Elyse Willems | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Elyse Willems atRTX Austin 2017. | |
| Born | (1986-05-03)May 3, 1986 (age 39) |
| Education | University of Toronto |
| Occupation | Writer • producer • performer • co-creative director |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Employer | Rooster Teeth (2015-2024) |
| Spouse | James Willems |
| Website | elysewillems |
Elyse Willems (born May 3, 1986)[1][2] is a Canadiancomedian,writer,actress, andhost. She is best known for her work as a cast member and producer atFunhaus, a division ofRooster Teeth Productions, since November 2015.[3] Since then, Willems has appeared and been involved in numerous productions by Rooster Teeth until the company went defunct in 2024.
Willems self-published herdebut novel,A Night in Halloween House, which became a bestselling Halloweenchildren's book onAmazon in October 2020.[4]
Willems was born and raised inToronto,Ontario[5] in a family of Polish descent. After graduating from theUniversity of Toronto with aBachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government,[6] Willems relocated toLos Angeles in January 2012.[7] She worked atViacom as a production assistant onGameTrailers from August 2012, later becoming a segment producer atDefy Media in 2014, where she produced, wrote and hostedMandatory 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 asArizona Circle,Sex Swing, andTwits & Crits, as well as produced and performed in gaming videos and podcasts. Willems has made several appearances atRTX 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 seriesAlways Open, hosted by fellow Canadian Rooster Teeth member and friendBarbara 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 ofPewDiePie'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 inLast 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 forThe Jimmy Fund to support research atDana–Farber Cancer Institute on November 1, 2020.[14]
Willems self-published her first novel, titledA Night in Halloween House, in October 2020.[15][16] It was released on Amazon in both paperback andKindle editions, and became the bestselling Halloween children's book. In 2021, she and James were credited as writers forIllFonic'sArcadegeddon.[17]
After Rooster Teeth and, by extension, Funhaus shut down in 2024, Willems has been involved in multiple programs forPBS and video game writing projects.
Willems is married to fellow performer and Funhaus cast member James Willems,[18] and they live in Los Angeles,California.[19]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Haus of Pain | Documentary | |
| 2018 | Blood Fest | Selfie Attendee | Cameo |
| 2024 | Wheelchair Club | Waitress | |
| 2025 | Total Party Kill | Deanna | |
| 2025 | We're All Gonna Die | Tik Tok influencer |
| 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, 2025 | Smosh | Elyse | "Try not to Laugh" "Board AF" |
| 2020–2023 | Last Laugh | Herself | Series creator, contestant (season 1), co-host (season 2) |
| 2021, 2025 | 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 | 123 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 | PBSInfotainment Series, 53 Episodes |
| 2025 | How Are We Today? | Barry the Beaver | PBS Sitcom |
| 2025 | Answer For It! | Host | 30 Episodes |
| 2025 | Smosh Summer Games: Class of 2005 | Secret Lunch Lady | 1 Episode - Finale |
| 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 | |
| 2024 | Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game | Additional material | |
| 2026 | Halloween | Writer |