Editing Will Forte

{{Short description|American actor and comedian (born 1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Will Forte
| image              = Will Forte by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption            = Forte at the 2023 [[WonderCon]] in [[Anaheim, California]]
| birth_name         = Orville Willis Forte IV
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1970|6|17}}
| birth_place        = [[Alameda, California]], U.S.
| education          = [[University of California, Los Angeles]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|comedian|writer|producer}}
| years_active       = 1991–present
| spouse             = {{Marriage|Olivia Modling|2021}}
| children           = 2
}}
'''Orville Willis Forte IV''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɔːr|t|eɪ}} {{respell|FOR|tay}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsn0bt_2Zjk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/rsn0bt_2Zjk |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |url-status=live |title=Random Object Jingles with Will Forte |website=[[YouTube]] |date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=February 4, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> born June 17, 1970<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Celebrity birthdays for the week of June 11–17 |url=https://apnews.com/article/celebrity-birthdays-29edc83c7a808a70fa3db6d13b5b26a9 |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. <!-- only add most notable occupations here per MOS:ROLEBIO --> He was a cast member and writer on the [[NBC]] [[sketch comedy]] series ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' for eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. During his time on the show, he played a recurring character that led to a feature film adaptation, ''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]'' (2010), and a streaming [[MacGruber (TV series)|limited series]] in 2021. Forte also created and starred in the sitcom ''[[The Last Man on Earth (TV series)|The Last Man on Earth]]'' (2015–2018). For the series, he received three [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations: two for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series|acting]] and one for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series|writing]].

After obtaining a history degree from the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] and becoming a financial broker like his father, Forte changed his career path to comedy and took classes with the improv group [[The Groundlings]]. He worked as a writer and producer on ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]'' and ''[[That '70s Show]]'', before joining ''Saturday Night Live''. Forte played various roles in comedy films, before starring in the drama film ''[[Nebraska (film)|Nebraska]]'' (2013). He has provided voice-work for the [[Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (franchise)|''Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'' films]] (2009–2013), ''[[My Life as a Courgette]]'', ''[[Get Squirrely]]'' (2016), ''Luis & the Aliens'' (2018), ''[[The Willoughbys]]'' and ''[[Scoob!]]'' (2020), also voicing Eddy in [[Disney XD]]'s ''[[Lab Rats (American TV series)|Lab Rats]]'', and [[Abraham Lincoln]] in ''[[Clone High]]'' (2002–2003, 2023–2024), [[The Lego Movie (franchise)|''The Lego Movie'' films]] (2014–2019), ''Michelangelo and Lincoln: History Cops'' (2014), ''[[America: The Motion Picture]]'' (2021), ''[[Scott Pilgrim Takes Off]]'' (2023) and ''[[Sausage Party: Foodtopia]]'' (2024–present).

==Early life==
Orville Willis Forte IV<ref name="people/8646635">{{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}}</ref><ref name="millionaire">{{cite AV media |date=April 8, 2020 |title=[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)|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."</ref> was born in [[Alameda, California]], on June 17, 1970.<ref name="sfexaminer">{{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...}}</ref> The son of artist and former schoolteacher Patricia<ref name="vf"/> and financial broker Orville Willis "Reb" Forte III.<ref name="millionaire"/><ref name="people/8646635"/> He grew up in [[Moraga, California|Moraga]] before moving to [[Lafayette, California|Lafayette]] at age 13.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref name="diablo"/> Forte described himself as having been a "really happy little boy" whose parents were "wonderful" and created a "very loving environment".<ref name="wtf">{{cite video |people=[[Marc Maron|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}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref name="vulture"/> He often pulled pranks on his parents,<ref name="vulture"/> and would record himself performing imaginary radio shows. He did not aim to be a comedian, but initially wanted to become a [[American football|football]] player.<ref name="wtf"/>

