Will Forte

Orville Willis Forte IV{{cite news |last1=Picou |first1=Sabrina |title=Who Is Will Forte's Wife? All About Olivia Modling |url=https://people.com/who-is-olivia-modling-will-forte-wife-8646635 |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=People.com |date=May 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524122123/https://people.com/who-is-olivia-modling-will-forte-wife-8646635 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |language=en}}{{cite AV media |date=April 8, 2020 |title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |medium=Television production |minutes=49 |language=en}} Jimmy Kimmel: "Is Reb your full name?" Reb Forte: "My full name of Orville Willis Forte III. He's Orville Willis Forte IV." was born in Alameda, California, on June 17, 1970.{{cite news |title=Will Forte gets 'Extra Ordinary,' Dan Scanlon moves 'Onward' |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/culture/will-forte-gets-extra-ordinary-dan-scanlon-moves-onward/article_9dba7b4c-1e06-5648-8983-c65ddfcb5d91.html |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=February 27, 2020 |quote=...Forte, who was born in Alameda...}} The son of artist and former schoolteacher Patricia and financial broker Orville Willis "Reb" Forte III. He grew up in Moraga before moving to Lafayette at age 13.{{cite news |last1=Pereira |first1=Alyssa |title=SNL alum Will Forte on growing up in Lafayette: 'I feel like I was my best self in high school' |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/SNL-will-forte-Lafayette-acalanes-last-man-13776217.php |access-date=March 9, 2020 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 18, 2019}} He went by "Billy" in his early years until he was teased at school for it also being a girl's name. At that point he decided he would from then on be known as "Will". Forte described himself as having been a "really happy little boy" whose parents were "wonderful" and created a "very loving environment".{{cite video |people=Maron, Marc (Interviewer); Forte, Will (Interviewee) |date=January 9, 2014 |title=Episode 460 - Will Forte |url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_460_-_will_forte |format=mp3 |medium=Podcast |access-date=May 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111071028/http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_460_-_will_forte |archive-date=January 11, 2014}} He was interested in comedy from a young age, growing up idolizing comedians Peter Sellers, David Letterman, and Steve Martin as well as the sketch-comedy television series Saturday Night Live. He often pulled pranks on his parents, and would record himself performing imaginary radio shows. He did not aim to be a comedian, but initially wanted to become a football player.

Forte was "a laid-back teen with a lot of friends", and a member of the varsity football and swim teams at Acalanes High School in Lafayette where he graduated in 1988. He was voted "Best Personality" by his graduating class and served as freshman class president.

• David Nadelberg, [https://getmortified.com/watch/sessions/ The Mortified Sessions] (2011-2012), TV interview (Dec 13, 2011), Sundance Channel
• {{cite web |title=The Mortified Sessions |url=http://www.sundance.tv/series/the-mortified-sessions |website=SundanceTV |access-date=1 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331064506/http://www.sundance.tv/series/the-mortified-sessions |archive-date=31 March 2015}}
• {{cite web |author1=The Mortified Sessions |title=Another Day at the Forte House - Will Forte |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flqQzCsP1Y4&list=PLEE318045674419E7 |website=SundanceTV |access-date=1 May 2025 |language=|via=youtube |date=13 December 2011 |quote=Cross-dressing in his sister's clothes was no big deal growing up.}} He had no ambitions for a television or film career, though his mother noticed a "creative streak" in him. After high school, he attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and completed a degree in history.{{cite web|url=http://bruinslca.com/?page_id=43|title=Alumni|publisher=Lambda Chi Alpha at UCLA|access-date=September 2, 2013}} Forte wanted to become a financial broker like his father at Smith Barney Shearson, but felt "miserable" there. He co-wrote a feature-length script while there, and later said that he discovered he loved writing "more than anything [he] had ever done in [his] life". He had been encouraged to attempt comedy during his years at university, and he decided to change his career path to do so.

