Elyse Willems

Last updated
Elyse Willems
RTX 2017 - Always Open panel (35500410710) (cropped).jpg
Elyse Willems at RTX Austin 2017.
Born (1986-05-03) May 3, 1986 (age 38)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Education University of Toronto
OccupationWriter • producer • performer • co-creative director
Years active2013–present
Employer Rooster Teeth 2013-2024
SpouseJames Willems
Website elysewillems.com

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 at Funhaus, a division of Rooster Teeth Productions, since November 2015. [3] Since then, Willems has appeared and been involved in numerous productions by Rooster Teeth.

Contents

Willems self-published her debut novel, A Night in Halloween House, which became a bestselling Halloween children's book on Amazon in October 2020. [4]

Biography

Willems was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario [5] in a family of Polish descent. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government, [6] Willems relocated to Los Angeles in January 2012. [7] She worked at Viacom as a production assistant on GameTrailers from August 2012, later becoming a segment producer at Defy Media in 2014, where she produced, wrote and hosted Mandatory 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 as Arizona Circle, Sex Swing, and Twits & Crits, as well as produced and performed in gaming videos and podcasts. Willems has made several appearances at RTX conventions, 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 series Always Open, hosted by fellow Canadian Rooster Teeth member and friend Barbara 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 of PewDiePie'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 in Last 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 for The Jimmy Fund to support research at Dana–Farber Cancer Institute on November 1, 2020. [14]

Willems self-published her first novel, titled A Night in Halloween House, in October 2020. [15] [16] It was released on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions, and became the bestselling Halloween children's book. In 2021, she and James were credited as writers for IllFonic's Arcadegeddon. [17]

Personal life

Willems is married to fellow performer and Funhaus cast member James Willems, [18] and they live in Los Angeles, California. [19]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 Blood Fest Selfie AttendeeCameo

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014–2015Mandatory UpdateHerselfCo-host, co-creator
2015–2024 Funhaus Elyse / HerselfPerformer, director, producer
2015–2016On the SpotHerselfGuest
2016–2020Always OpenHerselfGuest
2016 Red vs. Blue Cherry2 episodes
2017 The Eleven Little Roosters Agent Knuckle6 episodes
2017Sex SwingTV Anchor / Mermaid Princess / Hanako3 episodes
2017 Million Dollars, But... HerselfGuest
2017–2019Off TopicHerselfGuest
2017–2019 Sugar Pine 7 Elyse / Elliot / Elantra26 episodes
2017 Camp Camp Mrs. NurfingtonEpisode: "Parent's Day"
2018Hardcore TabletopHerselfReferee
2018Murder RoomHerselfGuest
2018–2019Arizona CircleElyseActress, writer, producer
2019, 2022, 2024 Smosh Elyse"Try not to Laugh" "Board AF"
2020–2023Last LaughHerselfSeries creator, contestant (season 1), co-host (season 2)
2021DrawtectivesHarvey HornswoggleGuest
2022Popcorn & ShieldHost7 Episodes
2022KOLLOKClarity SevenActress
2022 Dungeons & Daddies Erica DrippinsGuest
2022-30 Morbid MinutesHost91 Episodes
2022-2024Must Be DiceSloane Baker / Cordelia Gruselig / Neville Shortpants / Barbie 25 Episodes
2023Dad Then There Were NoneDorothy Brady3 Episodes
2023Stinky Dragon AdventuresIron Golem #1Episode: "The One-Armed Archer"
2024Um, ActuallycontestantSeason 9, Episode 6
2024Won't You Be My Gamer?"Host PBS Infotainment Series, 17 Episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020Predator: Hunting GroundsSoldierVoice role
2021ArcadegeddonRuckVoice role, writer
2021 Psychonauts 2 Rich MomVoice role
2022 Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed writer

Related Research Articles

Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC was an American entertainment company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003 by Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum, Geoff Ramsey, Jason Saldaña, Gus Sorola, and Joel Heyman, Rooster Teeth was a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment, which is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin Free</span> English actor, director, cinematographer and internet personality

Gavin David Free is an English actor, director, cinematographer and internet personality. He is best known for his work at Rooster Teeth—where he formerly served as creative director—featuring in many of their projects, including the Achievement Hunter gaming division. He directed season 7 of Red vs. Blue, as well as its miniseries Relocated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meg Turney</span> American adult model, internet personality, and cosplayer (born 1987)

Megan LeeAnn Turney is an American Twitch streamer, internet personality, cosplayer, glamour model, Onlyfans model and vlogger. She became an internet personality through her hosting work, formerly with SourceFed and Rooster Teeth's The Know. She also maintains a personal YouTube channel where she posts vlogs and Let's Play videos and live streams. In addition to her work with online media, Turney also cosplays at various conventions, such as Comic-Con.

