July 9, 2019, is an important date in pop culture history: It marks the 15th anniversary of the day we were first introduced to San Diego's KVWN Channel 4 News Team in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." So much has changed since then. It's now appropriate to order scotchy scotch scotch from your favorite watering hole — though milk is still a bad choice. And we've all learned that there's nothing wrong with loving lamp. But as much as the world has changed since "Anchorman" debuted in 2004, it's changed even more for the films' five main stars. Read on to find out just how different their lives are now…
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Will Ferrell starred as Ron Burgundy, the station's No. 1 news anchor, in 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
Will Ferrell and his wife, Swedish actress and auctioneer Viveca Paulin, welcomed their first child, son Magnus, just months before "Anchorman" made the comedian an international star. They've since welcomed two more boys: Mattias in 2006 and Axel in 2010. The funnyman's also scored two Golden Globe nominations: the first in 2006 for "The Producers" and another the following year for "Stranger Than Fiction." Will has also starred in "Talladega Nights," "Step Brothers," "The Other Guys," "The Lego Movie" and "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." He more recently appeared in 2019's "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" and is set to star in the 2019 comedy "Zeroville."
Christina Applegate starred as Veronica Corningstone, Ron's co-anchor and love interest, in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
A few years after "Anchorman" pushed Christina Applegate back into the spotlight, her marriage of six years to "That Thing You Do!" actor Johnathon Schaech crumbled. But that was the least of her worries: In 2008, the talented "Married…With Children" alum was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. Fortunately, she's been healthy ever since. On Valentine's Day 2010, musician Martyn LeNoble asked the Emmy winner to be his wife. They welcomed daughter Sadie Grace in January 2011 and tied the knot two years later. Career-wise, Christina has starred in a slew of TV shows and movies since her "Anchorman" days including "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," "Hall Pass," "Vacation," "Bad Moms" and "Samantha Who?" She was also nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the 2005 Broadway revival of "Sweet Charity." She currently stars on the Netflix comedy series "Dead to Me."
Paul Rudd played Brian Fantana, a ladies' man field reporter, in 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
The year before "Anchorman" introduced Paul Rudd to an entirely new audience, the handsome (and seemingly ageless!) star wed former publicist Julie Yaeger. The couple welcomed son Jack in 2006 and daughter Darby in 2010. Paul went on to headline comedies such as "I Love You, Man," "Role Models," "This Is 40," "The Fundamentals of Caring" and "Ideal Home." Paul has also become a certified superhero since 2004, starring as Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with appearances in "Ant-Man," "Captain America: Civil War," "Ant-Man and the Wasp" and 2019's "Avengers: Endgame." Next up, he'll star in the sequel "Ghostbusters 2020."
Steve Carell starred as Brick Tamland, an exceptionally slow but good-natured weatherman, in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"
The month before "Anchorman" made Steve Carell a star, he and longtime love Nancy Walls Carell welcomed their second child, son John. (Their daughter, Elisabeth Anne, was born in 2001.) Steve went on to become one of the most beloved comedic actors in Hollywood, headlining "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Despicable Me," "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and, of course, NBC's "The Office," which earned him six Emmy nominations. Steve also made a name for himself starring in several dramas including "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Big Short" "Battle of the Sexes" and "Foxcatcher," for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He more recently appeared in 2018's "Welcome to Marwen" and next will star on the 2019 Apple TV+ series "The Morning Show" opposite Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
David Koechner played Champ Kind, the station's sportscaster, in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
David Koechner's talent for character acting has made him one of the most in-demand performers in the business — even if most people don't know his name. The comedian has reteamed with his "Anchorman" co-stars countless times over the years: with Will Ferrell in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and "Semi-Pro" and with Steve Carell in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Get Smart" and "The Office." He more recently appeared in 2018's "Then Came You" and currently stars on ABC's "Bless This Mess." David and wife Leigh — who almost died giving birth to their first child, son Charles Patrick — welcomed four more kids via surrogate: daughter Margot Grace, twins Audrey Violet and William Sargent, and youngest Eve Juliet, who arrived in January 2011.