Harper Steele
Harper Steele (formerly Andrew Steele) is an American comedy writer who was the subject of the 2024 Netflix documentary Will and 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]
On the film she 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.