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Will Forte is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2002 to 2010. Forte's unique brand of comedy helped push the show towards more absurd, surrealist humour. One of his most memorable SNL sketches involved him kissing Darrell Hammond on the cheek twice while impersonating George W. Bush. Forte also created a recurring character, MacGruber, which later spun off into a movie and a streaming series.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Orville Willis Forte IV |
| Date of Birth | June 17, 1970 |
| Occupation | Comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer |
| Notable Works | MacGruber, Nebraska, The Last Man on Earth |
| SNL Tenure | 8 seasons, from 2002 to 2010 |
| Notable SNL Sketches | "Math whiz vs. history buff", "Jenjamin Franklin", "Weekend Update" |
| Celebrity Impressions | George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, John Edwards, Timothy Geithner, Newt Gingrich, etc. |
| Notable Collaborators | Jason Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels |
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What You'll Learn
Will Forte's celebrity impressions on SNL
Will Forte is an American comedian, actor, and producer, who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) for eight seasons, from 2002 to 2010. Forte's celebrity impressions on the show included George W. Bush, Zell Miller, Tom DeLay, John Edwards, Timothy Geithner, Newt Gingrich, Chad Lowe, Hu Jintao, Harry Reid, Brian Williams, and David Petraeus. Forte inherited the role of Bush from Will Ferrell, Chris Parnell, and Darrell Hammond. He also did impressions of fictional characters, such as Tim Calhoun, a robotic caricature of a generic southern candidate, and Clancy T. Bachleratt, a low-level weed dealer.
Forte's most memorable characters on SNL include Andy (the "Ohhhhhhhh, Noooooooo!" guy), MacGruber, and Ken Mortimer, a.k.a. The Falconer. MacGruber, a parody of MacGyver, became so popular that it spun off into a movie in 2010 and a streaming television series in 2021. Forte's other notable characters on the show include Greg Stink, Neil (from the Introverts), Lyle Kane, and Mark Zazz, the host of Kid Klash, a Nickelodeon-style game show.
Forte's humour on SNL has been described as bizarre, and he became known for many "10-to-1" sketches, which were considered odd and placed at the very end of the show. He often spent long hours crafting his sketches, missing deadlines, but his pieces were usually well-received at table reads. Forte's favourite sketch on the show was one in which he played a motivational coach alongside football star Peyton Manning.
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Will Forte's favourite sketches
Will Forte's favourite sketch on SNL was one in which he played a motivational coach alongside football star Peyton Manning. However, his best-known character on the show was MacGruber, a special operations agent who tries to deactivate a ticking bomb but gets distracted by personal issues. The sketch was based on the television series MacGyver and was created by writer Jorma Taccone. It first aired in January 2007 and later led to multiple segments, commercials, and a feature film in 2010. Forte's other memorable characters include Andy (the "Ohhhhhhhh, Noooooooo!" guy), Ken Mortimer (aka The Falconer), and Tim Calhoun. Forte was also known for his impressions of President George W. Bush, politician Zell Miller, and SNL's creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels.
Some of Forte's other notable sketches on SNL include "math whiz vs. history buff", the Potato Chip sketch, and the "third" sketch, in which he played a third wheel in a birthday threesome. Forte's unique brand of humour was often described as bizarre, and he became known for his "10-to-1" sketches, which were considered odd and placed at the very end of the show. His sketches were usually well-received, and he was known to spend long hours crafting them. Forte's first appearance on SNL was in the autumn of 2002, and he was a cast member for eight seasons until 2010.
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Will Forte's return to SNL
Will Forte is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2002 and remained on the show for eight seasons until 2010. Forte is known for his quirky and absurd brand of comedy, and he was responsible for moving the show towards more surrealist humor. He has created several memorable characters on SNL, including MacGruber, which spun off into a movie and a Peacock show, and Jon Bovi, a Bon Jovi opposite band with Jason Sudeikis. Forte has also made appearances on "Weekend Update," where he performed as a dorky basketball coach trying to inspire his team with an eccentric dance routine.
After leaving SNL, Forte returned to Los Angeles and continued to work in television and film. He had a recurring role on the series 30 Rock and made several guest appearances on other TV comedies. He also increased his work as a voice artist and appeared in films such as "A Good Old-Fashioned Orgy" (2011) and "Nebraska" (2013). In addition to his acting career, Forte has written several films, including "The Brothers Solomon" (2007) and "MacGruber" (2010).
