Will Estell
Will Estell is a writer, Editor-In-Chief, former publisher, and occasional casting agent, with some appearances in film and television. Estell, who has openly talked about being adopted, grew up on a farm near Booneville, Mississippi where he attended high school at Pine Grove High. His first acting job was at the age of seven as a regular on the syndicated Romper Room children's (Mrs. Peggy version from mid 1970's) program.
Estell did not catch the acting bug again until he was a high school senior, cast in the 1988 Martin Davidson directed, period piece, Heart of Dixie, where he played a minor roll as a college frat boy in the Mississippi based production that also starred Ally Sheedy, Phoebe Cates, Treat Williams, Virginia Madsen, Peter Berg, Kurtwood Smith, and Don Michael Paul.
After high school Will Estell landed a role in the 1989 Jim McBride directed, Great Balls of Fire, based on the early life of Jerry Lee Lewis, and starring Dennis Quaid, Alec Baldwin, Wynona Ryder. In this film Estell was cast as a Calhoun Soldier who was Lewis' cousin in the 1956 early portion of the film. Though much of the 1956 period of this film did not make the final edit, Will Estell is seen as the first person in the movie, walking across a street in army uniform, with bag over shoulder. He also did a hand shot double for Dennis Quaid, that is seen in the film.
As a young adult Estell changed his focus to writing and publishing. Will Estell became a noted magazine writer turned editor and publisher, who is credited with helping to bring eleven new magazine brands and titles to fruition over two decades. Most specifically in the tourism and travel sector, including the well known nationally sold, Beaches Resorts & Parks travel title, that was later sold to The 30A Company and revamped and launched as their nationally available, Beach Happy magazine (BeachHappyMag.com). UPDATE: As of early 2022 , Will Estell also became the Editor-In-Chief of the nationally sold, long time running, BeachGuide magazine, and BeachGuide.com, based in Florida.
Estell didn't really pursue acting for many years, before then being cast in the 2006 Adam McKay directed hit, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, where Estell was cast as the VP of Ford Motor Company, and presented the winning trophy to John C. Reilly's character on the podium of Talladega Superspeedway.
In 2009 Will Estell penned his first book: Wisdom & Wisecracks for the Aspiring Business Owner (now in its second edition). The entrepreneurial title, consisting of all original insights and quotes by Will Estell, was named one of Ten Books Entrepreneurs Want, by INC. Magazine, in their 2010 Holiday Gift List, and went on to become a top 20 bestseller, for a short time, on Amazon's self-help, business, and entrepreneurial categories.
In 2012 Will Estell founded the Destin, Florida based, and nationally distributed, Beaches Resorts & Parks magazine. The title went on to become one of the most popular coastal themed travel titles in the country, before being sold to The 30A Company in 2020, where it was revamped and launched as The 30A Company's new Beach Happy travel and lifestyle magazine, available nationally. Estell has also written and been published in over 400 magazine articles, including conducting feature cover interviews on such well known figures, as Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Duck Dynasty's Willie and Korie Robertson, Jase and Missy Robertson, Emeril Lagasse, Darius Rucker, Eli Young Band, Sara Evans, Drake White, Brother's Osborne and other notable entertainers.
In late 2017, Will Estell, tried his hand at the casting and location scouting side of the industry and was instrumental in casting his first nationally aired commercial spot, a NASCAR tribute, entitle We Are Junior Nation, for retiring driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. where Will Estell brought together the talent and locations for about half of the spot, which aired nationally on Fox Network, using local talent and locations in and around his own home town for the NY based production company.
As of early 2020 Estell, was residing in the Destin, Florida area where he serves as Editor-In-Chief of Beach Happy magazine, while also being active as a board member for arts, entertainment and conversation non-profits, such as Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, and Trees On the Coast, in addition to pursuing his interest in unscripted television concept creation and song writing.
