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United States Will Forte is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer known for his extensive work in television and film, including his tenure on Saturday Night Live.
Forte's MacGruber character was featured in a series of commercials sponsored by Pepsi during Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. These short ads helped popularize the character before the movie's release.
Will Forte appeared in TV commercials for DirecTV, promoting their service with unlimited data from AT&T. In one ad, he suggests watching DirecTV to feel 'free'.
Olivia Modling, Forte's wife, worked in distribution and brand partnerships for SGE, an entertainment company.
Orville Willis Forte IV, known professionally as Will Forte, was born on June 17, 1970, in Alameda County, California, to artist Patricia (Stivers) and financial broker Orville Willis Forte III. Growing up in Moraga and later Lafayette, California, Forte displayed a creative and artistic nature, participating in football and swimming in high school and being voted “Best Personality.” After earning a degree in History from UCLA, he initially worked at a brokerage house before pursuing a career in comedy. He joined the renowned “Groundlings” improv troupe and started as a writer for programs like “The Jenny McCarthy Show,” “The Army Show,” and “Late Show with David Letterman.” His early writing career also included work on popular sitcoms such as “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “That ’70s Show.”
Forte gained significant public attention when he joined “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) in 2002 as both a writer and cast member, remaining with the show for eight seasons until 2010. During his time at SNL, he became known for his absurd and surrealist comedy, creating memorable characters like MacGruber. This character later spun off into a feature film, “MacGruber” (2010), which Forte co-wrote and starred in. After departing SNL, Forte expanded his career into diverse acting roles, including dramatic performances. He notably starred in Alexander Payne’s film “Nebraska” (2013), receiving critical acclaim. From 2015 to 2018, he created, wrote, and starred as the titular character in the sitcom “The Last Man on Earth,” earning multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work.
His career highlights also include extensive voice acting, with roles in films like “The Lego Movie” (2014) as Abraham Lincoln, the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” franchise, and “Scoob!” (2020) as Shaggy Rogers. Forte has continued to balance acting, writing, and producing across various projects, from recurring roles in TV shows like “30 Rock” to leading roles in “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” (2018) and “Bodkin” (2024). He remains a recognized figure in comedy and acting, known for his unique contributions to the entertainment industry.
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