A photo of Will Ferrell with his fraternity brothers during his time at the University of Southern California, taken sometime between 1987 and 1990.
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable comedy stars, Will Ferrell attended the University of Southern California, where he majored in Sports Information and developed a reputation for making people laugh long before he found fame. After graduating in 1990, he briefly worked as a bank teller and explored possible careers in sports broadcasting and journalism before deciding to pursue comedy full-time.
His big break came when he joined the Los Angeles-based comedy troupe The Groundlings, a training ground for many successful comedians. In 1995, Ferrell was cast on Saturday Night Live, where he spent seven seasons becoming known for memorable impressions, including George W. Bush, as well as a variety of original characters that helped shape the show’s late-1990s identity.
He later became one of the most successful comedy actors of his generation with hit films such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Elf, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Ferrell’s first audition for Saturday Night Live was so impressive that he was hired almost immediately. Over the course of seven years on the show, he appeared in more than 130 episodes, earning a place among the longest-serving and most influential cast members in SNL history.