17 Times Will Ferrell Broke Other Actors On Set

One commonly acknowledged way of expressing this in simpler and more natural language: Will Ferrell is frequently recognized as one of Saturday Night Live (SNL)’s greatest cast members ever. A good indicator of his influence might be how hard he makes other actors laugh, whether it’s causing them to lose their composure on SNL or making fellow movie actors chuckle on set. Ferrell has an uncanny knack for cracking up his co-stars. Sometimes it’s his outfits that bring about laughter; at other times, it’s a well-timed touch or just the right word that does the trick. There have even been instances when he needs only say one word to make his co-stars break into uncontrollable laughter. Here we’ve collected some of Will Ferrell’s most hilarious moments with his fellow cast members.

He poked Jimmy Fallon with his foot in the hot tub sketch

In this 2001 Saturday Night Live sketch titled “The Love-ahs with Barbara and Dave”, we find a character named Dave (played by Jimmy Fallon) sharing a hot tub with an overtly affectionate couple, Roger (Will Ferrell) and Virginia (Rachel Dratch), who are known as the Klarvins. During this skit, it’s Ferrell’s antics that repeatedly leave his co-stars in fits of laughter on more than one occasion.

At the start itself, Fallon found himself smirking. For the remainder of the skit, he struggled to keep a straight face, frequently losing control. It’s not surprising given how hard Ferrell seemed to be pushing him to break. Reflecting on the skit with Ferrell for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the late-night host recollected, “Just before I delivered my line, you’d gently squeeze my kneecap.” In response, Ferrell admitted, “I just remember trying to get my foot into your groin area.” Reviewing the skit, it becomes clear that such unexpected laughter from Fallon was likely due to a flurry of hidden antics by Ferrell. At one point, you can even see Fallon shaking his head, imploring him to stop. Of course, as the saying goes, what goes around comes around. After Ferrell caused Fallon to burst into laughter, the giggles quickly spread. Before long, Dratch and Ferrell were both chuckling mid-line delivery.

Initially, SNL’s creator Lorne Michaels and his fellow writers found Jimmy Fallon amusing when he broke character during sketches. Looking back, that spontaneity adds to the sweetness of the scene.

Ferrell did it again in Mountaintop Luvahs

1) The characters Roger and Virginia were adored by the audience so much that they were eventually reprised in the 2002 skit “Mountaintop Luvahs.” During this skit, they harassed a fresh couple (played by Amy Poehler and Chris Kattan), with Jack Black joining in on the romantic antics. Notably, many of Ferrell’s fellow actors couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Both Poehler and Black struggled to maintain their composure, yet it’s hard not to giggle when Ferrell is playfully touching Black’s thigh, attempting to elicit a response.

In this scene, Ferrell adopts the peculiar accent he is known for when he first portrayed Roger. He even references the humorous way his character said “hot tub” from a famous skit. This time, he says “Subaru” and “tow truck” in the same manner, which is so amusing that Rachel Dratch can’t help but cover her grin by hiding in Ferrell’s hair.

His improv in Zoolander made Milla Jovovich crack up

The “Zoolander” series allowed Will Ferrell to really exaggerate his acting skills in the character of fashion designer Jacobim Mugatu. In one particular scene, Ferrell expresses his admiration for model Hansel (played by Owen Wilson), stating emphatically, “Hansel is incredibly popular at the moment.

However, a blunder that occurred off-camera on the filming day shows that Will Ferrell provided an abundance of different takes for this specific line in the movie, such as “Bring me a platter of sizzling Hansel” and “Hansel is currently scorching hot; I’d get burned if I even touched him.” Milla Jovovich’s character, Katinka, who should have been looking majestically at the stage, couldn’t help but burst into laughter upon hearing Ferrell. Nathan Lee Graham also had a hard time keeping his smile in check.