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.<ref name="diablo"/><ref name="youtube/flqQzCsP1Y4">
*David Nadelberg, ''[https://getmortified.com/watch/sessions/ The Mortified Sessions]'' (2011-2012), TV interview (Dec 13, 2011), [[Sundance TV|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.}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bruinslca.com/?page_id=43|title=Alumni|publisher=Lambda Chi Alpha at UCLA|access-date=September 2, 2013}}</ref> Forte wanted to become a financial broker like his father at [[Smith Barney Shearson]], but felt "miserable" there.<ref name="diablo"/> He co-wrote a feature-length script while there,<ref name="wtf"/> and later said that he discovered he loved writing "more than anything [he] had ever done in [his] life".<ref name="diablo"/> He had been encouraged to attempt comedy during his years at university, and he decided to change his career path to do so.<ref name="beast"/>

==Career==
[[File:Will Forte 2011 Shankbone.JPG|thumb|180px|left|Forte at the 2011 [[Tribeca Festival]] in Manhattan, New York]]
Forte began taking classes at [[The Groundlings]] in [[Los Angeles]], an [[Improvisational theatre|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.<ref name="vulture"/> The comics landed him his first professional job writing for ''[[The Jenny McCarthy Show (1997)|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.<ref name="vulture"/> 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.<ref name="huff"/> "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."<ref name="fast">{{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 (magazine)|Fast Company]]|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="wtf" /> He tried [[stand-up comedy]] three times, mostly at open mic nights, but quit after being voted into the Main Company.<ref name="wtf" /> He joined the writing teams of two failed sitcoms, including ''[[The Army Show]]'' and ''[[Action (TV series)|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.<ref name="wtf"/> 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.<ref name="wtf"/> He was invited to audition for ''SNL'', which he regarded as unexpected.<ref name="huff"/>

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 (singer)|Michael McDonald]] and actor [[Martin Sheen]].<ref name="wtf"/> 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.<ref name="huff"/> He felt his time to shine as a performer was already over, as he was in his thirties when he auditioned.<ref name="diablo">{{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}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="vulture2">{{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 (blog)|Vulture]]|publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=May 1, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref name="fast"/><ref name="grantland"/>

After [[Will Ferrell]] left ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' the following spring, Forte joined the cast, premiering at the beginning of the show's [[Saturday Night Live (season 28)|twenty-eighth season]] in the autumn. He was promoted to repertory player after his first year.<ref name="beast"/> His early years on the program were characterized by [[stage fright]] and an inability to properly interpret sketches that he did not write himself.<ref name="grantland"/> 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.<ref name="fast"/> 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.<ref name="av2010">{{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}}</ref> 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 ([[Saturday Night Live (season 30)|2004–05]]), but after two three-week extensions to decide his fate, he was brought back.<ref name="grantland"/> 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 (2004 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]''.<ref>{{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 (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=November 13, 2017|date=June 15, 2004}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = "I've always liked weirder stuff. My main thing on ''SNL'' was that I was never gonna change my sensibility to get on TV—I was just gonna write what I liked writing and hopefully have a hit on that show somewhere."
| source =—Forte on his tenure at ''SNL''<ref name="fast"/> 
| width= 30em
| bgcolor= transparent
| align= right
| salign= right
}}

His humor at ''SNL'' has been described as bizarre,<ref name="huff"/> 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]], [[Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 2009–2010#Pete Twinkle and Greg Stink|Greg Stink]], and [[Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 2002–2003#The Falconer|the Falconer]]. Forte's favorite sketch on the show was one in which he played a motivational coach alongside football star [[Peyton Manning]].<ref name="beast"/> He also co-starred with [[Andy Samberg]] in the first [[SNL Digital Short|''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 read]]s.<ref name="vulture2"/><ref name="grantland"/> 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 Productions|Carsey-Werner]], and its creation was an extension of his agreement to terminate his contract to appear on ''SNL''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]''. It was created by writer [[Jorma Taccone]], who relentlessly pitched the idea to Forte.<ref name="av2010"/> He was initially reluctant to commit to the sketch, deeming it too dumb, but accepted after persuasion from Taccone.<ref name="pop"/> 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.<ref name="pop">{{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}}</ref> After the success of the advertisements, creator [[Lorne Michaels]] approached Forte, Taccone, and writer John Solomon with the idea to produce a ''MacGruber'' film.<ref name="cb">{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="snl-china">{{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}}</ref>

