Harper Steele
Harper Steele (formerly Andrew Steele) is an American comedy writer who was the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary Will & Harper with actor Will Ferrell.
Early life and education
[edit]Steele grew up in Iowa City, one of five children of University of Iowa professors.[1][2] She attended Iowa City High School, describing herself as "a C-minus student who couldn’t spell."[3][4] She graduated from the University of Iowa with an English degree.[5][1]
Career
[edit]Steele started working at Saturday Night Live the same week as Will Ferrell, in 1995.[6] She worked there for thirteen years from 1995 to 2008, four of them as head writer.[7][8] She was nominated for four Emmy Awards, winning one in 2002.[9]
Steele left SNL for Funny or Die in 2008 just after they announced their partnership with HBO.[7][10] Her role was as creative director for Funny or Die and executive producer of HBO's Funny or Die Presents.[11] She produced the first dozen half-hour Funny or Die shows that were shown on HBO, with her writing used in nine of them.[11]
She co-wrote Casa de mi padre with Eva Maria Peters, The Ladies Man with Tim Meadows and Dennis McNicholas, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga with Will Ferrell.[12][1] Steele has described her own political and comedic viewpoints as "purple-haired woke," saying "[T]here isn’t a trans person I’ve met who doesn’t have a sense of humor about themselves." She believes that humor can "make a real positive difference in the world."[8][1] Jimmy Fallon called her "one of the funniest people I think I've ever met in my lifetime.[13]
Will & Harper
[edit]Steele reached out to Ferrell informing him of her intention to go through gender transition in 2022 at the age of 61.[14] She sent a letter to her friends saying "Look, I'm not a very political person, but just by nature of being trans, I'm now a political person in a way. I just ask you as my friends to stand up for me. Do your best to, if I'm misgendered, just speak up on my behalf, that's all I ask."[15]
Ferrell was not knowledgeable about the trans community and decided he should learn more. The two decided to undertake and document a cross-country road trip as they processed this change and what it meant for their friendship.[16] Steele had said that while she had always loved road trips, she felt nervous about traveling alone through small towns and conservative states as a trans woman, noting that anti-trans legislation in many US states could inhibit her ability to use a restroom or even allow her to be legally discriminated against.[6] Steele and Ferrell visited Steele's hometown including her high school and a local bar she used to frequent.[17]
Of the resulting film Will & Harper Steele said "I’m very proud of it. I’m scared of... the aftermath of it coming up, but I’m very proud."[6] The film premiered at the 40th Sundance Film Festival in January 2024 and was nominated for a people's choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Horlyk, Earl (February 19, 2017). "Secrets from SNL: It's a very serious business". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Lubguban, Isabelle (2024-09-11). "Esteemed former SNL writer Harper Steele opens up about the importance of friendship ahead of new film, 'Will and Harper'". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Barraza, Paris (2023-03-08). "Iowa City's The Deadwood hosts Will Ferrell for documentary filming". press-citizen.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Steele, Andrew (2017-09-29). "Kirk Walther's passion made Record Collector legendary beyond Iowa City". press-citizen.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Hurwitz, Carly (2011-10-21). "UI English Dept. hosts alumni panel". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b c Rude, Mey (2024-08-20). "How a cross-country road trip brought Will Ferrell closer to his trans bestie Harper Steele". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b Flair, Justus (2016-04-21). "Life in the comedy lane: Former SNL writer and Funny or Die director Andrew Steele". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b Magazine, IN (2024-09-13). "Will Ferrell Says Dressing In Drag For Laughs On SNL Is Something He "Wouldn't Choose To Do Now"". IN Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ "Andrew Steele". Television Academy Emmys. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2008-08-06). "Funny or Die made of Steele". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b McCarthy, Sean L. (2010-02-18). "Executive producer Andrew Steele says HBO's "Funny or Die Presents" is "true to us" – The Comic's Comic". The Comic's Comic. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (2024-01-26). "2024 Sundance Film Festival: Will Ferrell Documentary and More". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. NBC. February 27, 2020. Event occurs at 11:53. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Bio, Read Full (2024-01-22). "Will Ferrell wanted to support his transgender friend after she came out, so they made a movie". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Clymer, Liam (2024-09-16). "Will Ferrell's Trans Friend Harper Steele on Finding Support: 'We All Need a Will'". Pride Source. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (2024-01-22). "Will Ferrell Had 'Zero Knowledge' About the Trans Community. Then His Best Friend of 30 Years Came Out: 'This Was All New Territory for Me'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Barraza, Paris (March 11, 2023). "Actor and Comedian Ferrell Makes Appearance at Iowa City Bar". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Pond, Steve (2024-09-15). "'The Life of Chuck' Wins Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award". TheWrap. Retrieved 2024-09-16.