Will Ferrell explains recent appearance as disheveled Buddy the Elf at Los Angeles Kings hockey game where he drank beer and smoked candy cigarettes.

Christmas might be over, but we’re still thinking about that moment from long-ago December when Will Ferrell inexplicably dressed up as one of his most iconic characters, and now he’s explaining why he did it.

Before 2025 ended, Will Ferrell was seen at an L.A. Kings hockey game dressed as Buddy the Elf… or rather, a Buddy who’d fallen on hard times, as evidenced by his drinking and the cigarette in his mouth.

At running back, Ferrell saw no one better to break some tackles than Old School ’s Frank the Tank. Buddy the Elf, a “flexible and live” character, was drafted as wide receiver, causing some debate between Ferrell and Jason Kelce about whether Blades of Glory ’s Chazz Michael Michaels would do better in the position.

Buddy the Elf is apparently now a smoking, drinking, scowling hockey fan, as Will Ferrell reprises role from the holiday classic 'Elf' movie at the Kings-Flyers game.

Will Ferrell was hilariously dressed as Buddy the Elf in the stands at an NHL hockey game, looking grumpy and pretending to smoke a cigarette. He first appeared as the character in 2003 family movie,

Will Ferrell attended the Kings-Flyers game at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena Sunday dressed up as his iconic character from the beloved 2003 holiday movie “Elf,” and Buddy was looking a little worse for the wear this time.

Will Ferrell is back as Buddy from the Christmas movie Elf, but definitely not in the way anyone was expecting. Directed by Jon Favreau, Elf has become a modern Christmas classic, with Buddy the Elf standing as arguably Will Ferrell’s signature role.

Will Ferrell is closing out the holiday season in iconic form.

"The reaction was insane," the actor said of internet attention on his costumed Buddy the Elf appearance on Dec. 29