In the summer of 2009, ''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]'' was shot on a tight schedule for four weeks in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]].<ref name="pop"/><ref name="cs">{{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}}</ref> It was written while simultaneously producing the weekly episode of ''SNL'', and the show's [[Saturday Night Live#Production|production process]] left the trio deprived of sleep.<ref name="time">{{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 (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=April 13, 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref name="av2010"/>}} The film was released in May 2010 and received mixed reviews.<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|macGruber|MacGruber}}</ref> It fared worse at the box office, where it failed to recoup its budget and was pulled from theaters after its third week.<ref name="parade">{{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 (magazine)|Parade]] |date=July 19, 2010}}</ref> 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."<ref name="grantland"/> The film has since seen more of a positive reception and has been dubbed a [[cult classic]].<ref name="iw">{{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}}</ref><ref name="yh">{{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}}</ref>
[[File:Will Forte, Chris Miller & Phil Lord by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|alt=Three men sit at a table at a convention.|right|Forte alongside [[Phil Lord and Christopher Miller]] at WonderCon 2015]]

Forte left ''Saturday Night Live'' shortly before the beginning of the show's [[Saturday Night Live (season 36)|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.<ref name="beast"/> 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.<ref name="vulture"/> He assumed his shot at a film career was ruined,<ref name="grantland">{{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}}</ref> and he imagined that if acting did not work out, he would return to mostly writing.<ref name="vulture">{{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 (blog)|Vulture]]|publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=May 5, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> Afterwards he entered what he has called a "lost period"<ref name="huff"/> and had small supporting roles, such as ''[[Rock of Ages (2012 film)|Rock of Ages]]'', ''[[That's My Boy (2012 film)|That's My Boy]],'' and ''[[The Watch (2012 film)|The Watch]]'', none of which were successes.<ref name="huff"/> The only commercial successful film which he worked on was ''[[Grown Ups 2]]'', where he made a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] as a male cheerleader.<ref name="huff"/> He also took a role as [[List of 30 Rock characters#Paul L'astnamé (Mr. Jenna Maroney)|Paul L'astnamé]], the cross-dressing boyfriend of [[Jenna Maroney]] on the critically acclaimed sitcom ''[[30 Rock]]''.<ref name="huff"/>

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.<ref name="beast">{{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}}</ref> Later, he sent an audition tape to [[Alexander Payne]] for a role in his next film, ''[[Nebraska (film)|Nebraska]]''.<ref name="beast"/> 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.<ref name="huff">{{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]]}}</ref> 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."<ref name="fast"/>

Forte began working on ''[[The Last Man on Earth (TV series)|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 [[Film treatment|treatment]] over a weekend. The series was [[Pitch (filmmaking)|pitched]] around [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] to positive responses and was picked up in 2014 by [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]].<ref name="nyt1">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="fast"/> 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.<ref name="vulture1">{{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 (blog)|Vulture]]|publisher=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=March 2, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> The series premiered in 2015 to positive responses,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and was renewed for three further seasons.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2016, Forte played Hulka, a low-level weed dealer, in the comedy ''[[Keanu (film)|Keanu]]'', starring [[Jordan Peele]] and [[Keegan-Michael Key]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2018, he played ''[[National Lampoon (magazine)|National Lampoon]]'' magazine co-founder [[Douglas Kenney]] in the [[Netflix]] biographical film ''[[A Futile and Stupid Gesture (film)|A Futile and Stupid Gesture]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The film was directed by [[David Wain]] and features [[Domhnall Gleeson]] as co-founder [[Henry Beard]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Forte voiced [[Shaggy Rogers]] in the ''[[Scooby-Doo]]'' film ''[[Scoob!]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2021, Forte starred in ''[[Sweet Tooth (TV series)|Sweet Tooth]]'', reprised his role as MacGruber in a [[MacGruber (TV series)|TV series]] on [[Peacock (streaming service)|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 (TV series)|Win or Lose]]''. It premiered on Disney+ in 2025.<ref name="ForteWoL">{{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 Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Forte dated his ''Last Man on Earth'' co-star [[January Jones]] in 2015.<ref name="Engaged">{{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}}</ref> He and Olivia Modling were engaged in 2019; they met in 2018.<ref name="Engaged" /> They have two daughters, Zoe Douglas Forte, born in February 2021, and Cecilia, born approximately 18 months later.<ref name="people/8646635"/> He and Modling married on 31 July 2021 while making ''[[MacGruber]]'' "in the back of [[Jorma Taccone]]'s house", in [[New Mexico]].<ref>{{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 (magazine)|People]] |date=December 8, 2021 |accessdate=December 9, 2021}}</ref> They live in a modestly sized Craftsman home in [[Santa Monica, California]].<ref name="yahoo/174327555"/><ref name="latimes/2020-09-19/monica-craftsman"/> Forte bought the home in 2002,<ref name="yahoo/174327555">{{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}}</ref><ref name="latimes/2020-09-19/monica-craftsman">{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref name="vf" />

