ferrell was born in irvine, california on july 16, 1967. he is the son of betty kay (nee overman), a teacher who taught at old mill school elementary school and santa ana college, and roy lee ferrell jr., a musician with the righteous brothers. his parents were both natives of roanoke rapids, north carolina, and moved to california in 1964. he has a younger brother named patrick. when he was 8, his parents divorced. ferrell said of the divorce: "i was the type of kid who would say, 'hey, look at the bright side! we'll have two christmases'."