File:Will Forte 2011 Shankbone.JPG in Manhattan, New York]]

Forte began taking classes at The Groundlings in Los Angeles, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school, while tutoring children to make ends meet. His first successful foray into comedy was 101 Things to Definitely Not Do If You Want to Get a Chick, a comic book he produced about incompetent men. The comics landed him his first professional job writing for The Jenny McCarthy Show, a short-lived variety show starring Jenny McCarthy. Shortly thereafter, he was asked to submit a packet to the Late Show with David Letterman and was told Letterman responded favorably to animation. After only nine months at Letterman, he was "let go" from the job. He recalled his stint on the program as unpleasant, noting that he did not have enough experience in writing. "What an honor to work at that show but I don't think I was fully mentally prepared. [...] I always wonder what it would be like if I'd had a couple more years of experience before going there."{{cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3045421/how-being-terrified-helped-last-man-on-earth-will-forte-kill-on-snl-sitcoms-and-films|title=How Being Terrified Helped Last Man on Earth Will Forte Kill on SNL, Sitcoms, and Films|first=Joe |last=Berkowitz|work=Fast Company|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2015}}

Forte left New York and returned to Los Angeles, where he began performing with the Groundlings' Main Company, with Cheryl Hines, Jim Rash, and Maya Rudolph. He tried stand-up comedy three times, mostly at open mic nights, but quit after being voted into the Main Company. He joined the writing teams of two failed sitcoms, including The Army Show and Action. Forte got jobs writing for 3rd Rock from the Sun and That '70s Show. He loved writing and had mostly given up on acting, aside from acting with the Groundlings. While performing with the troupe in 2001, he was spotted by Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Forte felt his confidence was higher than usual, as That '70s Show had been picked up for two more years. He was invited to audition for SNL, which he regarded as unexpected.

At his audition for SNL, he performed multiple original characters, including Tim Calhoun, a speed reader, a prison guard, in addition to impressions of singer Michael McDonald and actor Martin Sheen. His final character was an older piece from his days with the Groundlings, in which he portrays a gold-painted street performer who performs fellatio to pay for his face paint, which devolves into a song needlessly uttering the words "cock" and "face paint" dozens of times. He felt his time to shine as a performer was already over, as he was in his thirties when he auditioned.{{cite news|url=http://www.diablomag.com/April-2010/Will-Power/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc|title=Will Power|date=March 19, 2010|first=Peter|last=Crooks|access-date=May 5, 2015|work=Diablo}} To his surprise, he was offered a chance to be on the show, but declined, opting instead for the financial stability of his work at That '70s Show.{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/05/will-forte-last-man-on-earth.html|title=Will Forte on Last Man on Earth's Second Season, Tabloid Fame, and His Fun Kind of OCD|first=Jada|last=Yuan|work=Vulture|publisher=New York|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}} He felt working for SNL could not live up to the idealized version he had dreamed of, but he later realized he would be making a mistake.

After Will Ferrell left Saturday Night Live the following spring, Forte joined the cast, premiering at the beginning of the show's twenty-eighth season in the autumn. He was promoted to repertory player after his first year. His early years on the program were characterized by stage fright and an inability to properly interpret sketches that he did not write himself. He had to "re-learn" how to perform after years as a writer, and later felt his natural tendency to "overthink" things improved his performance. He was particularly uncomfortable portraying President George W. Bush, as he felt he was not the best impressionist and it paled in comparison to Ferrell's impersonation of Bush.{{cite news|title=Will Forte|first=Sean|last=O'Neal|work=The A.V. Club|date=May 21, 2010|url=https://www.avclub.com/will-forte-1798220154|access-date=April 13, 2022}} His only role was often Bush, leaving him no chance for more "absurd" pieces he favored. He was nearly fired from the program following his third season (2004–05), but after two three-week extensions to decide his fate, he was brought back. Forte estimated it took five seasons for him to feel fully comfortable performing on the show.{{Sfn|Shales|Miller|2002|pp=576-577}} He made his film debut in Around the World in 80 Days.{{cite web|last1=McCarthy|first1=Todd|authorlink=Todd McCarthy|title=Around the World in 80 Days|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/around-the-world-in-80-days-4-1200532772/|website=Variety|access-date=November 13, 2017|date=June 15, 2004}}

