Who is Magnus Ferrell? All about Will Ferrell’s son as he opens up about music career

The oldest son of actor and comedian Will Ferrell, Magnus Ferrell, has started to carve his own path, but not in the movie industry, but as an up-and-coming musician who is set to make his debut.

Will Ferrell had Magnus Ferrell with his wife, Viveca Paulin. His name supposedly means “great one” in Latin and references his mother’s Scandinavian lineage.

While his father’s legacy of comedy has always been a part of his life, Magnus didn’t entirely grasp Will’s popularity until he was around 11, in part because his childhood was relatively private. Now he’s in the spotlight alongside his younger brothers, Mattias and Axel.

"I’m so grateful. I could have turned out a very wildly different human being, but I’m so thankful. I didn’t really even know what [my dad] did until I was 11." He told US Weekly.

Magnus Ferrell, now 21, is a student at the University of Southern California, where even his father studied. Though initially having studied acting, Magnus has decided to pursue music as his career. According to the South China Morning Post, he started playing and writing music when he was just 12 years old.

He has supposedly honed a sound he describes as “groove therapy,” fusing elements of jazz, soul, funk, and pop. Inspired by musicians such as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, Magnus calls his music therapeutic and personal.

"I’m a jazz piano player from the start. How I met some of my closest friends was from jazz piano, so it’s just what I call groove therapy." He said.

More about Magnus Ferrell's musical journey and his family relations

According to US Weekly, after failing to get into USC’s songwriting program, Magnus Ferrell kept working on his musical skills alone. He eventually quit his studies to chase a record deal, a choice that proved to be pivotal in his life.

He later dropped an EP titled Hasn't Even Started, which gained over 13,000 monthly Spotify listeners. Now he has amassed a good number of followers. Thanks to his performances and his online presence.

"I still feel like I have to prove myself, and I’m going to continue to prove myself just because it’s what I love to do, and I obsess over it. I know I can’t think about anybody else besides the music." He stated.

Magnus Ferrell recognises the open doors because of his family's ties, but insists that dedication and hard work have been the main contributors to his journey. In a recent interview with US Weekly, he said:

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"Sure, there's been opportunities, and I've gotten extra opportunities because of my parents, but I still had to show up for the occasion."

Will Ferrell, for his part, has supposedly supported his son’s musical career. In a 2022 performance, Will appeared on stage with Magnus, accompanied by a cowbell, rehashing his famous “More Cowbell” sketch from Saturday Night Live. The pair again made headlines in 2023 when Will surprised Magnus’s fraternity at a USC tailgate with a DJ set, which went viral on TikTok.

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