Forte's mother, Patricia, has visited every film set on which he has worked and made an appearance on a [[Mother's Day (United States)|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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

Will Forte has discussed and joked about his [[obsessive–compulsive disorder|OCD]] tendencies.<ref name= bother>{{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}}</ref><ref name="vf">{{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 (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=April 2015 |access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> He recounted listening to only one song in his office at ''SNL'' for an entire year because he wanted to challenge himself.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref><ref name="ryan20110525">{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref name= bother />

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 (1981 video game)|Donkey Kong]]''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Filmography==
<!--DO NOT USE ROWSPANS PER WP:FILMOGRAPHY-->

===Film===
{| 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 (2004 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]''
| Young Bobby
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Beerfest]]''
| Otto
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Brothers Solomon]]''
| Dean Solomon
| Also writer
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Baby Mama (film)|Baby Mama]]''
| Scott
|
|-
| rowspan="5"|2009
| ''[[The Slammin' Salmon]]''
| Horace the Lone Diner
| Cameo
|-
| ''[[Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (film)|Brief Interviews with Hideous Men]]''
| Subject #72
|
|-
| ''Dry Cleaner''
| Stefan Gucci
|
|-
| ''[[Fanboys (film)|Fanboys]]''
| THX Security Guard #4
|
|-
| ''[[Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (film)|Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs]]''
| Joe Towne (voice)
|<ref name="btva">{{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.</ref>
|-
| 2010
| ''[[MacGruber (film)|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 (2012 film)|Rock of Ages]]''
| Mitch Miley
|
|-
| ''[[That's My Boy (2012 film)|That's My Boy]]''
| Phil
|
|-
| ''[[The Watch (2012 film)|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)
|<ref name="EW">{{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]]}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Life of Crime (film)|Life of Crime]]''
| Marshall Taylor
|
|-
| ''[[Nebraska (film)|Nebraska]]''
| David Grant
|
|-
| rowspan="4"|2014
| ''[[The Lego Movie]]''
| [[Abraham Lincoln]] (voice)
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[22 Jump Street]]''
| Football Announcer (voice)
| Uncredited
|-
| ''Michelangelo and Lincoln: History Cops''
| Abraham Lincoln (voice)
| Short film
|-
| ''[[She's Funny That Way (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)
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="2"|2016
| ''[[Keanu (film)|Keanu]]''
| Hulka
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[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 (film)|A Futile and Stupid Gesture]]''
| [[Doug Kenney]]
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Luis and the Aliens]]''
| Nag (voice)
| English dub
|-
| rowspan="5"|2019
| ''[[The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part]]''
| Abraham Lincoln (voice)
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Extra Ordinary (film)|Extra Ordinary]]''
| Christian Winter
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Booksmart]]''
| Doug Antsler
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Good Boys (film)|Good Boys]]''
| Andrew Newman (Max's Dad)
|
|-
| ''[[The Laundromat (2019 film)|The Laundromat]]''
| Doomed Gringo #1
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4"|2020
| ''[[The Willoughbys]]''
| Tim Willoughby (voice)
|<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics]]''
| Himself
| Documentary
|-
| ''[[Scoob!]]''
| [[Shaggy Rogers]] (voice)
|<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Drunk Bus]]''
| Fred
| Uncredited
|-
| 2021
| ''[[America: The Motion Picture]]''
| Abraham Lincoln (voice)
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="2"|2022
| ''[[Studio 666]]''
| Restaurant Delivery Guy (Darren Sandelbaum)
|
|-
| ''[[Weird: The Al Yankovic Story]]''
| [[Ben Scotti]]
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|2023
| ''[[Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken]]''
| Captain Gordon Lighthouse (voice)
|<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Strays (2023 film)|Strays]]''
| Doug
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Thelma the Unicorn]]''
| Otis (voice)
| <ref>{{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 (website)|Collider]]}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Kinda Pregnant]]''
