Elyse Willems
Elyse Willems | |
|---|---|
 Elyse Willems atRTXAustin 2017. | |
| Born | May 3, 1986 |
| Education | University of Toronto |
| Occupation | Writer • producer • performer • co-creative director |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Employer | Rooster Teeth |
| Spouse | James Willems |
| Website | elysewillems |
Elyse Willems(born May 3, 1986)[1][2]is a Canadian internet personality, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her work as a cast member and producer atFunhaus,a division ofRooster Teeth Productions,since November 2015.[3]Since then, Willems has appeared and been involved in numerous productions by Rooster Teeth.
Willems self-published herdebut novel,A Night in Halloween House,which became a bestselling Halloweenchildren's bookonAmazonin October 2020.[4]
Biography
[edit]Willems was born and raised inToronto,Ontario[5]in a family of Polish descent. After graduating from theUniversity of Torontowith aBachelor of Artsin Political Science and Government,[6]Willems relocated toLos Angelesin January 2012.[7]She worked atViacomas a production assistant onGameTrailersfrom August 2012, later becoming a segment producer atDefy Mediain 2014, where she produced, wrote and hostedMandatory Update,a weekly comedy news show that provided a satirical commentary on the video game industry.
In November 2015, Willems joined Rooster Teeth as a cast member of Funhaus. There, she has collaboratively produced and co-written numerous series, such asArizona Circle,Sex Swing,andTwits & Crits,as well as produced and performed in gaming videos and podcasts. Willems has made several appearances atRTXconventions, including a Ladies of Rooster Teeth panel at RTX Sydney 2017 where she expressed her frustration at credit for things she has done being given to her male peers in the past,[8]and on the seriesAlways Open,hosted by fellow Canadian Rooster Teeth member and friendBarbara Dunkelman.[9]In 2017, a shortened clip focusing primarily on Willems from one of Funhaus' videos went viral. The clip featured Funhaus members, including her husband, jokingly criticizing a female character for wearing a ponytail while Willems, who is wearing a ponytail in the clip, reacts in the background.[10]The clip appeared in one ofPewDiePie's videos,[11]and garnered almost fifteen million views worldwide. Willems clarified that the intent was humorous and that her reaction was deliberately comedic.[12]
In 2020, Willems served as the series creator and one of the participants inLast Laugh,a Rooster Teeth series centered around a social experiment where twelve contestants spent six hours in one room while trying to make each other laugh or smile.[13]Willems also streams with her husband James in order to fundraise for various charities and causes, and is among the popular streamers who raised funds forThe Jimmy Fundto support research atDana–Farber Cancer Instituteon November 1, 2020.[14]
Willems self-published her first novel, titledA Night in Halloween House,in October 2020.[15][16]It was released on Amazon in both paperback andKindleeditions, and became the bestselling Halloween children's book. In 2021, she and James were credited as writers forIllFonic'sArcadegeddon.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Willems is married to fellow performer and Funhaus cast member James Willems,[18]and they live in Los Angeles,California.[19]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Blood Fest | Selfie Attendee | Cameo |
Web series
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2015 | Mandatory Update | Herself | Co-host, co-creator |
| 2015–2024 | Funhaus | Elyse / Herself | Performer, director, producer |
| 2015–2016 | On the Spot | Herself | Guest |
| 2016–2020 | Always Open | Herself | Guest |
| 2016 | Red vs. Blue | Cherry | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | The Eleven Little Roosters | Agent Knuckle | 6 episodes |
| 2017 | Sex Swing | TV Anchor / Mermaid Princess / Hanako | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Million Dollars, But... | Herself | Guest |
| 2017–2019 | Off Topic | Herself | Guest |