Pierce Brosnan found his Evil Boss character hilarious

2001’s SNL sketch “Evil Boss” featured Will Ferrell and guest star Pierce Brosnan. The famous James Bond actor (with glasses and a hairstyle unsuitable for 007) struggled to keep a straight face while playing opposite Ferrell’s eccentric boss. However, it became increasingly difficult for him to hide his amusement, especially when Ferrell scolded Chris Kattan. When Brosnan inquired, “Is this how you treat your employees?” he momentarily lost composure and couldn’t stop grinning, despite the line being intended to be serious.

One humorous instance in this skit might be when Ferrell’s character aggressively strikes Chris Parnell (Scott Jurgensen) with a trident and continues to thrust the weapon into Scott’s figure even after he ceases moving. It’s evident that Brosnan is struggling to maintain his composure as his shoulders convulse with laughter, confirming that Will Ferrell has once more succeeded in making us laugh.

He rode in on a scooter and broke Sean Hayes

In the “Jeffreys with Sean Hayes” SNL sketch, the humor was already exceptional before Will Ferrell made his appearance. Yet, when Ferrell stepped onto the scene, barely a minute before the end, he outshone all previous comedic efforts.

In this scene, Sean Hayes, known for his steady air of pompousness throughout, finally cracks when Will Ferrell glides onto the set on a scooter. Honestly, who wouldn’t? When Ferrell’s character pulls out a miniature phone, about the size of a fingernail, and pretends to talk into it, even the most stoic person would burst into laughter. Even Ferrell himself struggles to keep a suppressed smile. It takes a truly exceptional comedian to leave their co-stars flushed and tongue-tied, unable to deliver their lines, further demonstrating that Will Ferrell is a comedy genius.

His Anchorman pickup line left Christina Applegate in stitches

In the extra scenes of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” the lead character, played by Will Ferrell, comes up with a flirtatious line towards Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) that some might consider even more charming than the one used in the final edit. The line that ended up in the movie was, “Your rear end is absolutely stunning. I mean, it’s fantastic. I want to be friends with it.” In simpler terms, Ron Burgundy improvised a pickup line about Veronica Corningstone’s attractive backside during filming, which was improved upon for the final version of the movie.

In one awkward moment, he comments about Veronica’s rear end, saying “Michelangelo would be embarrassed. I like it. And you’re sitting on it.” Despite being as refined as a sharp smack, this come-on leaves Applegate in stitches, causing her to momentarily lose her composure and step aside from the conversation to regain her breath.

Gus Chiggins, Old Prospector left the whole cast in hysterics

It’s no wonder that Jimmy Fallon struggles to maintain a serious expression when he’s around Will Ferrell. In a skit, initially edited out due to time constraints but later posted on SNL’s YouTube channel, it’s not just Fallon who succumbs to laughter. In the sketch titled “Gus Chiggins, Old Prospector,” every cast member loses their composure whenever they engage with Ferrell.

The skit revolves around a band of soldiers, puzzled by the presence of an inept old prospector (portrayed by Ferrell) within their secret military mission. It turns out that Ferrell’s performance is so captivating that it causes everyone to break character. Even before Ferrell delivers his line, Fallon succumbs to uncontrollable laughter – and this laughter is highly contagious. Soon, Seth Meyers, Darrell Hammond, and Tracy Morgan are all unable to maintain their roles. Morgan struggles to utter his lines due to laughing fits. Chris Kattan, who plays the commander, can’t suppress a smile either. Normally, these characters should express irritation towards the old prospector, but their expressions convey the opposite.

Ferrell transformed into a reality TV star for SNL

As a gamer, diving headfirst into the role of Dane, a reality TV star who splurged on the shoddiest doctor’s priciest procedure, Will Ferrell had everyone in stitches. But if you managed to take your gaze off him for a brief second, you’d spot Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant struggling not to burst out laughing. Meanwhile, Mikey Day and Beck Bennett couldn’t help but grin and chuckle as Ferrell pelted them with chicken, such is his infectious humor. Even Ferrell couldn’t keep a straight face at the end. The only one who maintained a sober demeanor throughout was the canine companion.

