Will Ferrell on Why His Real Name Caused Him So Much Embarrassment as a Child: ‘Painful’
Will Ferrell has revealed why his real name caused so much shame as a child.
The legendary comedic actor, 56, was born John William Ferrell, but was called “Will” by his parents throughout his childhood.
But the memory of the awkward way he had to correct his teachers on the first day of school has stayed with Ferrell to this day.
During an appearance on Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s podcast MessyFerrell revealed how difficult it was for him to tell his teachers that his name was always “Will” when his legal name was called during roll call.
“This is a small thing in terms of — it’s not even really a trauma — but I remember being so embarrassed because my real name is John, John William Ferrell, so on the first day of school I was going to be called John,” the actor, who stars in the upcoming film You’re Cordially Invited, explained.
‘The teacher would say, “John Ferrell?” and I was so embarrassed to have to say, “Here, but I call myself Will, I don’t call myself John.”‘
Will Ferrell has opened up about why his real name caused him so much shame as a child; photo 2023
The name issue was expected to continue for the remainder of the first week, which Ferrell called “painful.”
“The first week of school, it took a week for the teacher to remember, ‘That’s right, you’re Will.’ And that was horrible,” he explained. “So the beginning of the school year was always like, ‘Oh my god, I hate this. I have to remind the teacher that I’m not John.'”
“It wasn’t my choice,” Ferrell said when Sigler asked him why he didn’t like the name John. “My parents named him [me] John, but they called me Will. I grew up as Will, but on a rule sheet my legal name is John Ferrell.’
Ferrell couldn’t pinpoint exactly why he found it so embarrassing, but the memory clearly stuck with him.
“I don’t know why it was so embarrassing for me to have to explain, ‘I’m actually Will,’” he recalls.
“People will probably listen to this and think, ‘That’s really ridiculous,’” Ferrell added.
“We just lost someone named John,” Applegate replied.
During the interview, Ferrell also brought up his 2004 comedy Anchorman, in which he starred opposite Applegate.
A young Ferrell in an undated yearbook photo
Ferrell also praised Christina Applegate’s portrayal of news anchor Veronica Corningstone in Anchorman (pictured in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues)
Ferrell praised Applegate’s portrayal of news anchor Veronica Corningstone, saying, “At the end of the day, Christina just ticked all the boxes: funny, smart, tough. We needed Veronica to take on these idiots, and she was the smartest person in the room.”
Fans can currently see the legendary actor in the new animated film Despicable Me 4.
In addition to his career in show business, Ferrell is also a father of three children. Together with his wife Viveca Paulin, he has sons: Magnus (20), Mattias (17) and Axel (14). He has been married for almost 24 years.
The actor has spoken openly about parenthood in recent years.
Speaking about raising boys, he said People back in 2017: ‘It’s usually busy at home.
Ferrell with his mother Betty Kay Overman, his wife Viveca Paulin and two of their three sons, Magnus and Axel at the premiere of Despicable Me 4
“Whether they’re having a great time or going completely crazy, they’re always screaming.”
He also joked about the simple way they like to throw parties.
“We’re in the era of birthday parties with a going-away present and a bouncy castle and jugglers and a live camel,” he said. “My wife and I are going the other way.”
‘We’re like, “Guess what? We’re going to have a party in the garden. We’re going to run around and at some point, cake is going to come out. “Do I get a going-away gift?” Yeah, a handshake.’