| Josh Lewis
|<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|-
| 2026
|style="background:#FFFFCC;"|''[[Coyote vs. Acme]]'' {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}}
| Kevin Avery
| Completed<ref>{{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]]}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''
| Snow Shovel Murder Victim (uncredited)
| Episode: "Robert Pastorelli/Craig Kilborn/Live"; also writer
|-
| 2002–2010
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Various roles
| 157 episodes
|-
| 2002–2024
| ''[[Clone High]]''
| Abe Lincoln (voice)
| 33 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|2006
| ''[[Campus Ladies]]''
| Stuart
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Drawn Together]]''
| [[Kirk Cameron]] (voice)
| Episode: "Lost in Parking Space: Part One"
|-
| ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]''
| Alien (voice)
| Episode: "Antenna"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2007
| ''[[Flight of the Conchords (TV series)|Flight of the Conchords]]''
| Ben
| Episode: "[[The Actor (Flight of the Conchords)|The Actor]]"
|-
| ''[[Tim and Eric Nite Live!]]''
| Emanuel Melly
| Episode #1.5
|-
| 2007, 2010–2012
| ''[[30 Rock]]''
| Tomas, Paul L'astnamé
| 13 episodes 
|-
| 2007–2010
| ''[[Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!]]''
| Various roles
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Young Person's Guide to History]]''
| [[Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon|Comte de Buffon the Frenchman]]
| Episode #1.1
|-
| 2008, 2010
| ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]''
| Randy Wharmpess
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Sit Down, Shut Up (2009 TV series)|Sit Down, Shut Up]]''
| Stuart Proszakian (voice)
| 13 episodes
|-
| 2009–2013
| ''[[The Cleveland Show]]''
| Principal Wally Farquhare, Various voices
| 22 episodes
|-
| 2009–2025
| ''[[American Dad!]]''
| Various voices
| 8 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4"|2010
| ''[[The Life & Times of Tim]]''
| Chipper (voice)
| Episode: "Unjustly Neglected Drama"
|-
| ''[[WWE Raw]]''
| MacGruber
| 1 episode
|-
| ''[[Funny or Die Presents]]''
| Cast (Scott & Behr), Sleeping Celebrity
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Squidbillies]]''
| Tom Treebow
| Episode: "Lean Green Touchdown Makifying Machine"
|-
| 2010–2013
| ''[[Conan (talk show)|Conan]]''
| [[Ted Turner]]
| 14 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2011
| ''[[Parks and Recreation]]''
| Kelly Larson
| Episode: "Time Capsule"
|-
|''[[Allen Gregory]]''
| Ian, Stuart Rossmyre, Sid Lampis (voice)
| 7 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="2"|2011–2012
| ''[[Up All Night (TV series)|Up All Night]]''
| Reed
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil]]''
| Gordon "Gordie" Gibble (voice)
| 7 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2011–2015
| ''[[The League]]''
| Chuck
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2012–2013
| ''[[Comedy Bang! Bang! (TV series)|Comedy Bang! Bang!]]''
| Chet Barnsider, Felix Dewhurst
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2012–2015
| ''[[Lab Rats (American TV series)|Lab Rats]]''
| Eddy (voice), Human Eddy
| 20 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2012–2016
| ''[[Gravity Falls]]''
| Tyler Cutebiker (voice)
| 13 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Drunk History]]''
| [[Edwin Booth]]
| Episode: "Washington D.C."
|-
| 2013–2014
| ''[[Kroll Show]]''
| Various roles
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2013–2024
| ''[[Bob's Burgers]]''
| Kurt, Mr. Grant (voice)
| 9 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2014–2015
| ''[[The Awesomes]]''
| Malocchio Jr. (voice)
| 10 episodes
|-
| 2014–2022
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| King Toot (voice)
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2015
| ''[[7 Days in Hell]]''
| Sandy Pickard
| [[Television film]]
|-
| ''[[Moonbeam City]]''
| Rad Cunningham (voice)
| 10 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2015–2018
| ''[[The Last Man on Earth (TV series)|The Last Man on Earth]]''
| Philip Tandy "Phil" Miller
| 65 episodes; also creator, writer and executive producer
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Maya & Marty]]''
| Various
| Episode: "Will Forte, Amy Poehler and Jerry Seinfeld"
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017
| ''[[Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special]]''
| Michael Fulton
| Variety special
|-
| ''[[Tour de Pharmacy]]''
| Police Officer
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories]]''
| Will
| Episode: "The Demotion"
|-
| rowspan="3"|2019
| ''[[Future Man (TV series)|Future Man]]''
| CASSIN-E (voice)
| Episode: "The I of the Tiger"
|-
| ''[[Alien News Desk]]''
| Drexx Drudlarr (voice)