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| source =—Forte on his tenure at SNL

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His humor at SNL has been described as bizarre, and he became known for many "10-to-1" sketches{{emdash}}pieces that were considered odd, placed at the very end of the show. He was also well known for his characters Tim Calhoun, Greg Stink, and the Falconer. Forte's favorite sketch on the show was one in which he played a motivational coach alongside football star Peyton Manning. He also co-starred with Andy Samberg in the first SNL Digital Short, "Lettuce". He often spent long hours crafting his sketches for the program, missing deadlines, but his pieces were usually received warmly at table reads. During his time at the show, he co-starred in and wrote the 2007 film The Brothers Solomon. The film was originally a pilot for Carsey-Werner, and its creation was an extension of his agreement to terminate his contract to appear on SNL.{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=4287|title=The Brothers Solomon - Production Notes|publisher=CinemaReview.com|access-date=September 2, 2013}}

Forte's best-known character on SNL was MacGruber, a special operations agent who is tasked in each episode with deactivating a ticking bomb but becomes distracted by personal issues. The sketches were based on the television series MacGyver. It was created by writer Jorma Taccone, who relentlessly pitched the idea to Forte. He was initially reluctant to commit to the sketch, deeming it too dumb, but accepted after persuasion from Taccone. The first sketch aired in January 2007, and led to multiple more segments in the following years. In 2009, the sketches were spun off into a series of commercials sponsored by Pepsi premiering during Super Bowl XLIII which featured the actor behind MacGyver, Richard Dean Anderson, as MacGruber's father. The advertisements led the character and sketches to receive a wider level of popularity.{{cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/article/125842-snl-macgruber-star-will-forte-is-a-soldier-of-fortune/|title='SNL'/ 'MacGruber' star Will Forte is a soldier of fortune|date=May 19, 2010|first=Chuck|last=Barney|work=PopMatters|access-date=April 13, 2015}} After the success of the advertisements, creator Lorne Michaels approached Forte, Taccone, and writer John Solomon with the idea to produce a MacGruber film.{{cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-MacGruber-s-Will-Forte-And-Jorma-Taccone-18661.html|title=Interview: MacGruber's Will Forte And Jorma Taccone|date=May 19, 2010|first=Katey|last=Rich|work=CinemaBlend|access-date=April 13, 2015}}

Regarding his experiences on SNL, Forte remarked, "Looking back, the experience is something I'll never forget. I still miss it, and I'll always miss it. That's my family."{{Sfn|Shales|Miller|2002|pp=576-577}} His celebrity impressions included George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, John Edwards, Timothy Geithner, Newt Gingrich, Chad Lowe, Zell Miller, David Petraeus, Harry Reid, Brian Williams, and Hu Jintao.{{cite web|title=C-SPAN: Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Obama Press Conference|website=NBC|series=Saturday Night Live|date=November 21, 2009|url=http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/china-cold-open/n12611?snl=1|access-date=May 7, 2017}}

