Will Forte: Biography, Career, and the Val Kilmer Roommate Story

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have Val Kilmer as a roommate, comedian Will Forte has the answer. It turns out the MacGruber star once shared his home with the Hollywood legend for two and a half months — a living situation Forte compared to The Odd Couple.

Full Name: Orville Willis Forte IV ·
Born: June 17, 1970 (age 54) ·
Occupation: Actor, comedian, writer, producer ·
Years Active: 1997–present ·
Known For: Saturday Night Live, The Last Man on Earth, MacGruber ·
Notable Co-Star: Val Kilmer (former roommate)

Nine key facts, one pattern: Forte’s life is a mix of public comedy and private intrigue — a man who made millions laugh but kept his personal cards close to his chest.

The snapshot below captures the core biographical data.

What is Will Forte most famous for?

His breakthrough on Saturday Night Live

• Forte joined SNL as a writer in 2002 and became a featured player the same year (TV Insider biography).
• He remained on the show until 2010, contributing to iconic sketches and earning a reputation for offbeat characters (IMDB career summary).

The implication: SNL gave Forte the launchpad, but his weirdest creation — MacGruber — would define his next decade.

Creating MacGruber

• The character MacGruber, a parody of MacGyver, debuted on SNL and became a recurring sketch (TV Insider).
• A feature film MacGruber was released in 2010, co-starring Val Kilmer as the villain Dieter von Cunth (TV Insider).

Why this matters: The MacGruber movie was a box-office flop but became a cult classic, and it was the project that brought Forte and Kilmer together.

Starring in The Last Man on Earth

• Forte created and starred in the Fox sitcom The Last Man on Earth from 2015 to 2018 (IMDB series page).
• He played Phil Miller, a survivor of a global pandemic, and the show ran for four seasons (IMDB).

The pattern: Forte’s career shows a willingness to bet on his own bizarre ideas — and sometimes those bets pay off in cult followings, not ratings.

Who is married to Will Forte?

Current marital status

• Will Forte is not married (TV Insider).
• He has no children and no public record of a spouse (TV Insider).

Past relationships

• Forte has been linked to a few women over the years, but no confirmed long-term relationship has been publicized (TV Insider).
• He has kept his romantic life extremely private, never confirming a partner in interviews.

The catch: The same man who invented a clueless action-hero is also a master of keeping his own love life off the record.

Why did Val Kilmer live with Will Forte?

The shared living arrangement

• After filming MacGruber, Val Kilmer asked Forte if he could stay temporarily while looking for a new home in Malibu (TheWrap interview).
• Kilmer ended up staying for about two and a half months (CNN report).
• Forte recalled Kilmer’s assistant arriving with two large duffel bags of books on the first day.

Their friendship

• Forte described Kilmer as “the most interesting person in the world” (CNN).
• He said he “settled for being his roommate” in a Vulture remembrance (Vulture).
• Forte compared their living situation to The Odd Couple (The Daily Beast).
• They even considered competing together on The Amazing Race — but their agents reportedly weren’t supportive (Vulture factoids).

What this means: Forte’s willingness to let a larger-than-life character like Kilmer into his home created one of the most human stories in Hollywood — a genuine friendship that transcended the usual showbiz transactional relationships.

What ethnicity is Will Forte?

Ancestry

• Will Forte is of English, Scottish, and German descent (Wikipedia).
• His family roots trace back to European immigration, but he was born and raised in California.

Family background

• Forte’s father was a high school teacher and his mother a homemaker (Wikipedia).
• He grew up in a middle-class household in Alameda County, not far from the San Francisco Bay Area.

The trade-off: Forte’s ethnicity is a straightforward mix of European ancestries, but the question reflects a broader curiosity about his identity — a reminder that he’s always been more private than his comedic persona suggests.

Does Will Forte have a medical condition?

Publicly known health issues

• Will Forte has not publicly disclosed any medical condition (TV Insider).
• There is no evidence of any chronic illness or disability in his public record.

Speculation

• Internet rumors occasionally surface, but they are unsupported by any credible source.
• Forte’s slim build and sometimes gaunt appearance in roles have led to unfounded questions, but he has never addressed them.

The implication: The “medical condition” question is a classic example of online speculation with zero factual basis. Forte is simply a private person who doesn’t share health details — and that’s his right.

Timeline

Seven milestones, one story: how a writer from California turned a one-off joke into a career and a friendship that outlasted both.

• 1997 — Begins career in comedy, writing for various shows (IMDB).
• 2002 — Joins Saturday Night Live as a writer and cast member (TV Insider).
• 2010 — Leaves SNL after 8 seasons; MacGruber film released (TV Insider).
• 2015 — Creates and stars in The Last Man on Earth (IMDB).
• 2019 — Reprises MacGruber in a feature film (IMDB).
• 2020s — Appears in The Boys, One Piece, and other projects (IMDB).
• April 2025 — Val Kilmer dies at age 65; Forte reflects on their friendship (Vulture).

The pattern: Forte’s timeline shows steady evolution from writer to star to legacy curator — his friendship with Kilmer became a defining chapter.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Will Forte was born on June 17, 1970, in Alameda County, California.
• He was a cast member on SNL from 2002 to 2010.
• He was roommates with Val Kilmer for about two and a half months.
• He is not married and has no children.
• His ethnicity is English, Scottish, and German.

What’s unclear

• Whether he has a medical condition (no public information).
• Exact details of his relationship with Val Kilmer after the roommate period.
• His net worth is an estimate, not confirmed.

Quotes on the friendship

“He’s the most interesting person in the world. I settled for being his roommate.”

— Will Forte, in a Vulture remembrance (2025)

“We were like The Odd Couple. He’d read with a headlamp at night, and I’d be in the living room watching TV.”

— Will Forte, describing the living arrangement to The Daily Beast

“Will Forte was a generous and supportive roommate during a difficult time.”

— Val Kilmer, from his memoir (as recalled by Vulture)

For comedy fans, the lesson is clear: the best stories often come from the most unexpected friendships. Forte’s willingness to open his home to a legend in need created a bond that outlasted the usual Hollywood cycle — and reminded us that behind every bizarre SNL character, there’s a genuinely decent human being.

For a deeper look at his early life and rise to fame, check out Will Fortes biography and SNL career.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Patton Oswalt: Biography, Wife, Net Worth & Famous Roles
• Ed Helms: Debunking Myths About Marriage, Office & More