlings improvisational troupe in Los Angeles. His big break came in 2002 when he was hired as a writer for the late-night sketch show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2002, where he remained for eight seasons, becoming known for his bizarre digital shorts and recurring characters such as the Falconer and Greg Stink. During his tenure, he co-wrote and starred in a series of MacGruber sketches, which later spawned a 2012 feature film. After leaving SNL, Forte starred in films like The Brothers Solomon and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. His dramatic turn in Alexander Payne's Nebraska earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. From 2015 to 2018, he created, executive produced, and starred in the Fox series The Last Man on Earth. More recently, he has voiced characters in animated projects like The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and starred in the comedy series Sweet Tooth.

Personal life

Forte is known for being intensely private about his personal affairs. He resides in Los Angeles and is an avid fan of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. He has been in a long-term relationship with actress January Jones, with whom he co-starred in The Last Man on Earth. Forte is also a dedicated supporter of various charitable organizations, including those focused on environmental conservation and veterans' affairs.

Filmography

A selection of his notable works includes the film MacGruber (2012), the dramatic feature Nebraska (2013), and the comedy The Watch (2012). On television, he is best known for Saturday Night Live (2002–2010) and The Last Man on Earth (2015–2018). His voice work includes roles in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and its sequel, as well as The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019).

Awards and nominations

For his performance in Nebraska, Forte received an Academy Award nomination and was nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award. His work on Saturday Night Live earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2009 as part of the writing staff. He has also received nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Online Film Critics Society for his role in Nebraska.

Public image and legacy

Forte is widely respected within the comedy community for his commitment to unconventional and often daringly absurd material. Critics and peers, including fellow Saturday Night Live alumni like Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, frequently praise his unique comedic voice and fearless performance style. His creation of the MacGruber character has endured as a cult comedy icon, leading to a successful film and a subsequent Peacock series. Forte's successful pivot to dramatic acting in Nebraska demonstrated his significant range, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and talented performer in both comedy and drama.

Category:American male comedians Category:American male television actors Category:Saturday Night Live cast members