Will Ferrell Explains His Drunk Buddy the Elf Appearance at NHL Game: 'I Just Like to Do Weird Things'

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Ferrell on Dec. 29, 2024.Photo:Ronald Martinez/Getty

Ronald Martinez/Getty

Will Ferrellis explaining why he dressed up as a grizzled,drunk Buddy the Elfat a recent NHL game.The actor, 57, spoke about the appearance on the Friday, Jan. 10 episode ofTravis KelceandJason Kelce’s podcastNew Heights.Jason, 37, wasted no time in asking Ferrell why he decided to pull the stunt, which took place at a Los Angeles Kings game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 29.“Buddy the Elf got laid off, I think, from the North Pole,” Ferrell joked, as both Kelce brothers laughed. “He’s having a pull from his beer, smoking a cig.““That was just— I get these weird ideas every now and then. We’re season ticket holders for the L.A. Kings. We have seats right on the glass, which are amazing,” he added. “I told my wife, ‘Over the break, it would be funny if I just got a Buddy the Elf costume and didn’t shave for like a week, and I’m just sitting there with a candy cigarette and I’m just gonna sit there for a period and see how people react.' And that was it."“The reaction was insane!” Ferrell said. “Like, ‘What is he doing? Is he promoting something?’ But occasionally I just like to do weird things like that just to stir it up.”Will Ferrell on Dec. 29, 2024.Ronald Martinez/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ferrell is no stranger to sports-related antics. Back in 2015, the actorplayed for 10 Major League Baseball teams in one dayand also played all nine positions in baseball to raise money and awareness for the charityCancer for College.In 2013, Ferrelldressed up as an usherat L.A.’s Staples Center and escorted former NBA starShaquille O’Nealout of the arena before an L.A. Lakers game for a bit.“I had friends who gave me a Staples security guard outfit and I snuck it int the building and then just pretended to be one of the security guys,” he explained of the O’Neal bit, even saying he had no idea O’Neal would be present that night.“They had no idea, and I was afraid — I snuck it in because I was afraid they would stop me and go ‘Where’d you get that uniform, that’s contraband, come with us,’ so I just stood on the [sidelines.]“Will Ferrell on Dec. 29, 2024.Ronald Martinez/GettyFerrell’s enthusiasm for hockey even made it into adeleted scene fromElf, in which his character Buddy is shown dominating smaller elf opponents on the ice.“I remember I grew up in Southern California and there was a kid who moved into my neighborhood from Connecticut, and we would play street hockey,” Ferrell said, when asked about one-on-one street hockey. “We didn’t have ice, so it was just with a little ball and running around a parking lot, and I followed the Kings way back [in the 1980s].”

Will Ferrellis explaining why he dressed up as a grizzled,drunk Buddy the Elfat a recent NHL game.

The actor, 57, spoke about the appearance on the Friday, Jan. 10 episode ofTravis KelceandJason Kelce’s podcastNew Heights.Jason, 37, wasted no time in asking Ferrell why he decided to pull the stunt, which took place at a Los Angeles Kings game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 29.

“Buddy the Elf got laid off, I think, from the North Pole,” Ferrell joked, as both Kelce brothers laughed. “He’s having a pull from his beer, smoking a cig.”

“That was just— I get these weird ideas every now and then. We’re season ticket holders for the L.A. Kings. We have seats right on the glass, which are amazing,” he added. “I told my wife, ‘Over the break, it would be funny if I just got a Buddy the Elf costume and didn’t shave for like a week, and I’m just sitting there with a candy cigarette and I’m just gonna sit there for a period and see how people react.' And that was it.”

“The reaction was insane!” Ferrell said. “Like, ‘What is he doing? Is he promoting something?’ But occasionally I just like to do weird things like that just to stir it up.”

Will Ferrell on Dec. 29, 2024.Ronald Martinez/Getty

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Ferrell is no stranger to sports-related antics. Back in 2015, the actorplayed for 10 Major League Baseball teams in one dayand also played all nine positions in baseball to raise money and awareness for the charityCancer for College.

In 2013, Ferrelldressed up as an usherat L.A.’s Staples Center and escorted former NBA starShaquille O’Nealout of the arena before an L.A. Lakers game for a bit.

“I had friends who gave me a Staples security guard outfit and I snuck it int the building and then just pretended to be one of the security guys,” he explained of the O’Neal bit, even saying he had no idea O’Neal would be present that night.

“They had no idea, and I was afraid — I snuck it in because I was afraid they would stop me and go ‘Where’d you get that uniform, that’s contraband, come with us,’ so I just stood on the [sidelines.]”

Ferrell’s enthusiasm for hockey even made it into adeleted scene fromElf, in which his character Buddy is shown dominating smaller elf opponents on the ice.

“I remember I grew up in Southern California and there was a kid who moved into my neighborhood from Connecticut, and we would play street hockey,” Ferrell said, when asked about one-on-one street hockey. “We didn’t have ice, so it was just with a little ball and running around a parking lot, and I followed the Kings way back [in the 1980s].”

source: people.com