| 2017–2019 | Sugar Pine 7 | Elyse / Elliot / Elantra | 26 episodes |
| 2017 | Camp Camp | Mrs. Nurfington | Episode: "Parent's Day" |
| 2018 | Hardcore Tabletop | Herself | Referee |
| 2018 | Murder Room | Herself | Guest |
| 2018–2019 | Arizona Circle | Elyse | Actress, writer, producer |
| 2019, 2022, 2024 | Smosh | Elyse | "Try not to Laugh" "Board AF" |
| 2020–2023 | Last Laugh | Herself | Series creator, contestant (season 1), co-host (season 2) |
| 2021 | Drawtectives | Harvey Hornswoggle | Guest |
| 2022 | Popcorn & Shield | Host | 7 Episodes |
| 2022 | KOLLOK | Clarity Seven | Actress |
| 2022 | Dungeons & Daddies | Erica Drippins | Guest |
| 2022-2024 | 30 Morbid Minutes | Host | 81 Episodes |
| 2022-2024 | Must Be Dice | Sloane Baker / Cordelia Gruselig / Neville Shortpants /Barbie | 25 Episodes |
| 2023 | Dad Then There Were None | Dorothy Brady | 3 Episodes |
| 2023 | Stinky Dragon Adventures | Iron Golem #1 | Episode: "The One-Armed Archer" |
| 2024 | Um, Actually | contestant | Season 9, Episode 6 |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Predator: Hunting Grounds | Soldier | Voice role |
| 2021 | Arcadegeddon | Ruck | Voice role, writer |
| 2021 | Psychonauts 2 | Rich Mom | Voice role |
| 2022 | Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed | writer |
References
[edit]- ^"James Willems on Instagram".Instagram.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
- ^""Are Birds Evil?" and Other Tough Questions - The Funhaus Podcast ".YouTube(Funhaus). January 14, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
- ^"Elyse Willems - LinkedIn".RetrievedOctober 23,2020.
- ^Willems, Elyse (21 October 2020).A Night in Halloween House: Willems, Elyse, McQuaig, Adam: 9781735982410: Amazon.com: Books.Elyse Willems.ISBN978-1735982410.
- ^"Elyse Willems".RetrievedOctober 24,2020.
- ^"TEEN VS *** - Google Trends Show - YouTube".YouTube.June 5, 2016.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
- ^"RTX Sydney Interview with Elyse Willems - YouTube".YouTube. February 18, 2017.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
- ^"RTX Sydney: I Didn't Die This Time".Kotaku.February 10, 2017.
- ^"RTX Austin 2018: 1 on 1 with RWBY's Barbara Dunkelman and Funhaus' Elyse Willems! - GameSpot".GameSpot.RetrievedOctober 24,2020.
- ^"Jesus Christ Bruce... - YouTube".YouTube. April 30, 2017.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
- ^"YOU LAUGH, YOU DIE - YLYL #0020 - YouTube".YouTube (PewDiePie). February 26, 2018.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
- ^"James and Elyse on Reddit scandals, impressions and long distance relationships - YouTube".YouTube. July 21, 2017.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
- ^"Rooster Teeth Debuts 'Last Laugh' Comedy Series – TenEighty – Internet culture in focus".TenEighty.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
- ^"Popular Streamers Play Against Cancer for Jimmy Fund Let's Game".GamingLyfe. October 21, 2020.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
- ^"Interview: Funhaus' Elyse Willems Talks About Her First Novel".Bleeding Cool.November 11, 2020.RetrievedNovember 12,2020.
- ^"Elyse Willems Wrote a Book (and Nick Read it) - We Have Cool Friends - YouTube".YouTube (Kinda Funny). November 17, 2020.RetrievedNovember 18,2020.
- ^"gerritzen on Twitter:" This really makes me smile. Thank you @ElyseWillems & @JamesWillems for being on this crazy ride! "".Twitter.RetrievedJuly 13,2021.
- ^"For YouTube channel Funhaus, Being Funny (And Offensive) Is Just Part Of The Brand's Twisted Charm".Forbes.July 12, 2016.RetrievedOctober 26,2020.
- ^"Elyse Willems's Profile - Rooster Teeth".RetrievedOctober 24,2020.
External links
[edit]- 1986 births
- 21st-century Canadian women writers
- 21st-century Canadian screenwriters
- Actresses from Toronto
- Canadian children's writers
- Canadian emigrants to the United States
- Canadian people of Polish descent
- Canadian stand-up comedians
- Canadian voice actresses
- Canadian women comedians
- Comedians from Toronto
- Living people
- Rooster Teeth people
- University of Toronto alumni
- Screenwriters from Toronto