He made John C. Reilly laugh on a take in Talladega Nights

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at Will Ferrell’s exceptional comedic talent that often leaves his co-stars in stitches without uttering a single word. Case in point: the hilarious blooper from “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” In this scene, Ricky Bobby, played by none other than Ferrell, shares a table with his father (Ted Manson), sons (Houston Tumlin and Grayson Russell), and buddy Cal (John C. Reilly). Just one glance from Ferrell can send the entire cast into fits of laughter!

Shocked by the kids’ rude behavior, Chip exclaims, “Are you really allowing your grandsons to speak to their grandfather like this? I’m an elder among you!” However, in this unscripted moment, Ferrell replies with a double emphasis on Chip’s name, shouting it loudly. John C. Reilly can’t contain his laughter, while Manson maintains his composure, adding to the humor of the situation. This blooper only makes us admire Will Ferrell more because of his spontaneous humor.

Ferrell told his castmates to back off in Cast List

In an SNL skit titled “Cast List”, Will Ferrell portrays a drama teacher who takes pleasure in making his students uncomfortable. During an unexpected scene not initially planned, the other actors gather around Ferrell, eagerly waiting for the cast list to be revealed. However, they invade his personal space. In a moment, Aidy Bryant accidentally bumps into Ferrell, causing him to exclaim, “Please step back!” This sudden command sends the actors tumbling backward, some tripping literally.

In this scenario, Bryant stifles a chuckle to hide it, and for a brief instant, Mikey Day seems oblivious to the camera, questioning Ferrell, “What are you up to?” Unperturbed, Ferrell regains his composure and steers the act forward again, as any drama instructor would emphasize, “The performance has to continue.

He made Eva Mendes laugh in The Other Guys

In every Will Ferrell film, for each amusing remark that makes the final cut, there are twice as many jokes that are just as hilarious but didn’t make the final version. The movie “The Other Guys” features some side-splitting dialogue between Allen (Ferrell) and Sheila (Eva Mendes), particularly their account of how they first met, which sounds like a meet-cute from a Meg Ryan romcom, albeit with an extra dose of poison ivy. However, a priceless improvised line by Ferrell during this scene didn’t make it into the movie, and that’s unfortunate because it was so funny that it caused Eva Mendes to laugh during filming.

In this scene, there was a mistake where Ferrell jokes, “I was so overflowing with testosterone that I actually killed a coyote.” The specific circumstances of this outrageous tale aren’t clear, but the humor increases when we have to imagine the details ourselves.

His sensitive drill sergeant got a laugh from David Spade

Keeping a serious expression becomes quite challenging when Will Ferrell is acting over-the-top nearby, but it seems even tougher when he invades your personal space and shouts. During the 1998 SNL sketch “The Sensitive Drill Sergeant,” Ferrell does just that to his fellow actor, David Spade. Initially in the skit, Spade laughs due to Ferrell’s antics – an action that earns him twenty push-ups as punishment. Later on, when Spade speaks up once more, Ferrell explodes with anger, saying, “Do you still see this as a laughing matter, Private Son-of-a-Bitch?” (Apparently, he does, since Spade can’t resist grinning.)

Noticing an opening in his co-star’s defenses, Ferrell seizes the opportunity, gradually pressing closer. He punctuates his speech by tapping Spade on the head with the edge of his hat, becoming increasingly forceful (and surprisingly affectionate) with each tap. Despite his best efforts, Spade can no longer contain his laughter, ultimately losing the struggle.

His Harry Caray impression left Joan Allen speechless

1998 saw a Saturday Night Live sketch where Will Ferrell donned the role of sportscaster Harry Caray, opposite Joan Allen as NASA Flight Director Linda Ham. As they chatted about space exploration, Allen attempted to maintain her character, but she struggled against Ferrell’s side-splitting portrayal of Harry Caray—an act so amusing that it helped him secure a position on SNL with its comedic brilliance.

Each time Ferrell calls out “Linda Ham,” his co-star can’t help but giggle. He playfully asks if her name ever triggers hunger in her, which sets Allen off into fits of laughter. For the remainder of the skit, Ferrell delivers one outrageous line after another, eventually making it impossible for Allen to keep a straight face.

