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.
Elyse Willems | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Elyse Willems at RTX Austin 2017. | |
| Born | May 3, 1986 |
| Education | University of Toronto |
| Occupation | Writer • producer • performer • co-creative director |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Employer | Rooster Teeth 2013-2024 |
| Spouse | James Willems |
| Website | elysewillems |
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
editWillems 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
editWillems is married to fellow performer and Funhaus cast member James Willems,[18] and they live in Los Angeles, California.[19]
Filmography
editFilm
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- | 30 Morbid Minutes | Host | 91 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 |
| 2024 | Won't You Be My Gamer?" | Host | PBS Infotainment Series, 17 Episodes |
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. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ ""Are Birds Evil?" and Other Tough Questions - The Funhaus Podcast". YouTube (Funhaus). January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Elyse Willems - LinkedIn". Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ Willems, Elyse (21 October 2020). A Night in Halloween House: Willems, Elyse, McQuaig, Adam: 9781735982410: Amazon.com: Books. Elyse Willems. ISBN 978-1735982410.
- ^ "Elyse Willems". Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ "TEEN VS *** - Google Trends Show - YouTube". YouTube. June 5, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ "RTX Sydney Interview with Elyse Willems - YouTube". YouTube. February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "RTX Sydney: I Didn't Die This Time". Kotaku. February 10, 2017. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017.
- ^ "RTX Austin 2018: 1 on 1 with RWBY's Barbara Dunkelman and Funhaus' Elyse Willems! - GameSpot". GameSpot. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ "Jesus Christ Bruce... - YouTube". YouTube. April 30, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "YOU LAUGH, YOU DIE - YLYL #0020 - YouTube". YouTube (PewDiePie). February 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "James and Elyse on Reddit scandals, impressions and long distance relationships - YouTube". YouTube. July 21, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "Rooster Teeth Debuts 'Last Laugh' Comedy Series – TenEighty – Internet culture in focus". TenEighty. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ "Popular Streamers Play Against Cancer for Jimmy Fund Let's Game". GamingLyfe. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ "Interview: Funhaus' Elyse Willems Talks About Her First Novel". Bleeding Cool. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ "Elyse Willems Wrote a Book (and Nick Read it) - We Have Cool Friends - YouTube". YouTube (Kinda Funny). November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "gerritzen on Twitter: "This really makes me smile. Thank you @ElyseWillems & @JamesWillems for being on this crazy ride!"". Twitter. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Elyse Willems's Profile - Rooster Teeth". Retrieved October 24, 2020.