Despite his success after SNL, Forte has always had a special connection to the show. He even returned to host SNL in 2022, more than a decade after leaving. This was a highly anticipated event for his fans, as Forte is considered a favorite among the SNL audience. Forte himself has expressed his love for the show, stating that his time on SNL is something he will always miss.
During his return to host SNL, Forte reprised some of his beloved characters, including MacGruber. He also showcased his unique brand of humor in new sketches, such as "math whiz vs. history buff" and the potato chip sketch. Forte's hosting gig received positive reviews, and many fans hoped for his return to the show in the future.
Will Forte's journey with SNL, from his initial audition to his eventual departure and subsequent return as a host, showcases his enduring impact on the show. His quirky humor and dedication to his craft have left a lasting impression on both his colleagues and the audience. Forte's return to SNL celebrated his iconic characters and reaffirmed his place in the show's history.
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Will Forte's experience on SNL
Will Forte is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer who joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2002. Forte was born on June 17, 1970, and obtained a history degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, before becoming a financial broker. He eventually decided to pursue a career in comedy and took classes with the improv group The Groundlings.
Forte's journey to SNL began when he moved from California to New York City in 2002. He joined the show as a writer and cast member, bringing his unique brand of absurd, surrealist comedy to the screen. Forte is known for his quirky and eccentric characters, such as MacGruber, which later spun off into a movie and a Peacock show, and Jon Bovi, a Bon Jovi opposite band with Jason Sudeikis. Forte's celebrity impressions on the show included George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, John Edwards, and Timothy Geithner, among others.
Forte's experience on SNL was transformative, and he described it as something he would never forget. He faced challenges, such as nearly being fired after his third season and struggling with OCD tendencies, but he also had memorable moments, like singing a song to his mother on a Mother's Day episode of SNL. Forte's time on the show lasted eight seasons, and he made a lasting impact with his unique brand of comedy.
Forte's dedication to his craft and his willingness to take risks with his strange and wonderful characters have earned him a special place in the hearts of fans and cast members alike. His return to host SNL in 2022, more than a decade after leaving, was highly anticipated and celebrated. Forte's influence on the show's move towards absurd comedy and his fan-favorite status have cemented his legacy in the world of SNL.
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Will Forte's other TV appearances
Will Forte is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Outside of his work on SNL, Forte has made several TV appearances. He has had a recurring role on the series 30 Rock, appearing as Jenna Maroney's cross-dressing boyfriend and secret onstage impersonator. Forte has also made numerous guest appearances on other TV comedies, including Conan, where he played TV mogul Ted Turner, and Gravity Falls, where he lent his voice to the animated series. Forte has also appeared as a guest performer on SNL after leaving the show in 2010 for personal and professional reasons.
Forte has also had cameo appearances in feature films, including Around the World in 80 Days (2004) opposite Jackie Chan and the gross-out comedy Beerfest (2006). He wrote, produced, and starred in the 2007 comedy The Brothers Solomon, which was a box-office and critical failure but has since gained a cult following. Forte has also lent his voice to animated films, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and The Lego Movie.
In 2013, Forte returned to more substantial film roles, playing a rival inventor to Bill Hader's Flint Lockwood in Cloud with a Chance of Meatballs 2, and appearing in Alexander Payne's black-and-white dramedy Nebraska, which gave him the opportunity to showcase his more serious side. Forte returned to television with The Last Man on Earth (2015), an oddball post-apocalyptic comedy he created and starred in as Phil Miller, the lone survivor of a plague that appears to have wiped out humanity. The series debuted to a strong critical response and earned Forte three Primetime Emmy Award nominations: two for acting and one for writing.
In 2021, Forte 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 landed a leading role in Disney and Pixar's first animated television series Win or Lose, which premiered on Disney+ in 2025. He has also been announced to star in the main role of Martin in Sunny Nights, which is set to be released in 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Forte was on SNL for eight seasons, from 2002 to 2010.
Will Forte played a dorky basketball coach on SNL.
Will Forte played many recurring characters on SNL, including MacGruber, Jon Bovi, and George W. Bush.
Yes, Will Forte was a writer on SNL and was responsible for moving the show towards absurd, surrealist comedy.
Yes, Will Forte hosted SNL in 2022, more than a decade after leaving the show.
