Honestly, if you only know Elyse Willems from the chaotic gaming videos on Funhaus, you’re kind of missing the full picture. It’s easy to peg her as "the funny Canadian one" who does a killer Keira Knightley impression, but her actual filmography and writing credits are way deeper than a few viral YouTube clips.
She’s spent over a decade quietly (and sometimes loudly) building a resume that bridges the gap between internet sketch comedy and legitimate television production. We're talking showrunning, professional voice acting, and even writing for major video game franchises.
Why the Funhaus Era was just the beginning
Most people started their journey with Elyse Willems movies and tv shows back in 2015 when she joined Rooster Teeth. Before that, she was already grinding at GameTrailers on Mandatory Update. But Funhaus was where she really became a household name for a specific subset of the internet.
It wasn't just about playing video games badly for laughs. She was producing. She was directing.
Arizona Circle and the jump to "Real" TV
If you want to see what Elyse can do with a budget and a writers' room, you have to look at Arizona Circle. This was a sketch comedy series that aired on Rooster Teeth’s platform (and had a pilot that basically broke their corner of the internet).
She didn't just act in it; she was a co-writer and showrunner. This wasn't "influencer content." It was structured, high-concept sketch comedy that felt closer to I Think You Should Leave than a standard YouTube vlog. It proved she could handle the structural demands of episodic television.
The voice behind the screen
You've probably heard her voice without even realizing it. Elyse has been carving out a space in the voice-over world that goes way beyond her own projects.
- Psychonauts 2: She voiced the "Rich Mom" in this massive sequel.
- Predator: Hunting Grounds: She did voice work as a soldier.
- Sex Swing: The Animated Series: Not only did she voice characters like the Mermaid Princess and Hanako, but she also wrote for the show.
- Arcadegeddon: She was a co-writer and voiced the character Ruck.
It's a weirdly diverse list. One minute she’s a background soldier in a tactical shooter, the next she’s writing dialogue for a Ghostbusters game.
Writing credits and the PBS pivot
Speaking of writing, her work on Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a huge deal. Taking on a legendary IP like Ghostbusters is a massive risk, but she and James Willems handled the narrative heavy lifting. It’s one of those "if you know, you know" facts that separates casual fans from the die-hards.
Lately, though, things have taken a bit of a turn toward the "infotainment" side of things. Since Funhaus closed its doors in 2024, Elyse has moved into a hosting role for Won’t You Be My Gamer? on PBS SoCal.
It’s a bit of a departure. It’s polished. It’s educational. But her voice is still there. She’s also been keeping the macabre vibes alive with the 30 Morbid Minutes podcast, which she showruns and hosts. It’s essentially a deep dive into the darker parts of history—think autopsies, strange deaths, and Victorian burial customs.
The "Movies" part of the equation
To be fair, "movies" is a bit of a stretch if you're looking for a Hollywood blockbuster where she stars alongside Tom Cruise. But her film credits are real.
She had a cameo in the horror-comedy Blood Fest (2018) as a "Selfie Attendee." She’s also appeared in documentaries like Haus of Pain and Waiting for the Punchline, which chronicle the reality of being a creator in the digital age. Most recently, she’s been involved in projects like Wheelchair Club and Total Party Kill, showing that she’s leaning more into indie film spaces as she moves away from the daily YouTube grind.
What most people get wrong about her career
The biggest misconception is that she’s just an "on-camera personality."
In reality, Elyse is a writer first. Whether it's her children's book, A Night in Halloween House, or the scripts for Arizona Circle, her career is defined by the pen (or keyboard). She has a degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Toronto, which explains why her comedy often has these weirdly specific layers of satire that you don’t always see in gaming content.
Where to watch her now
If you're looking to catch up on the best of Elyse Willems movies and tv shows, here is the short-list of where to start:
- Arizona Circle: For her best sketch comedy work.
- Won't You Be My Gamer? (PBS): For her current, more "professional" hosting era.
- 30 Morbid Minutes: If you want the dark, researched side of her personality.
- Last Laugh: The Rooster Teeth reality/comedy hybrid where she served as creator and host.
The landscape for creators is shifting. Funhaus is gone, Rooster Teeth is gone, but Elyse is still everywhere. She’s a "Swiss Army Knife" of a creator. She can write a game, host a PBS show, and do a voice for a double-A title all in the same year.
Next Steps for the curious:
Check out the Won't You Be My Gamer? series on the PBS SoCal YouTube channel to see her latest work in action. If you're more into the writing side, look up the credits for Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed to see how she translates her comedy style into a major gaming franchise.