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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Harper Steele
Harper Steele (formerly Andrew Steele; born August 1961) is an American writer. She starred in the 2024 documentary Will & Harper with actor Will Ferrell. She worked at Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2008, serving as head writer from 2004 through 2008. Her accolades include one Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations.

Early life and education

Steele grew up in Iowa City, a child of two University of Iowa professors. She attended Iowa City High School, graduating in 1979. She has described herself in high school as "a C-minus student who couldn't spell." She tended to hang out with outsiders, only feeling comfortable at school in her senior year, when she became involved with the theater department. She graduated from the University of Iowa with an English degree.

Career

Steele started working at Saturday Night Live the same week as Will Ferrell in 1995. She worked there for 13 years from 1995 to 2008, four as head writer. She was nominated for four Emmy Awards, winning one in 2002. She has described her own political and comedic viewpoints as "purple-haired woke," saying, "[T]here isn't a trans person I’ve met who doesn't have a sense of humor about themselves." She believes that humor can "make a real positive difference in the world." Jimmy Fallon called her "one of the funniest people I think I've ever met in my lifetime.

Steele left SNL for Funny or Die in 2008 just after they announced their partnership with HBO. Her role was as creative director for Funny or Die and executive producer of HBO's Funny or Die Presents. She produced the first dozen half-hour Funny or Die shows that were shown on HBO, with her writing used in nine of them. She also co-wrote Casa de mi padre with Eva Maria Peters, The Ladies Man with Tim Meadows and Dennis McNicholas, and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga with Ferrell.

After coming out to Ferrell about her gender transition in 2022, Ferrell decided he should learn more about the trans community as he was not very knowledgeable. The two decided to undertake and document a cross-country road trip as they processed this change and what it meant for their friendship. Steele had said that, although she had always loved road trips, she felt nervous about traveling alone through small towns and conservative states as a trans woman, noting that anti-trans legislation in many US states could inhibit her ability to use a restroom or even cause her to be legally discriminated against. Steele and Ferrell visited Steele's hometown, including her high school and a local bar she used to frequent.

Of the resulting film Will & Harper, Steele said, "I'm very proud of it. I'm scared of... the aftermath of it coming up, but I'm very proud." The film premiered at the 40th Sundance Film Festival in January 2024 and was nominated for a people's choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Personal life

Assigned male at birth, Steele began her gender transition in 2022, and came out to her friends in letters. These letters said, in part, "Look, I'm not a very political person, but just by nature of being trans, I'm now a political person in a way. I just ask you as my friends to stand up for me. Do your best to, if I'm misgendered, just speak up on my behalf, that's all I ask." When asked for casting suggestions for her if the documentary became a scripted movie, Steele quipped "I love Hunter Schafer and I feel like I look exactly like her."

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations received by Harper Steele
Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Primetime Emmy Awards 2001 Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program Saturday Night Live Nominated
2002 Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program Saturday Night Live Won
2003 Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program Saturday Night Live Nominated
2008 Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program Saturday Night Live Nominated
2014 Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music The Spoils of Babylon Nominated

Notes

  1. ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

  1. ^ Horlyk, Earl (February 19, 2017). "Secrets from SNL: It's a very serious business". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  2. ^ Lubguban, Isabelle (2024-09-11). "Esteemed former SNL writer Harper Steele opens up about the importance of friendship ahead of new film, 'Will and Harper'". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  3. ^ Koch, Lauren; Kuhlmann, Natalie (2023-03-09). "City High Alum Harper Steele and Actor Will Ferrell Visit City High's Gender Sexuality Alliance Club". The Little Hawk. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  4. ^ Barraza, Paris (2023-03-08). "Iowa City's The Deadwood hosts Will Ferrell for documentary filming". press-citizen.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  5. ^ Steele, Andrew (2017-09-29). "Kirk Walther's passion made Record Collector legendary beyond Iowa City". press-citizen.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  6. ^ Hurwitz, Carly (2011-10-21). "UI English Dept. hosts alumni panel". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  7. ^ Rude, Mey (2024-08-20). "How a cross-country road trip brought Will Ferrell closer to his trans bestie Harper Steele". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  8. ^ Flair, Justus (2016-04-21). "Life in the comedy lane: Former SNL writer and Funny or Die director Andrew Steele". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  9. ^ Magazine, IN (2024-09-13). "Will Ferrell Says Dressing In Drag For Laughs On SNL Is Something He "Wouldn't Choose To Do Now"". IN Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  10. ^ "Andrew Steele". Television Academy Emmys. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  11. ^ "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. NBC. February 27, 2020. Event occurs at 11:53. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2008-08-06). "Funny or Die made of Steele". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  13. ^ McCarthy, Sean L. (2010-02-18). "Executive producer Andrew Steele says HBO's "Funny or Die Presents" is "true to us" – The Comic's Comic". The Comic's Comic. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  14. ^ Dargis, Manohla (2024-01-26). "2024 Sundance Film Festival: Will Ferrell Documentary and More". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  15. ^ Sharf, Zack (2024-01-22). "Will Ferrell Had 'Zero Knowledge' About the Trans Community. Then His Best Friend of 30 Years Came Out: 'This Was All New Territory for Me'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  16. ^ Barraza, Paris (March 11, 2023). "Actor and Comedian Ferrell Makes Appearance at Iowa City Bar". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  17. ^ Pond, Steve (2024-09-15). "'The Life of Chuck' Wins Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award". TheWrap. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  18. ^ Bio, Read Full (2024-01-22). "Will Ferrell wanted to support his transgender friend after she came out, so they made a movie". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  19. ^ Clymer, Liam (2024-09-16). "Will Ferrell's Trans Friend Harper Steele on Finding Support: 'We All Need a Will'". Pride Source. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  20. ^ Malkin, Marc (2024-09-28). "Will Ferrell and Harper Steele Insisted Netflix Release 'Will & Harper' Before Election Day So People Could 'Start Having Important Discussions in Their Living Rooms'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  21. ^ "Andrew Steele". Television Academy. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
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