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The truth about Will Ferrell and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith
16 July 2026, 12:53 | Updated: 16 July 2026, 13:14
Are they brothers or from another mother? We tell the story of Will Ferrell and his famous doppelgänger Chad Smith.
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Will Ferrell turns 59 this week, not to be confused with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who will celebrate his 65th birthday this October.
The veteran Chili Peppers drummer is most famous for being the band's sticksman since 1988, but these days he's just as well known for his uncanny resemblance to Will Ferrell.
It's been a few years since people started wondering if the comedic actor and his rock star counterpart were in fact brothers, but it still seems to be a question that never goes out of fashion.
Of course, the stars are not related, with Chad Smith born on 25th October 1961 to Joan and Curtis Smith in Saint Paul, Minnesota while Will Ferrell was born on 16th July 1967 to Betty Kay and Roy Lee Ferrell in Irvine California.
However, it's never stopped the comparisons.
Get the facts and a timeline of their friendship and friendly rivalry below...
The first time...
Chad Smith and Will Ferrell have experienced long period of success without being closely linked together, but by the 2010's their likeness became a topic of note in Hollywood and beyond.
It was in 2014 when the pair appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon wearing the exact same outfit that their similarity began to border on the uncanny.
Their rivalry was brought to the forefront with an epic drum-off, which was intended to unmask the drumming "imposter".
Their battle yielded nearly $500,000 for Smith and Ferrell’s respective charities.
Remind yourself of the moment below:
Will Ferrell and Chad Smith Drum-Off
The drum-off ended in a surprise Red Hot Chili Peppers performance of the Blue Oyster Cult classic (Don't Fear) The Reaper, while Ferrell played the cowbell- a nod to his "More Cowbell" Saturday Night Live sketch.
Cleary the stars must have got on well as by September that year, Chad Smith lent his sticksman skills a his 90 Minutes With Will Ferrell show, which was once again in aid of Cancer For College.
But the story doesn't end there...
"I gotta have more cowbell!" (one of the greatest SNL sketches ever)
00:05:32
The reprise...
The Ferrell/Smith challenge became so popular that two years later the pair reprised their famous drum-off for a good cause.
2016 saw Smith and Ferrell put on the Red Hot Benefit show, which saw the Californication rockers and a host of bands and comedians perform for one night only
Ferrell’s beneficiary was the Cancer for College organisation, while the drummer used the event to represent his bandmate Flea’s Silverlake Conservatory of Music charity.
Watch their epic rematch in Funny Or Die's video below:
Will Ferrell and Chad Smith's Epic Drum-Off All-Star Rematch
Did the joke wear thin?
Despite giving their fans what they want, it seems some won't let them forget about the resemblance... even when they're trying to do their day job.
Back in 2017, a fan thought they'd get Chad Smith's attention during a benefit gig at the Los Angeles Musicians Institute, by shouting out the comedian's name on stage.
At first glance the Dark Necessities rocker didn't take too kindly to the joke, and yelled "SHUT UP" before storming off.
Watch the cringe moment here: courtesy of RHCP Live:
Chad Smith got angry when he was compared to Will Ferrel
However, returning on stage he addressed the fan again, asking: "Listen, are you a musician? You’re a drummer? Why did you say that?"
When the fan revealed it was because he loved him, Smith responded: “You love me and go ‘oh Will Ferrell!” I’m not Will Ferrell, you idiot”.
He added: “Nah I’m just f**king with you. I don’t give a sh*t, I think it’s great! I’m f***ing famous because of Will Ferrell."
Phew!
One Classy Night - Personal Jesus
Firm friends...
Many years on from their first drum-off, it appears that Chad Smith has just as much of a sense of humour as the comedy actor, as the pair seem to have become closer than ever.
The pair left audiences seeing double once again when they both took the stage at their a charity gig in 2018. Joining Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, guitarist Mike McCready and singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile at the Moore Theatre in Seattle in February 2018, they performed a cover of Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus (above).
The SNL return....
In May this year, the pair riffed on their uncanny resemblance once again when Chad Smith appeared as Will Ferrell to deliver his opening monologue for SNL.
The comedy actor and former Saturday Night Live cast member was taking over hosting duties on the iconic NBC sketch show on Saturday for its its season finale.
However, when Ferrell was announced to the stage to give his monologue, the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer appeared wearing a wig and a blue suit instead.
"Thank you very much. I'm thrilled to be back here hosting Saturday Night Live, the Californication rocker told the audience.
"I was a cast member here for seven years and now I'm hosting for the sixth time. It really feels like I'm coming home."
It wasn't long till Ferrell came running down the stars asking, "What the hell do you think you're doing," to which the rocker replied: "I think I'm hosting the show."
Will Ferrell Monologue - SNL
It's a good job the drummer still isn't tired of the joke yet, because the banter continued on when Sir Paul McCartney appeared later in the monologue and pretended to get the two mixed up again.
While these two might not have been separated at birth, they definitely have a few things in common and are happy to do their bit when it comes to charity... and committing to 'the bit'!
Whatever happens, we're sure we've not seen the last of these dopplegangers antics! Bravo guys!
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