Will Ferrell dresses as Buddy from 'Elf' at Los Angeles Kings game: See the photos

Smiling may no longer be Buddy the Elf's favorite based on a recent public appearance.

Will Ferrell was spotted attending an NHL game on Sunday dressed as his character from the classic Christmas film "Elf."

The comedian, 57, wore a green suit and hat in the audience of the face-off between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers. But in contrast to the happy, childlike Buddy from the movie, he was looking stone-faced when cameras cut to him. Seemingly as a gag to portray a darker Buddy, Ferrell held what appeared to be an unlit cigarette in his mouth and pretended to smoke it.

An on-screen graphic at the game identified Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, according to a clip shared on social media by the Los Angeles Kings. FanDuel reporter Carrlyn Bathe, meanwhile, told fans that Buddy "said it was a tough holiday season" and that he was "looking for a Kings win."

It turned out to be a Christmas miracle for Buddy, then, as the Kings ended up defeating the Flyers. Ferrell was seen celebrating and holding up his drink at another point in the game.

The "Saturday Night Live" alum is known to be a longtime fans of the Kings and is often spotted attending their games. "Wouldn't be a Kings game without Will Ferrell," the team said on Instagram earlier this year.

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In 2023, the comedian painted his face to support the Kings during the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he reprised his character Ron Burgundy from "Anchorman" to provide commentary at a 2019 game.

Will Ferrell turned down $29 million for 'Elf' sequel: 'Oh no, it's not good'

Ferrell starred in the 2003 comedy "Elf" as a human who was raised alongside elves at the North Pole and travels to New York to meet his biological father, leading to plenty of fish-out-of-water antics. Jon Favreau directed the film, which is frequently broadcast on TV throughout the holiday season and also starred James Caan and Zooey Deschanel.

But despite Ferrell reprising Buddy in real life, he has never done so in a proper sequel. In 2021, he revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he turned down $29 million to star in a second "Elf" film that was written but was too much of a rehash of the original.

"I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would've been, like, 'Oh no, it's not good. I just couldn't turn down that much money,'" he said. "And I thought, 'Can I actually say those words? I don't think I can, so I guess I can't do the movie.'"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Ferrell returns as Buddy from Elf at NHL game: See the photos