Update: In January of 2022 Will Estell married long-time, Pensacola, Florida based, ABC Morning News Anchor, Laura Hussey. The television and publishing media twosome reside in Destin, Florida and continue to both work in their respected media fields in the state of Florida.
Estell did not catch the acting bug again until he was a high school senior, cast in the 1988 Martin Davidson directed, period piece, Heart of Dixie, where he played a minor roll as a college frat boy in the Mississippi based production that also starred Ally Sheedy, Phoebe Cates, Treat Williams, Virginia Madsen, Peter Berg, Kurtwood Smith, and Don Michael Paul.
After high school Will Estell landed a role in the 1989 Jim McBride directed, Great Balls of Fire, based on the early life of Jerry Lee Lewis, and starring Dennis Quaid, Alec Baldwin, Wynona Ryder. In this film Estell was cast as a Calhoun Soldier who was Lewis' cousin in the 1956 early portion of the film. Though much of the 1956 period of this film did not make the final edit, Will Estell is seen as the first person in the movie, walking across a street in army uniform, with bag over shoulder. He also did a hand shot double for Dennis Quaid, that is seen in the film.
As a young adult Estell changed his focus to writing and publishing. Will Estell became a noted magazine writer turned editor and publisher, who is credited with helping to bring eleven new magazine brands and titles to fruition over two decades. Most specifically in the tourism and travel sector, including the well known nationally sold, Beaches Resorts & Parks travel title, that was later sold to The 30A Company and revamped and launched as their nationally available, Beach Happy magazine (BeachHappyMag.com). UPDATE: As of early 2022 , Will Estell also became the Editor-In-Chief of the nationally sold, long time running, BeachGuide magazine, and BeachGuide.com, based in Florida.
Estell didn't really pursue acting for many years, before then being cast in the 2006 Adam McKay directed hit, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, where Estell was cast as the VP of Ford Motor Company, and presented the winning trophy to John C. Reilly's character on the podium of Talladega Superspeedway.
In 2009 Will Estell penned his first book: Wisdom & Wisecracks for the Aspiring Business Owner (now in its second edition). The entrepreneurial title, consisting of all original insights and quotes by Will Estell, was named one of Ten Books Entrepreneurs Want, by INC. Magazine, in their 2010 Holiday Gift List, and went on to become a top 20 bestseller, for a short time, on Amazon's self-help, business, and entrepreneurial categories.
In 2012 Will Estell founded the Destin, Florida based, and nationally distributed, Beaches Resorts & Parks magazine. The title went on to become one of the most popular coastal themed travel titles in the country, before being sold to The 30A Company in 2020, where it was revamped and launched as The 30A Company's new Beach Happy travel and lifestyle magazine, available nationally. Estell has also written and been published in over 400 magazine articles, including conducting feature cover interviews on such well known figures, as Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan, Duck Dynasty's Willie and Korie Robertson, Jase and Missy Robertson, Emeril Lagasse, Darius Rucker, Eli Young Band, Sara Evans, Drake White, Brother's Osborne and other notable entertainers.
In late 2017, Will Estell, tried his hand at the casting and location scouting side of the industry and was instrumental in casting his first nationally aired commercial spot, a NASCAR tribute, entitle We Are Junior Nation, for retiring driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. where Will Estell brought together the talent and locations for about half of the spot, which aired nationally on Fox Network, using local talent and locations in and around his own home town for the NY based production company.
As of early 2020 Estell, was residing in the Destin, Florida area where he serves as Editor-In-Chief of Beach Happy magazine, while also being active as a board member for arts, entertainment and conversation non-profits, such as Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, and Trees On the Coast, in addition to pursuing his interest in unscripted television concept creation and song writing.
Update: In January of 2022 Will Estell married long-time, Pensacola, Florida based, ABC Morning News Anchor, Laura Hussey. The television and publishing media twosome reside in Destin, Florida and continue to both work in their respected media fields in the state of Florida.