Where There's a Will, There's a Ferrell

Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman.

Will Ferrell is the most successful former Saturday Night Live cast member since Eddie Murphy. He has appeared in nearly two dozen films in the last 8 years. From cameo appearances to lead roles, Will Ferrell is making his comic mark on the silver screen.

Ferrell's movie career began with a small role in 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and its 1999 sequel Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. He made the forgettable Night at the Roxbury in 1998 with SNL cast mate Chris Kattan and Superstar in 1999 with another SNL castmate Molly Shannon. In 2001 Ferrell played the villian in Ben Stiller's Zoolander. "Todd! Are you not aware that I get farty and bloated with a foamy latte?"

In 2003 everything changed for Ferrell. Following his departure from SNL, he co-starred in Old School and his star started to rise quickly. He is second billed to the forgettable Luke Wilson, but ends up being the only memorable thing about the movie. From the streaking scene to the dart in his neck, Ferrell completely steals the movie. He has this funny, yet poignant, piece of dialogue, "...suddenly, you get married, and you're supposed to be this entirely different guy. I don't feel different. I mean, take yesterday for example. We were out at the Olive Garden for dinner, which was lovely. And uh, I happen to look over at a certain point during the meal and see a waitress taking an order, and I found myself wondering what color her underpants might be..."

2003 also saw Will Ferrell carry a film by himself for the first time when he starred in Elf. By no means a perfect film, Elf did contrast enough from Old School's adult humor to demonstrate that he is more than a one punch line comic. "Son of a nut cracker!" Ferrell is married with a child. Perhaps this is what helps him move so easily between adult and childish humor.

2004 was another great year for Ferrell. He made a cameo appearance in another Ben Stiller movie, Starsky and Hutch. Stiller repaid the favor later that year by making a brief appearance in Ferrell's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgondy, which Ferrell helped write. "I'm in a glass case of emotion."

2005 is looking like another potentially great year for Ferrell. He's already starred in Woody Allen's Melinda Melinda. In the upcoming Kicking and Screaming he plays a father who has no idea what he is doing coaching his son's soccer team. "I'm in way over my head." Later this year Ferrell is in Bewitched with Nicole Kidman. He also has a small role in The Wedding Crasher, which stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.

Ferrell has still more in store for his fans. He will be seen in the film version of The Producers: The Movie Musical playing Franz Liebkind. He will also be the voice of The Man in the Yellow Hat in the animated film version of Curious George. And he has signed on to play in the film version of the 1970's children's show The Land of the Lost.

Will Ferrell is a running afficionado. He has run in the Boston and New York marathons. With the rate his career is moving along, he will be going the distance for some time to come.