Will Forte Net Worth

Will Forte Net Worth: From ‘SNL’ to ‘The Last Man on Earth’

Will Forte, a celebrated actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter, has amassed a net worth of $14 million. His career spans from sketch comedy to critically acclaimed television series and memorable film roles. This article delves into the life and career of Will Forte, exploring his journey from an aspiring financial broker to a comedic powerhouse.

Early Life and Career

Orville Willis Forte IV, known professionally as Will Forte, was born on June 17, 1970, in Alameda, California. His upbringing in a creative household, with his mother, Patricia, an artist and former teacher, and his father, Orville Forte III, a financial broker, exposed him to diverse influences. Growing up in Moraga and later Lafayette, Forte developed a passion for comedy, idolizing comedic legends like Steve Martin and Peter Sellers. Initially, however, Forte pursued athletics, participating in football and swimming at Acalanes High School before earning a BA in History from UCLA.

After graduating, Forte briefly followed his father’s path into finance, working as a financial broker at Smith Barney Shearson in Beverly Hills. However, finding the work unfulfilling, he pivoted toward comedy and writing. This transition led him to take classes with the improvisational sketch comedy troupe, the Groundlings, and to tutor children to support himself. His early writing endeavors included creating the comic book “101 Things to Definitely Not Do If You Want to Get a Chick,” which eventually landed him his first professional writing job on “The Jenny McCarthy Show.” He also spent nine months writing for the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Returning to Los Angeles, he performed with the Groundlings’ Main Company. He gained experience writing for the short-lived sitcoms “The Army Show” and “Action” before securing writing roles on the more successful “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “That ’70s Show.”

“Saturday Night Live” (SNL)

In 2001, while performing with the Groundlings, Will Forte’s talent caught the eye of “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels. Invited to audition, Forte initially declined the offer, opting for the stability of “That ’70s Show.” However, he realized his mistake and joined the SNL cast the following year, after Will Ferrell departed. Initially, Forte struggled with stage fright and felt uncomfortable in some of the roles, including his impersonation of President George W. Bush. He nearly faced termination after his third season but eventually found his footing and became a popular cast member.

During his tenure on “SNL” from 2002 to 2010, Forte created and portrayed many memorable characters. Some of his famous characters included Jeff Montgomery, Tim Calhoun, Greg Stink, and the Falconer. He also became known for his celebrity impressions, including those of Peyton Manning, Tom DeLay, Newt Gingrich, Harry Reid, John Edward, Chad Lowe, and David Petraeus. His most iconic character, however, was MacGruber, a special operations agent whose attempts to defuse a ticking bomb were constantly derailed by personal issues. The popularity of the MacGruber sketch led to a feature film in 2010, the same year Forte left “SNL.”

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Further Television Career

After departing “SNL,” Forte continued to make his mark in television. He had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom “30 Rock,” playing the cross-dressing character Paul L’astnamé. He also made guest appearances on shows like “How I Met Your Mother,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “Up All Night.” Forte has lent his voice to various animated series, including “Sit Down, Shut Up,” “The Cleveland Show,” “American Dad!,” and “Allen Gregory.”

In 2012, he began voicing characters in two popular Disney XD animated series, “Gravity Falls” and “Lab Rats.” His voice acting work expanded to include shows like “Bob’s Burgers,” “The Awesomes,” “The Simpsons,” “Moonbeam City,” “Alien News Desk,” “The Great North,” “No Activity,” and “HouseBroken.”

In 2015, Forte took on what is arguably his most acclaimed post-“SNL” role, playing the main character Philip Tandy “Phil” Miller on the post-apocalyptic comedy series “The Last Man on Earth.” He also created, wrote, and executive produced the show, earning three Emmy Award nominations for his work. Additional television credits for Forte include the television films “7 Days in Hell” and “Tour de Pharmacy,” and the streaming series “Flipped,” “Sweet Tooth,” and “MacGruber.”

Film Career

Will Forte’s film career began with a small role in the 2004 remake of “Around the World in 80 Days.” He appeared in “Beerfest” in 2006. In 2007, he co-wrote and starred in “The Brothers Solomon,” which marked his first leading film role. Forte then took on supporting roles in comedies such as “Baby Mama,” “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men,” and “Fanboys.”

His voice acting talents were showcased in the animated film “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (2009), and he reprised his MacGruber character for a big-screen adaptation in 2010. Forte has appeared in numerous other comedy films, including “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy,” “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie,” “Rock of Ages,” “That’s My Boy,” and “The Watch.”

In 2013, Forte took on his first dramatic role in the romance film “Run & Jump.” He also appeared in “Life of Crime” that year. He received critical acclaim for his performance in Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska,” where he played the son of Bruce Dern’s character. In 2014, Forte voiced Abraham Lincoln in “The Lego Movie” and had a starring role in Peter Bogdanovich’s screwball comedy “She’s Funny That Way.” Some of Forte’s other film credits include “Don Verdean,” “Staten Island Summer,” “The Ridiculous 6,” “Keanu,” “A Futile and Stupid Gesture,” “Extra Ordinary,” “Booksmart,” “Good Boys,” “The Willoughbys,” and “Scoob!”

Personal Life and Real Estate

In 2015, Forte was in a relationship with January Jones, his co-star from “The Last Man on Earth.” Later, he met Olivia Modling, and they married. The couple welcomed a daughter, Zoe, in February 2021.

Forte has also made significant real estate investments. Two weeks prior to being hired by SNL, he purchased a bungalow in Santa Monica, California, for $850,000. The SNL job necessitated a move to New York, resulting in him living in the house only sparingly for around a decade. In September 2020, he listed the property for sale with an asking price of $2.5 million.

In January 2020, Forte invested $6.25 million in an oceanfront home in Carmel Highlands, California.

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