His vocal warm-ups in Anchorman 2 cracked up Christina Applegate

During the production of “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” Will Ferrell came up with numerous alternate versions of his lines on the spot, resulting in a large collection of these improvised takes. These additional scenes were then used to create an entirely new version of the movie. However, there were some instances where Ferrell’s spontaneous humor caused his co-stars to lose focus and break character, leading to moments that didn’t make it into any of the film’s final cuts.

Just as any normal person preparing for a live broadcast might do, Ron Burgundy engages in a vocal exercise, either repeating “The bishop wore chaps without seats to a Bat Mitzvah” or shouting “Quickly, fetch the children! Save the children!”. However, during one unedited take, his antics cause Christina Applegate to burst into uncontrollable laughter, which in turn disrupts the recording. Even after regaining her composure, she playfully retorts with a jest, saying “You’re terrible!” or “Stick it to me!” depending on context.

Ferrell broke character playing Dr. Beaman

In the SNL sketch titled “Dr. Beaman’s Office: Test Results,” Will Ferrell maintains his eccentric character as a peculiar OB/GYN doctor throughout most of it. His portrayal is amusingly bizarre. However, when Ferrell introduces Dr. Poop (Tim Meadows) and watches him perform dance routines to bewildered patients (Molly Shannon and Chris Parnell), Ferrell struggles to keep a straight face. He pauses briefly, rubbing the bridge of his nose and wiping his eyes, trying to regain his composure. His amusement is audible in his voice when he reveals, “To be honest, we’ve lost your baby.

If a skit is so hilarious that Will Ferrell loses his composure, then it’s clear that no one else can hold back their laughter. Following this, Shannon erupts in laughter. To his great skill, Parnell maintains a straight face or hides his laughter so effectively that his character appears furious rather than bursting out laughing. It’s not surprising that Chris Parnell acquired the SNL nickname “Ice Man” for his talent to keep a serious expression even when all the other performers were laughing uncontrollably.

Ferrell wore short shorts and his co-stars lost it

In the 2001 SNL sketch titled “Short Shorts for the USA,” Ferrell’s character expresses his patriotism by exposing his butt cheeks to other actors. It is said that Ferrell was initially meant to wear shorts adorned with the American flag (behind-the-scenes pictures appear to verify this), but on the day of the live broadcast, he opted for a star-spangled thong instead.

It appears that almost all actors are deliberately avoiding eye contact with Ferrell, as if they’re trying hard not to burst out laughing. In contrast, Seann William Scott couldn’t avoid it because he had lines to deliver with Ferrell. The sight of Ferrell was simply too funny for Horatio Sanz, whose shoulders were visibly shaking with laughter. When Ferrell asks, “What?”, Sanz just laughs even harder. Notably, there have been other instances where Ferrell’s SNL outfits left us in stitches.

He made SNL history with More Cowbell

One of the most iconic and hilarious Saturday Night Live skits ever, “More Cowbell,” owes a significant part of its fame to Will Ferrell’s performance. The sketch reaches its comedic peak when Ferrell enthusiastically plays the cowbell, causing his fellow cast members to erupt in laughter repeatedly. Jimmy Fallon is the first to succumb to laughter, followed closely by Chris Kattan, who manages to conceal his amusement behind his mustache, evident from his protruding lower lip. Even Ferrell himself can’t suppress his grin while delivering his impassioned speech, as he later revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “I was laughing too, but the beard hid it.

Remarkably, Chris Parnell maintains his professionalism, at least during filming. On Late Night with Seth Myers, Parnell confessed, “There was a moment when I knew the camera wasn’t on me, and I looked down at my guitar, and I smiled.” Similarly, Christopher Walken seems to keep a straight face throughout the skit, but it may have been easier for him since he could hide behind the door while Ferrell performed his cowbell routine. It’s also worth noting Horatio Sanz, whose face is visible during the crucial scene where Ferrell and Parnell’s characters reconcile. Briefly, the corner of his mouth twitches, hinting at a smile, but he manages to keep his cool, making him one of the few SNL cast members who didn’t break character in the cowbell sketch.

2025-04-27 17:32