| 12 episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/syfy-alien-news-desk-animated-late-night-series-snl-team-will-forte-heidi-gardner-original-animation-push-lorne-michaels-1202500132/|title=Syfy Orders 'Alien News Desk' Series From 'SNL' Team In Original Animation Push|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=November 15, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/alien-news-desk|title=Alien News Desk – Show|website=Syfy|date=December 14, 2018 |access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402202009/https://www.syfy.com/alien-news-desk|archive-date=April 2, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Crank Yankers]]''
| Himself (voice)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2019, 2023
| ''[[I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson]]''
| Old Man on Plane / The Ponytail Guy
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4"|2020
| ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire]]''
| Himself
| Contestant; 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[The Shivering Truth]]''
| (voice)
| Episode: "Holeways"
|-
| ''[[Flipped (TV series)|Flipped]]''
| Jann Melfi
| 11 episodes
|-
| ''[[Hoops (TV series)|Hoops]]''
| Dawa (voice)
| Episode: "Zen"
|-
| 2020–2022
| ''[[Late Night with Seth Meyers]]''
| Sea Captain (voice)
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="3"|2021
| ''[[No Activity (American TV series)|No Activity]]''
| Dirk (voice)
| 7 episodes
|-
| ''[[Chicago Party Aunt]]''
| (voice)
| Episode: "Emergency Contact"
|-
| ''[[MacGruber (TV series)|MacGruber]]''
| [[MacGruber]]
| Main role; executive producer
|-
| 2021–2024
| ''[[Sweet Tooth (TV series)|Sweet Tooth]]''
| Pubba
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2021–present
| ''[[The Great North]]''
| Wolf Tobin (voice)
| Main role; 81 episodes
|-
| 2021–2023
| ''[[HouseBroken]]''
| Shel (voice)
| Main role
|-
| rowspan="2"|2022
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Himself (host)
| Episode: "Will Forte/[[Måneskin]]"
|-
| ''[[The Afterparty (TV series)|The Afterparty]]''
| Himself
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2022, 2025
| ''[[Studio C]]''
| Himself
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2022
| ''[[The Kids in the Hall (TV series)|The Kids in the Hall]]''
| Aaron 
| Episode 4
|-
| ''[[Rick and Morty]]''
| Eugene Piss, Pissmaster (voice)
| Episode: "Analyze Piss"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2023
| ''[[Scott Pilgrim Takes Off]]''
| Old Scott Pilgrim (voice)
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Krapopolis]]''
| Pants Guy (voice)
| Episode: "Dungeons and Deliria"
|-
| rowspan="4"|2024
| ''[[Bodkin (TV series)|Bodkin]]''
| Gilbert Power
| Main role<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2022-06-17 |title=Will Forte To Star In ''Bodkin'' Drama Series At Netflix From The Obamas' Higher Ground & Wiip |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/will-forte-bodkin-drama-series-netflix-obamas-higher-ground-wiip-1235047707/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[That '90s Show]]''
| Kiefer
|Episode: "I Can See Clearly Now"
|-
| ''[[Sausage Party: Foodtopia]]''
| Jack (voice)
| Main role<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=2022-10-26 |title=''Sausage Party'' TV Series from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg Ordered by Amazon |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sausage-party-tv-series-1235249055/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Gremlins (TV series)|Gremlins: The Wild Batch]]'' 
| Warden of Alcatraz (voice)
| 2 episodes<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |date=July 26, 2024 |title=''Gremlins: The Wild Batch'' Adds Simu Liu as Series Regular, Sets Season 2 Premiere Date |url=https://www.thewrap.com/gremlins-the-wild-batch-season-2-simu-liu-max/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726230806/https://www.thewrap.com/gremlins-the-wild-batch-season-2-simu-liu-max/ |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |access-date=July 27, 2024 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|2025
| ''[[Win or Lose (TV series)|Win or Lose]]''
| Coach Dan (voice)
| Main cast<ref name=ForteWoL/><ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[The Four Seasons (TV series)|The Four Seasons]]''
| Jack
| Miniseries
|-
|TBA
|''[[Sunny Nights]]''
|Martin
|Upcoming series<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |date=2024-07-10 |title=Will Forte & D'Arcy Carden To Lead Stan's Dark Comedy-Drama ''Sunny Nights'' From Trent O'Donnell, Jungle Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment & Cineflix Rights |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/will-forte-darcy-carden-sunny-nights-stan-trent-o-donnell-1236005748/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

