| The comedic actor known the world over as Will | | | | where he began his freshmen year of college at the |
| Ferrell was actually born John William Ferrell and has | | | | University of Southern California (USC). At the |
| gone by his middle name for much of his life. Before | | | | conclusion of his time as a USC Trojan undergraduate |
| initially establishing his comedic personality in front of | | | | student Will Ferrell was given a diploma for his degree |
| a national audience on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in | | | | in Sports Information. While studying sports |
| the late 1990s Ferrell was born in Irvine, California | | | | broadcasting in college Will found time to enjoy the |
| where he would go on to grow up in Orange County, | | | | social aspects of college when he pledged and |
| CA. | | | | eventually became initiated into the Delta Tau Delta |
| The son of an elementary school teacher mother and | | | | fraternity, a frat whose name is commonly shortened |
| a guitarist father Will grew up in a somewhat unique | | | | to just Delta Tau. |
| environment as his father played guitar for the | | | | Upon graduating from USC in 1990 at the age of 22 |
| popular classic rock band The Righteous Brothers and | | | | Will wasted no time getting his comedy career in |
| the family lived in Orange County, California before | | | | gear as he transitioned from college student to |
| the area between Los Angeles and San Diego | | | | student of comedy improve. As a young USC |
| became nearly as populated as it is today. Despite | | | | Trojans alum Will joined a Southern California group |
| not growing up in a classic American setting Will had a | | | | of improvisation comics called The Groundlings. The |
| mostly normal upbringing while attending elementary, | | | | LA based group founded back in 1974 focuses on |
| middle, and high school all in Irvine, the city he was | | | | improv comedy and creates improvised scenes and |
| born in. A little known trivia fact about Will Ferrell is | | | | sketches. Notable alumni of the competitive program |
| that the now high profile USC football fan was once | | | | include a number of accomplished performers that in |
| the kicker on his high school varsity football team in | | | | addition to Will Ferrell include: Adam Carolla, Jimmy |
| his youth. | | | | Fallon, Will Forte, Kathy Griffin, Phil Hartman, Lisa |
| After graduating from University High School in Irvine | | | | Kudrow, Jon Lovitz, Mike Myers, and Conan O'Brien |
| Ferrell moved up the five freeway to Los Angeles | | | | among others. |