<i>RWBY</i> American animated web series

RWBY is an American anime-influenced 3D computer-animated web series created by Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth. It is set in the fictional world of Remnant, where young people train to become warriors to protect their world from monsters called Grimm. The name RWBY is derived from the four main protagonists' forenames: Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long, and their respective thematic colors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTX (event)</span> Video game convention

RTX was a series of annual gaming and Internet conventions created by Rooster Teeth held primarily in Austin, Texas and for a period of time also Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and London, England, UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Dunkelman</span> Canadian actress

Barbara Julie Dunkelman (born July 2, 1989) is a Canadian actress and internet personality. She is known for her work with the former production company Rooster Teeth, where she served as a Creative Director and was formerly the Director of Social and Community Marketing and a Program Director for RTX. She also provides the voice of Yang Xiao Long in the web series RWBY and Nerris in Camp Camp, and is a partial owner of the FCF Wild Aces Indoor Football Team.

<i>Lazer Team</i> 2015 comedy science fiction film directed by Matt Hullum

Lazer Team is a 2015 American science fiction action comedy film directed, produced, and co-written by Matt Hullum. The first feature film produced by Rooster Teeth, it stars Burnie Burns, Gavin Free, Michael Jones, Colton Dunn, Allie DeBerry, and Alan Ritchson. The film follows the Lazer Team, a group of four who find themselves responsible for the fate of the planet upon discovering an alien crash site containing a battle suit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achievement Hunter</span> Entertainment company (2008–2023)

Achievement Hunter was an American video gaming division of Rooster Teeth Productions. Founded by Geoff Ramsey and Jack Pattillo on July 6, 2008, the website was originally based on the achievement mechanic in video games but grew to become a core component of Rooster Teeth, hosting a wide variety of videos related to video games. Achievement Hunter dissolved after publishing its final video on October 1, 2023, with all members having moved elsewhere within Rooster Teeth, which itself closed in May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jones (actor)</span> American actor (born 1987)

Michael Vincent Jones is an American actor, podcast host and internet personality who is known for his work with Rooster Teeth's gameplay division Achievement Hunter. He also co-hosted three-time Podcast Award winner Internet Box.

<i>Rooster Teeth Podcast</i> American comedy podcast

The Rooster Teeth Podcast, formerly known as the Drunk Tank, is a podcast produced by Rooster Teeth that aired weekly from December 9, 2008 to April 22, 2024 and featured various members of Rooster Teeth's staff discussing different topics each week. Throughout its run, main hosts included Rooster Teeth founders Gus Sorola, Burnie Burns, Geoff Ramsey and Joel Heyman as well as Gavin Free, Jack Pattillo and Barbara Dunkelman while Armando Torres, Griff Milton and Andrew Rosas acted as its final hosts. It is sometimes advertised as simply The RT Podcast. It was named Best Gaming Podcast by the Podcast Awards in 2012 and 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Jones (actor)</span> American actor

Lindsay Elise Jones is an American actress, director, gamer and host. They are known for their work with Rooster Teeth, and have provided the voices of Ruby Rose in RWBY and Kimball in Red vs. Blue from 2013–2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shannon McCormick</span> American film and voice actor (born 1971)

Shannon McCormick is an American film and voice actor. He is known for his work with Rooster Teeth, voicing Agent Washington in Red vs. Blue, Professor Ozpin in RWBY, and the Quartermaster in Camp Camp.

