Elyse Willems

Elyse Willems (born May 3, 1986) is a Canadian comedian, writer, actress, and host. She is best known for her work as a cast member and producer at Funhaus, a division of Rooster Teeth Productions, since November 2015. Since then, Willems has appeared and been involved in numerous productions by Rooster Teeth until the company went defunct in 2024.

Willems self-published her debut novel, A Night in Halloween House, which became a bestselling Halloween children's book on Amazon in October 2020.

Life and career Willems was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario in a family of Polish descent. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government, Willems relocated to Los Angeles in January 2012. 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.

Funhaus 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, and on the series Always Open, hosted by fellow Canadian Rooster Teeth member and friend Barbara Dunkelman. 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. The clip appeared in one of PewDiePie's videos, and garnered almost fifteen million views worldwide. Willems clarified that the intent was humorous and that her reaction was deliberately comedic.

Other works 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. 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.

Willems self-published her first novel, titled A Night in Halloween House, in October 2020. 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.

After Rooster Teeth and, by extension, Funhaus shut down in 2024, Willems has been involved in multiple programs for PBS and video game writing projects.

Personal life Willems is married to fellow performer and Funhaus cast member James Willems, and they live in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography Film 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

Web series 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, 2026 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 2023Stinky Dragon AdventuresIron Golem #1 Episode: "The One-Armed Archer" 2024Um, Actually contestantSeason 9, Episode 6 2024 - Won't You Be My Gamer? HostPBS Infotainment Series, 53 Episodes 2025How Are We Today? Barry the Beaver PBS Sitcom 2025Answer For It! Host30 Episodes 2025 Smosh Summer Games: Class of 2005 Secret Lunch Lady 1 Episode - Finale

Video games 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: The Game Writer