Celebrity Lookalikes Will Ferrell And Chad Smith find yourself on “Saturday Night Live,” continuing a long-running comedy built on their striking resemblance.
Over the years, the comedian and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer has embraced the running joke, addressing the confusion with humor and raising money for charity while making fans laugh. Their latest appearance highlights their shared commitment to gag more than a decade after recognizing their striking similarities.
Chad Smith Plants Will Ferrell’s ‘SNL’ Moment
“Saturday Night Live” alum Will Ferrell returned to the sketch show that launched his career, taking on hosting duties for the season 51 finale. During his introduction, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith appeared, wearing a gray suit while impersonating the comedian.
“I’m thrilled to be back here hosting “Saturday Night Live.” I’ve been a cast member here for seven years, and now I’m hosting for the sixth time,” Smith said. The real Will Ferrell then arrives wearing the exact same outfit, accusing Smith of pushing him backstage. “I fell. Hard. Lorne had to give me mouth to mouth,” he said, referring to “SNL” creator and showrunner Lorne Michaels.
Ferrell then chases Smith off the stage, telling the audience not to applaud. “He’s a bad guy,” he told them. The comedian then answered a question from the audience and pointed to musical guest Paul McCartney, who said, “Nice try, Chad. Get back behind the drums, where you belong.”
First meeting of Will Ferrell and Chad Smith
Fans noticed Ferrell and Smith’s uncanny resemblance long before the two were involved. In 2010, the drummer even wore a shirt that read “I’M NOT WILL FERRELL” while performing on “Conan.”
At a conference in 2013, Smith reluctantly told the story of her first meeting with the comedian. Ferrell and Smith both attended an advanced screening of the 2000 comedy film “The Ladies Man” and bumped into each other while grabbing food at the buffet.
“We look at each other, right? He looks me up and down and says, ‘You look very handsome,’ and then walks away,” Smith said. At that time, Smith found Ferrell very funny. “But I don’t think he can play the drums for nothing, and I certainly can’t play as well as him,” he said.
Will Ferrell pretends to be Chad Smith
Although Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Will Ferrell and Chad Smith share an uncanny brotherly resemblance, the two are not at all related. pic.twitter.com/4IZtFBr41I
– imjustculture (@imjustculture) June 23, 2025
In a 2014 Reddit AMA, an online user brought up Ferrell’s resemblance to the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer. In response, the comedian wrote, “A lot of people think I’m the one playing for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But that would be an insult to Chad Smith. The truth is there is no Will Ferrell. Only Chad Smith.”
In an article for Funny or Die, Ferrell said it was “great to finally clarify the fact that I’m Chad Smith.” In response, Smith told him to stop impersonating him and challenged him to a drum battle. “I have seen your skills, you don’t have them.”
On Smith’s Reddit AMA, Ferrell accepted the drumming challenge, on the condition that he raise money for charity. “Hey Will, I logged back in JUST to accept your challenge. Bring it on!” Smith said.
The lookalikes fought in 2014
In 2014, Ferrell and Smith appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” to end their “feud.” They appeared wearing the same clothes: a KISS shirt, a leather jacket, jeans and a backwards cap. While chatting with Fallon, they engaged, pretending to be each other and seeming unhappy.
At one point, Farrell told the host that he played with the Chili Peppers in their “jam house”, causing Smith to crack up a bit. To end their feud and raise money for charity, they staged an epic battle to find out who was the better drummer. However, before he began, Ferrell said, “We were fooling you all the time. This is Chad Smith and I, Will Ferrell.”
Both men took the stage to show off their abilities. While Smith delivered an epic performance, Ferrell gave an all-out effort despite lacking skill. Ferrell was declared the winner, and the rest of the Red Hot Chili Peppers joined them on stage for a performance of Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” a nod to one of Ferrell’s most famous “SNL” sketches.
Will Ferrell and Chad Smith had a second drum
Two years later, Ferrell and Smith reunited to co-host the “Red Hot Benefit Comedy + Music Show & Quinceañera” charity event sponsored by Funny or Die.
They took their competition to the next level by recruiting members for the team competition. On Smith’s team were Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters and Stewart Copeland of The Police. Ferrell, meanwhile, chose drummer and comedian Fred Armisen, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac and teenage drummer Andy Lee.
Ferrell declared himself the winner, saying, “I win again! Now who looks stupid, Chad?”