In the summer of 2009, MacGruber was shot on a tight schedule for four weeks in Albuquerque, New Mexico.{{cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/65926-exclusive-will-forte-and-jorma-taccone-on-macgruber|title=Exclusive: Will Forte and Jorma Taccone on MacGruber!|date=May 19, 2010|first=Edward|last=Douglas|work=ComingSoon.net|access-date=April 13, 2015}} It was written while simultaneously producing the weekly episode of SNL, and the show's production process left the trio deprived of sleep.{{cite magazine|url=https://techland.time.com/2010/05/21/only-6-questions-left-macgruber-the-will-forte-interview/|title=Only 6 Questions Left MacGruber! The Will Forte Interview|date=May 21, 2010|author=Steven James Snyder |magazine=Time|access-date=April 13, 2015}} Forte was positive regarding the film, saying, {{cquote|What you see with this movie is exactly what we wanted to do. It's the three of us having a bunch of fun writing it, then having fun making it with a bunch of our friends—old friends and new friends. I think that fun comes across when you watch it. It's rare that you get that kind of creative freedom.}} The film was released in May 2010 and received mixed reviews.{{rotten-tomatoes|macGruber|MacGruber}} It fared worse at the box office, where it failed to recoup its budget and was pulled from theaters after its third week.{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Hayne |url=http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2010/07/biggest-box-office-flops-2010.html |title=10 Biggest Box Office Flops of 2010 (So Far) |work=Parade |date=July 19, 2010}} Forte found the failure tolerable, commenting, "When you make something that you're really proud of and it doesn't do well, you can live with it." The film has since seen more of a positive reception and has been dubbed a cult classic.{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/macgruber-director-jorma-taccone-to-helm-new-line-action-comedy-spy-guys-105765/|title='MacGruber' Director Jorma Taccone To Helm New Line Action-Comedy 'Spy Guys'|date=September 21, 2012|first=Charlie|last=Schmidlin|work=IndieWire|access-date=April 13, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/s/forte-says-macgruber-2-priority-no-1-behind-203145249.html|title=Will Forte Says 'MacGruber 2′ Is 'Priority No. 1′ Behind New Fox Show 'Last Man on Earth'|date=February 27, 2015|first=Tony|last=Maglio|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=April 12, 2015}}

File:Will Forte, Chris Miller & Phil Lord by Gage Skidmore.jpg at WonderCon 2015]]

Forte left Saturday Night Live shortly before the beginning of the show's thirty-sixth season in 2010. He felt it was the "right time to go", considering his eight-year tenure there, his expansion into film with MacGruber, and his age. In addition, his sister had just had children and he wanted to move to the West Coast to be closer to them. He soon regretted the decision, calling the following year an "emotionally trying period", as he felt "devastated" that he would no longer be on the program. He assumed his shot at a film career was ruined,{{cite news|url=http://grantland.com/features/will-forte-last-man-on-earth-macgruber/|title=Will Forte Can't Stop (and He Hopes That Doesn't Bother Anyone)|first=Steven|last=Hyden|website=Grantland.com|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}} and he imagined that if acting did not work out, he would return to mostly writing.{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/05/25-factoids-about-will-forte.html|title=25 Things You Learn About Will Forte From Hanging Out With Him |first=Jada|last=Yuan|work=Vulture|publisher=New York|date=May 5, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}} Afterwards he entered what he has called a "lost period" and had small supporting roles, such as Rock of Ages, That's My Boy, and The Watch, none of which were successes. The only commercial successful film which he worked on was Grown Ups 2, where he made a cameo as a male cheerleader. He also took a role as Paul L'astnamé, the cross-dressing boyfriend of Jenna Maroney on the critically acclaimed sitcom 30 Rock.

Forte took his first dramatic role for the 2013 film Run & Jump. Director Steph Green offered him the part, and Forte imagined it a "fun thing to try", though he noted that she had more confidence in him than he had himself.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/25/will-forte-from-snl-to-star-of-run-and-jump-and-nebraska.html|title=Will Forte: From 'SNL' to Star of 'Run and Jump' and 'Nebraska'|date=April 25, 2013|first=Marlow|last=Stern|newspaper=The Daily Beast|access-date=May 5, 2015}} Later, he sent an audition tape to Alexander Payne for a role in his next film, Nebraska. He equated his casting in the film to his fear of joining SNL a decade prior, noting that he was "terrified" to begin working on it.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/will-forte-nebraska_n_4377764|first=Mike|last=Ryan|date=December 5, 2013|title=With 'Nebraska,' Will Forte Leaves MacGruber Behind|access-date=April 13, 2022|work=Huffington Post}} He felt scared initially, but followed Bruce Dern's acting advice to "look for the truth" in each scene—in other words, "In every scene, you're just trying to play it as honestly and as real as you can."