The Eleven Little Roosters is an American spy comedy web series created by Josh Flanagan and co-directed and co-written by Blaine Gibson and Flanagan. It stars Zach Anner, Burnie Burns, Barbara Dunkelman, Gavin Free, Ashley Jenkins, Geoff Ramsey and Gus Sorola. It is the successor to the 2014 series Ten Little Roosters, acting as an spy thriller that pits international assassins against each other. It premiered on Rooster Teeth's website on January 16, 2017.

Let's Play Live, named Achievement Hunter Live during its last two tours, was a touring Let's Play show that featured video games and internet personalities. Let's Play Live grew out of Rooster Teeth's gaming division, Achievement Hunter, and became a collaboration with multiple channels including members of the Let's Play family: Funhaus, ScrewAttack, Kinda Funny, Cow Chop, and The Creatures.

<i>Camp Camp</i> American web series

Camp Camp is an American adult animated web series created by Jordan Cwierz and Miles Luna for Rooster Teeth. It revolves around the misadventures of attendants and camp counsellors of Camp Campbell summer camp, in particular protagonist Max and counselor, David. The series premiered on June 10, 2016, as part of Rooster Teeth's Summer of Animation promotion, releasing both to Rooster Teeth's website and YouTube channel, running for four seasons before going on an extended hiatus in 2019. Following a special episode airing in 2023, Camp Camp returned for a fifth season that premiered on March 1, 2024, and consisted of four episodes.

Sugar Pine 7 is an American production company and comedy troupe. The company was founded in 2017 by Steven Suptic, Clayton "Cib" James, and James DeAngelis; together, they operate a YouTube channel initially based on a vlog series created by Suptic. The channel hosted a mockumentary web series called Alternative Lifestyle, in which the three men play exaggerated versions of themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Valleyfolk</span>

The Valleyfolk is a YouTube-based comedy group originating in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former SourceFed hosts Joe Bereta, Elliott Morgan, Lee Newton, and Steve Zaragoza. The channel launched in January 2018 and gained over 93,000 subscribers within the first 24 hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alanah Pearce</span> Australian video game writer and journalist (born 1993)

Alanah Pearce is an Australian video game writer and former journalist. Since 2020, Pearce has worked for American game developer Santa Monica Studio.

References

  1. ↑ "James Willems on Instagram". Instagram . Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  2. ↑ ""Are Birds Evil?" and Other Tough Questions - The Funhaus Podcast". YouTube (Funhaus). January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Elyse Willems - LinkedIn" . Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ Willems, Elyse (21 October 2020). A Night in Halloween House: Willems, Elyse, McQuaig, Adam: 9781735982410: Amazon.com: Books. Elyse Willems. ISBN   978-1735982410.
  5. ↑ "Elyse Willems" . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  6. ↑ "TEEN VS *** - Google Trends Show - YouTube". YouTube. June 5, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ "RTX Sydney Interview with Elyse Willems - YouTube". YouTube. February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  8. ↑ "RTX Sydney: I Didn't Die This Time". Kotaku. February 10, 2017. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ "RTX Austin 2018: 1 on 1 with RWBY's Barbara Dunkelman and Funhaus' Elyse Willems! - GameSpot". GameSpot . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Jesus Christ Bruce... - YouTube". YouTube. April 30, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  11. ↑ "YOU LAUGH, YOU DIE - YLYL #0020 - YouTube". YouTube (PewDiePie). February 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  12. ↑ "James and Elyse on Reddit scandals, impressions and long distance relationships - YouTube". YouTube. July 21, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Rooster Teeth Debuts 'Last Laugh' Comedy Series – TenEighty – Internet culture in focus". TenEighty. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Popular Streamers Play Against Cancer for Jimmy Fund Let's Game". GamingLyfe. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Interview: Funhaus' Elyse Willems Talks About Her First Novel". Bleeding Cool. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Elyse Willems Wrote a Book (and Nick Read it) - We Have Cool Friends - YouTube". YouTube (Kinda Funny). November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  17. ↑ "gerritzen on Twitter: "This really makes me smile. Thank you @ElyseWillems & @JamesWillems for being on this crazy ride!"". Twitter. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  18. ↑ "For YouTube channel Funhaus, Being Funny (And Offensive) Is Just Part Of The Brand's Twisted Charm". Forbes . July 12, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Elyse Willems's Profile - Rooster Teeth" . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.