===Music videos===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Artist
! Ref.
|-
 |2013
 |"[[Hopeless Wanderer]]"
 |[[Mumford & Sons]]
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicblogged.com/mumford-and-sons-release-hilarious-hopeless-wanderer-video/ |title=Mumford and Sons release hilarious Hopeless Wanderer video |website=Music Blogged |date=August 4, 2013 |access-date=August 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830184430/http://www.musicblogged.com/mumford-and-sons-release-hilarious-hopeless-wanderer-video/ |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
 |2022
 |"Past Life"
 |[[Arkells]]
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/arkells_team_up_with_cold_war_kids_and_will_forte_for_80s_pop_anthem_past_life/ |title=Arkells Team Up with Cold War Kids and Will Forte for 80s Pop Anthem Past Life |website=Exclaim |date=May 12, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Voice role
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned]]''
| Martin Serious
|}

===Web===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Kevin Pollak's Chat Show]]''
| Himself/Guest
| Episode: "210"
|}

==Crew work==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Position
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Jenny McCarthy Show (1997 TV series)|The Jenny McCarthy Show]]''
| Writer
|-
| 1997–1998
| ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''
| Writer
|-
| 1998
| ''[[The Army Show]]''
| Writer
|-
| 1999–2000
| ''[[Action (TV series)|Action]]''
| Writer 
|-
| 1999–2001
| ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]''
| Writer
|-
| 2000
| ''[[God, the Devil and Bob]]''
| Writer
|-
| 2001–2003
| ''[[That '70s Show]]''
| Writer and producer
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Brothers Solomon]]''
| Writer
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Extreme Movie]]''
| Writer
|-
| 2010
| ''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]''
| Writer
|-
| 2015–2018
| ''[[The Last Man on Earth (TV series)|The Last Man on Earth]]''
| Creator, writer and executive producer
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Alien News Desk]]''
| Consulting producer
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Title
! Result
|-
| 1998
| rowspan="2" | [[Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series|Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series]]
| ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2013
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]]
| ''[[30 Rock]]: "My Whole Life Is Thunder"''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Razzie Award]]
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Ensemble|Worst Screen Ensemble]] (shared with the entire cast)
| ''[[That's My Boy (2012 film)|That's My Boy]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association|St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award]]
| [[St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| rowspan="6" | ''[[Nebraska (film)|Nebraska]]''
| Runner-up
|-
| [[San Francisco Film Critics Circle|San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award]]
| Best Supporting Actor
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review|National Board of Review Award]]
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Village Voice Film Poll|Village Voice Film Poll Award]]
| Best Supporting Actor
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| [[American Comedy Awards|American Comedy Award]]
| Supporting Comedy Actor - Film
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Independent Spirit Award]]
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male|Best Supporting Male]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2015
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series|Best Actor in a Comedy Series]]
| ''[[The Last Man on Earth (TV series)|The Last Man on Earth]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series]]
| rowspan="5" | ''The Last Man on Earth''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2016
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series|Best Actor in a Comedy Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2021
| [[Critics' Choice Super Awards|Critics' Choice Super Award]]
| Best Voice Actor in an Animated Movie
| ''[[The Willoughbys]]''
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{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}}

==External links==
{{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=[[Shaggy Rogers|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}}
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