Forte began working on The Last Man on Earth, a sitcom, with longtime collaborators Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in 2013. Though it was the duo's idea, Forte attached himself to the concept, crafting a treatment over a weekend. The series was pitched around Hollywood to positive responses and was picked up in 2014 by Fox.{{cite web|title=Phil Lord and Chris Miller on Maintaining Mystery in 'The Last Man on Earth'|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/arts/television/review-foxs-the-last-man-on-earth-stars-will-forte.html|first=Mekado|last=Murphy|date=March 1, 2015|access-date=March 1, 2015}} Forte served as the series' creator, a writer, the lead role, and showrunner for the first season. He felt odd being in charge of its writing team (composed of longtime friends), and awkward at delegating tasks, so much so that he would end up doing the work himself. Being a showrunner "truly was an amount of work I never knew existed," he said, which involved him working a "minimum of 12 hours" daily.{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/03/will-forte-the-last-man-on-earth.html|title=Will Forte on His Unusual New Sitcom, The Last Man on Earth|first=Corban|last=Goble|work=Vulture|publisher=New York|date=March 2, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}} The series premiered in 2015 to positive responses,{{cite web|title=The Last Man on Earth Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-last-man-on-earth|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 1, 2015}} and was renewed for three further seasons.{{cite news|url=http://tvline.com/2015/04/08/last-man-on-earth-season-2-renewal|title=Last Man on Earth Scores Super-Quick Season 2 Renewal at Fox|work=TVLine|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=April 8, 2015|archive-date=April 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410190054/http://tvline.com/2015/04/08/last-man-on-earth-season-2-renewal/|url-status=dead}}

In 2016, Forte played Hulka, a low-level weed dealer, in the comedy Keanu, starring Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key.{{cite web|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Will Forte to Co-Star With Key and Peele in Comedy 'Keanu' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/will-forte-star-key-peele-798567/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 13, 2022|date=May 28, 2017}} In 2018, he played National Lampoon magazine co-founder Douglas Kenney in the Netflix biographical film A Futile and Stupid Gesture.{{cite web|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Will Forte to Star as 'National Lampoon' Co-Founder in Netflix Movie (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-forte-star-as-national-875870/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=April 13, 2016|date=March 16, 2016}} The film was directed by David Wain and features Domhnall Gleeson as co-founder Henry Beard.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/domhnall-gleeson-national-lampoon-co-founder-netflix-film-a-futile-and-stupid-gesture-1201731814/|title=Domhnall Gleeson To Play National Lampoon Co-Founder In Netflix Film 'A Futile And Stupid Gesture'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=June 22, 2016}} Forte voiced Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film Scoob!.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/zac-efron-amanda-seyfried-scooby-doo-warner-bros-movie-casting-1202580895/|title=Warner Bros' Animated Scooby-Doo Finds Its Fred & Daphne In Zac Efron & Amanda Seyfried|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=March 22, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=March 22, 2019}} In 2021, Forte starred in Sweet Tooth, reprised his role as MacGruber in a TV series on Peacock, and began voicing Wolf Tobin in the animated sitcom The Great North. In 2022, it was announced that Forte had a leading role for Disney and Pixar's first animated television series Win or Lose. It premiered on Disney+ in 2025.{{cite web|last=White|first=Peter|title=Will Forte To Star In 'Win Or Lose', Pixar's First Longform Series For Disney+|url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/will-forte-win-or-lose-pixar-1235113669/|date=September 9, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022|website=Deadline}} He voiced an older version of the titular character in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. In 2024, Forte was announced in the main role of Martin in Sunny Nights.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Sunny Nights: Stan series starts production in Sydney {{!}} ScreenHub Australia - Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data |url=https://www.screenhub.com.au/news/news/sunny-nights-stan-series-starts-production-in-sydney-2646787/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.screenhub.com.au |language=en-AU}}

Forte dated his Last Man on Earth co-star January Jones in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/will-forte-engaged-olivia-modling/|title=Will Forte and Girlfriend Olivia Modling Are Engaged| work=People.com| date=April 15, 2020|access-date=April 21, 2020}} He and Olivia Modling were engaged in 2019; they met in 2018. They have two daughters, Zoe Douglas Forte, born in February 2021, and Cecilia, born approximately 18 months later. He and Modling married on 31 July 2021 while making MacGruber "in the back of Jorma Taccone's house", in New Mexico.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/will-forte-married-inside-surprise-wedding-olivia-modling/ |title=Will Forte is Married! Inside His Surprise Wedding to Wife Olivia Modling |work=People |date=December 8, 2021 |accessdate=December 9, 2021}} They live in a modestly sized Craftsman home in Santa Monica, California. Forte bought the home in 2002,{{cite web |title=Will Forte Lists Longtime Santa Monica Bungalow |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/forte-lists-longtime-santa-monica-174327555.html |website=Yahoo Entertainment |access-date=1 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501092047/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/forte-lists-longtime-santa-monica-174327555.html |archive-date=1 May 2025 |date=10 September 2020 |quote=asking $2.45 million for the charming beige brick Craftsman bungalow he picked up 18 years ago for $840,000}}{{cite news |last1=Leitereg |first1=Neal J. |last2=Flemming |first2=Jack |title=Hot Property: 'SNL' vet Will Forte brings Santa Monica Craftsman to market |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2020-09-19/hot-property-snl-vet-will-forte-brings-santa-monica-craftsman-to-market |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919170111/https://www.latimes.com/business/real-estate/story/2020-09-19/hot-property-snl-vet-will-forte-brings-santa-monica-craftsman-to-market |archive-date=September 19, 2020}} just two weeks before joining the cast of Saturday Night Live, which required him to move to New York City. He admitted later that "it was not the greatest timing."

Forte's mother, Patricia, has visited every film set on which he has worked and made an appearance on a Mother's Day episode of SNL, in which he sang a song to her on Weekend Update. Will officiated his sister Michelle's wedding; he filmed the birth of his niece and nephew.{{cite journal |url=http://www.diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/April-2010/Will-Power |title=Will Power (page 1 of 3) |journal=Diablo Magazine |last=Crooks |first=Peter |date=April 2010 |access-date=September 2, 2013 |archive-date=July 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730162724/http://www.diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/April-2010/Will-Power/ |url-status=dead }}

Will Forte has discussed and joked about his OCD tendencies.{{cite web| url=http://grantland.com/features/will-forte-last-man-on-earth-macgruber |title=Will Forte Can't Stop (and He Hopes That Doesn't Bother Anyone)| work= Grantland.com |date=February 27, 2015 |access-date=May 11, 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/03/will-forte-last-man-on-earth-all-you-need-to-know |title=By His Own Admission, Will Forte is "A Little O.C.D." About His Shampoo Routine |first=Julie |last=Miller |work=Vanity Fair |date=April 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015}} He recounted listening to only one song in his office at SNL for an entire year because he wanted to challenge himself.{{cite web |url=http://www.earwolf.com/episode/jing-it-or-ding-it |title=Jing It Or Ding It!, episode #153 of Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast |publisher=Earwolf |date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=September 2, 2013}} During an interview with Larry King, he discussed his OCD as a challenge he had to overcome but not one he wished he did not have, as it is a part of his personality.{{cite episode |url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/384514|title=Will Forte|series=Larry King Now| series-link=Larry King Now |airdate=July 26, 2012| season=1| number=7| network=Hulu}}{{cite news| url=http://movieline.com/2011/05/25/life-after-macgruber-and-snl-catching-up-with-will-forte|title=Life After MacGruber and SNL: Catching up with Will Forte| work=Movieline |date=May 25, 2011|access-date=May 29, 2014| last=Ryan |first=Mike}} In a February 2015 article on Grantland the writer of the article said that Forte mentioned OCD often but it was not clear if he had ever been formally diagnosed, though Forte related how he and a former girlfriend had gone through an OCD questionnaire and it concluded that Forte "should immediately talk to someone about this".

Forte is an avid gamer. While filming A Good Old-Fashioned Orgy, he achieved one of the world's highest scores on the arcade version of Donkey Kong.{{cite web|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2008/11/10/will-fortes-wilmington-stay-was-on-like-donkey-kong/30467255007/|title=Will Forte's Wilmington stay was on like 'Donkey Kong'|last=Staton|first=John|work=Star-News|date=November 10, 2008|accessdate=November 28, 2024}}

class="wikitable" |+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} |Denotes works that have not yet been released

class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes

2004 | Around the World in 80 Days | Young Bobby |

2006 | Beerfest | Otto |

2007 | The Brothers Solomon | Dean Solomon | Also writer

2008 | Baby Mama | Scott |

rowspan="4"|2009 | The Slammin' Salmon | Horace the Lone Diner | Cameo

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men | Subject #72 |

Fanboys | THX Security Guard #4 |

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs | Joe Towne (voice) |{{cite web |title=Will Forte (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Will-Forte/ |access-date=March 5, 2025 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.

2010 | MacGruber | MacGruber | Also writer

2011 | A Good Old Fashioned Orgy | Glenn |

rowspan="4"|2012 | Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie | Allen Bishopman |

Rock of Ages | Mitch Miley |

That's My Boy | Phil |

The Watch | Sergeant Bressman |

rowspan="5"|2013 | Grown Ups 2 | Male Cheerleader | Uncredited cameo

Run & Jump | Ted |

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 | Chester V (voice) |{{cite news |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=August 21, 2012 |title=CAUTION: Food may eat YOU in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs sequel -- EXCLUSIVE |url=http://family-room.ew.com/2012/08/21/cloudy-2-exclusive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920002433/http://family-room.ew.com/2012/08/21/cloudy-2-exclusive/ |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=March 5, 2024 |newspaper=Entertainment Weekly}}

Life of Crime | Marshall Taylor |

Nebraska | David Grant |

rowspan="4"|2014 | The Lego Movie | Abraham Lincoln (voice) |

22 Jump Street | Football Announcer (voice) | Uncredited

Michelangelo and Lincoln: History Cops | Abraham Lincoln (voice) | Short film

She's Funny That Way | Joshua Fleet |

rowspan="4"|2015 | Don Verdean | Pastor Fontaine |

Staten Island Summer | Griffith |

The Ridiculous 6 | Will Patch |

Get Squirrely | Cody (voice) |

rowspan="2"|2016 | Keanu | Hulka |{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2015-05-28 |title=Will Forte to Co-Star With Key and Peele in Comedy Keanu (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/will-forte-star-key-peele-798567/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping | Bagpipe Player | Cameo

2017 | My Life as a Courgette | Mr. Paul (voice) | English dub

rowspan="2"|2018 | A Futile and Stupid Gesture | Doug Kenney |{{Cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=2017-12-20 |title=A Futile and Stupid Gesture Trailer: Will Forte Creates National Lampoon |url=https://collider.com/a-futile-and-stupid-gesture-trailer-will-forte-netflix/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Collider |language=en}}

Luis and the Aliens | Nag (voice) | English dub

rowspan="5"|2019 | The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Abraham Lincoln (voice) |

Extra Ordinary | Christian Winter |{{Cite magazine |last=Collis |first=Clark |date=March 5, 2019 |title=Will Forte summons supernatural forces in trailer for SXSW comedy Extra Ordinary |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/03/05/will-forte-extra-ordinary-trailer-sxsw/ |access-date=March 5, 2025 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

Booksmart | Doug Antsler |{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2018-05-22 |title=Jason Sudeikis, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Others Join Olivia Wilde's Booksmart (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jason-sudeikis-lisa-kudrow-will-forte-booksmart-1202818142/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Good Boys | Andrew Newman (Max's Dad) |

The Laundromat | Doomed Gringo #1 |{{Cite web |last=Fleming Jr. |first=Mike |date=2018-10-09 |title=Netflix Commits To Panama Papers Drama The Laundromat; David Schwimmer Joins Soderbergh, Oldman, Streep, Banderas |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/netflix-panama-papers-movie-the-laundromat-david-schwimmer-steven-soderbergh-gary-oldman-meryl-streep-antonio-banderas-1202479036/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

rowspan="4"|2020 | The Willoughbys | Tim Willoughby (voice) |{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Dino-Ray |date=2018-11-06 |title=Netflix Unveils The Willoughbys, Maya And The Three, & More In Animated Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/netflix-the-willoughbys-maya-and-the-three-trash-truck-my-fathers-dragon-go-go-cory-carson-kid-cosmic-animated-1202496603/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics | Himself | Documentary

Scoob! | Shaggy Rogers (voice) |{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=March 2, 2019 |title=Will Forte, Gina Rodriguez and Tracy Morgan to Star in Animated Scooby-Doo Movie (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/scooby-doo-movie-star-will-forte-gina-rodriguez-tracy-morgan-1177354/ |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

Drunk Bus | Fred | Uncredited

2021 | America: The Motion Picture | Abraham Lincoln (voice) |

rowspan="2"|2022 | Studio 666 | Restaurant Delivery Guy (Darren Sandelbaum) |

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Ben Scotti |{{Cite web |last=Milici |first=Lauren |date=2022-08-29 |title=Daniel Radcliffe is a rock n roll sex god in new Weird: The Al Yankovic Story trailer |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/new-weird-al-the-al-yankovic-story-trailer-daniel-radcliffe/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}

rowspan="2"|2023 | Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken | Captain Gordon Lighthouse (voice) |{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Jamie |date=2023-03-14 |title=First Details Revealed For New Dreamworks Film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/teenage-kraken-dreamworks-kirk-demicco-226970.html |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}}

Strays | Doug |{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2021-12-07 |title=Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte Starring in Universal Comedy Strays (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/will-ferrell-jamie-foxx-will-forte-talking-dog-comedy-strays-exclusive-1235058434/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

2024 | Thelma the Unicorn | Otis (voice) | {{cite web |last=McPherson |first=Chris |date=January 25, 2024 |title=Netflix's 'Thelma the Unicorn' Dreams of Stardom in New Images [Exclusive] |url=https://collider.com/thelma-the-unicorn-images-netflix/ |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=Collider}}

2025 | Kinda Pregnant | Josh Lewis |{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2024-02-21 |title=Jillian Bell, Will Forte, Damon Wayans Jr. & Brianne Howey Join Amy Schumer In Netflix Comedy Kinda Pregnant |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/kinda-pregnant-movie-casts-jillian-bell-will-forte-damon-wayans-jr-1235831952/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

2026 |style="background:#FFFFCC;"|Coyote vs. Acme {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} | Kevin Avery | Completed{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=March 9, 2022 |title=Will Forte And Lana Condor To Co-Star With John Cena In Looney Tunes Live-Action/Animated Hybrid Pic Coyote Vs. Acme |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/will-forte-lana-condor-john-cena-looneytunes-coyote-vs-acme-1234974670/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310203712/https://deadline.com/2022/03/will-forte-lana-condor-john-cena-looneytunes-coyote-vs-acme-1234974670/ |archive-date=March 10, 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |title=Coyote vs. Acme Lives, Will See Theatrical Release from Ketchup Entertainment |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/coyote-vs-acme/coyote-vs-acme-theatrical-release-rescued-ketchup-entertainment-warner-bros-david-zaslav |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last1=Shales|first1=Tom|first2=James Andrew |last2=Miller|title=Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live|year=2002 |publisher=Hachette Book Group USA |location=New York |isbn=0-316-73565-5}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Twitter}}
• {{IMDb name}}
• {{Discogs artist}}
• [http://willfortefans.livejournal.com Will Forte LiveJournal Community]
• Interview with Will Forte at [http://collegehumor.com/article:1738998 CollegeHumor]

{{s-start}}

{{succession box | title=Voice of Norville "Shaggy" Rogers | before=Matthew Lillard| years=2020 film Scoob!| after=Iain Armitage (2020)}}

{{s-end}}

{{National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forte, Will}}

Category:1970 births

Category:20th-century American comedians

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:Acalanes High School alumni

Category:American impressionists (entertainers)

Category:American male comedians

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male television writers

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Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni