Will Arnett: All About His Journey Through Laughter & Talent

Will Arnett, born in 1970, is a funny actor and comedian from Canada who now lives in America. His full name is William Emerson Arnett. He’s famous for making people laugh in movies and TV shows. He has worked as an actor, comedian, producer and voice over artist. He is a multitalented personality in the entertainment industry. You might know him as the voice of Batman in “The Lego Movie” or for playing Gob Bluth on the TV series “Arrested Development.” People from all around the world love Will Arnett for his great sense of humor and the fun he brings to his performances.

Will Arnett


Who is Will Arnett:

Will Arnett, born on May 4, 1970, is a Canadian American actor and comedian known for making people laugh on TV and in movies. He’s been doing this for many years and has become really famous. You might recognize him as Gob Bluth from the TV show “Arrested Development” or as the voice of Batman in “The Lego Movie.” People all around the world love him for being funny and entertaining. Will Arnett has a special way of making us laugh, and he’s become a well-loved figure in the world of entertainment.


Quick Bio of Will Arnett:

Quick Bio
Full Name William Emerson Arnett
Gender Male
Date Of Birth May 4, 1970
Birth Country Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Citizenship Canada & United States
Occupation Actor, Comedian, Producer
Years Active 1994-Present
Father Name Emerson James Arnett
Mother Name Edith Palk
Spouses 2
First Spouse Name Penelope Ann Miller (Married on December 09, 1994-Divorced on January 18, 1995)
Second Spouse Name Amy Poehler (Married on August 29, 2003-Divorced on August 02, 2016)
Girlfriend Name Alessandra Brawn (2019-Current)
Children 3
First Child Name Archibald William Emerson Arnett (With Amy Poehler)
Second Child Name Abel James Arnett (With Amy Poehler)
Third Child Name Alexander Denison Arnett (With Alessandra Brawn)

Childhood & Education of Will Arnett:

You may also like: Will Arnett Kids: All About his 3 Adorable Babies

Will Arnett, originally from Toronto, Ontario, was born to Edith Alexandra “Alix” (Palk) and Emerson James “Jim” Arnett. His father, who had various roles including corporate lawyer and brewer, held the prestigious position of president and CEO of Molson Breweries from 1997 to 2000. Arnett’s family has deep roots in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a history in Manitoba that spans several generations. In his family, Arnett has two older sisters and a younger brother.

Although he briefly attended Lakefield College School in Ontario, Arnett’s mischievous nature led to his departure after just one semester. He found a creative outlet at the Subway Academy II, where he immersed himself in theatre classes at the Tarragon Theatre. After graduating from Leaside High School, he started studies at Concordia University in Montreal but chose to discontinue. Acting became a passion for Arnett after his mother encouraged him to pursue it, and he began auditioning for commercials in Toronto.

In 1990, he moved to New York City to hone his acting skills at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Arnett made his presence known on the New York stage, securing roles in various plays. His initial experience in acting included Felicity Huffman’s independent film, “Erie,” which was filmed along the Erie Canal.

On a lighter note, as revealed on the SmartLess podcast, Arnett expresses his love for hockey and fitness, often talking about his “Pro Dumper” and his ability to bench press up to 165 pounds.


Personal Life of Will Arnett:

Will Arnet

Will Arnett currently resides in Los Angeles, California, holding dual citizenship in both Canada and the United States. Will Arnett’s journey led him to New York City in 1990, where he lived for two decades. In 2015, Arnett made a significant move, purchasing property in Beverly Hills and undertaking the construction of a new home, completing the project in 2017. By 2021, he had sold the custom home and relocated to a modern farmhouse in Benedict Canyon.

Arnett’s marital history involves two unions and three children. His first marriage was to Penelope Ann Miller, a brief alliance lasting from November 1994 to January 1995. The couple married in December 1994, a month after they began dating but divorced less than a month later.

In 2000, Will Arnett entered into a relationship with Amy Poehler, whom he first encountered in 1996 during an Upright Citizens Brigade performance. They wed on August 29, 2003, and had two sons together. The couple’s amicable separation occurred in September 2012, with Arnett filing for divorce in April 2014 due to irreconcilable differences. Their divorce reached finalization in July 2016. Throughout their relationship, Arnett and Poehler collaborated on various projects, including appearances in “Arrested Development,” “Parks and Recreation,” and films such as “Blades of Glory” and “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

Will Arnett’s romantic journey took a new turn in 2019 when he entered into a relationship with socialite and businesswoman Alessandra Brawn. The couple welcomed a son on May 27, 2020.

In his personal struggles, Arnett has faced alcoholism, a theme explored in his shows “Flaked” and “BoJack Horseman.” Although he achieved sobriety for fifteen years, a relapse occurred during the production of “Flaked.” Arnett attributes his recovery to Alcoholics Anonymous, acknowledging its role in reclaiming sobriety.

As for his comedic influences, Arnett cites Steve Martin and Chevy Chase as his two biggest inspirations in the realm of humor.


Will Arnett’s Career as an Actor:

  • Television Pilots and Struggles (1996-2000): Will Arnett kicked off his television journey in February 1996 with his first pilot alongside Kevin Pollak and Lucy Webb for CBS, unfortunately not getting picked up. In 1999, he took part in another pilot for NBC titled “The Mike O’Malley Show,” portraying the protagonist’s friend Jimmy. Despite the show’s pickup, it faced cancellation after just two episodes. The year 2000 marked a challenging period for Arnett, describing it as “the darkest year” of his life, marked by a lack of work and a battle with alcoholism. In the summer of 2000, a friend intervened, helping Arnett overcome alcoholism and reignite his career.
  • Failed Pilots and Turning Point (2001-2003): In 2001, Arnett landed a role in the CBS television pilot “Loomis” as the slacker brother of a local news reporter (Cheri Oteri), which, once again, did not receive a pickup. The following year, he secured a role in the CBS sitcom “Still Standing,” but his character was cut after the pilot. Frustrated after four failed pilots, Arnett initially swore off participating in any more pilot projects until persuaded by his agent to audition for “Arrested Development.” The year 2003 marked a turning point for Arnett, finding mainstream success on television as he portrayed George Oscar “Gob” Bluth II in the Fox comedy series “Arrested Development.” His performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 2006.
  • Transition to Film and Comedy Roles (2003-2007): Arnett’s exposure on “Arrested Development” led to larger roles in feature films. Making the switch from drama to comedy, he often played smug antagonists. Notably, he starred in “Let’s Go to Prison” (2006) and “Blades of Glory” (2007), where he and his then-wife Amy Poehler played a brother/sister ice-skating pair with an unusual relationship. His diverse roles included guest appearances in “King of the Hill” and “30 Rock,” earning him four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
  • Expanding Filmography and Television Work (2008-2017): Arnett took on supporting roles in films such as “Spring Breakdown,” “Hot Rod,” “The Comebacks,” and “On Broadway.” Additionally, he co-starred in “Semi-Pro” (2008) and featured in “Up All Night,” an NBC television comedy series. Arnett’s filmography continued to grow with roles in “The Millers,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2014), and its sequel “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” (2016). In 2017, he assumed the recurring role of Mr. Quagmire in the Netflix comedy drama series “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”
  • Recent Endeavors and Role Replacement (2017-2021): In December 2021, Arnett stepped into a role in the reshoots for “Next Goal Wins,” replacing Armie Hammer in part of the character Alex Magnussen due to abuse allegations against Hammer in January 2021. Initially intended as a cameo, the role expanded upon Arnett’s involvement.

Will Arnett’s Career as a Voice Over Artist:

  • Voice-Over Work and Advertisements (Pre-2009): Will Arnett’s distinctive gravelly voice became highly sought after, leading to voice-over work for CBS television promos, film trailers, and various advertisements, including one for Lamisil medication. Notably, his voice became synonymous with the tagline, “It’s not more than you need, just more than you’re used to,” in ads for GMC trucks.
  • Television Show Voice-Overs and Animated Characters (2005-2009): Arnett lent his voice to several television shows, such as Ghost Writer in Nickelodeon’s 2005 series “Danny Phantom” and Duncan Schiesst in the Comedy Central animated program “Freak Show,” created by and starring his “Arrested Development” co-star David Cross. He also took on the role of announcer for the faux trailer “Don’t” in the 2007 film “Grindhouse” and became the announcer for Cartoon Network in October 2008 during its “Noods” era, replacing Greg Cipes.
  • Animated Films and Video Game Voice Acting (2008-2019): Arnett voiced characters in animated films, including Vlad in “Horton Hears a Who!,” The Missing Link in “Monsters vs. Aliens,” Horst the German sous-chef in “Ratatouille,” and Mr. Perkins in “Despicable Me.” In 2009, he voiced the title character in the video game “Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard” and starred in the Fox animated comedy series “Sit Down, Shut Up,” voicing the character Ennis Hofftard. He also made a commercial cameo for the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.”
  • Batman in Lego Franchise and BoJack Horseman (2014-2020): Arnett voiced Batman in the film “The Lego Movie” and reprised the role in “The Lego Batman Movie” (2017) and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” (2019). He also voiced Batman in an episode of the franchise’s spinoff animated series “Unikitty!” titled “BatKitty.” Arnett achieved critical acclaim as the eponymous character in the Netflix animated sitcom “BoJack Horseman,” which ran from 2014 to 2020.
  • Live Reenactment and Recent Endeavors (2021): In 2021, Arnett took on the role of Dink Lockwood in a reenactment of the third season episode “Kids Can Be Cruel” for the third edition of “Live in Front of a Studio Audience,” featuring “The Facts of Life.”

Will Arnett’s Career as a Producer:

  • DumbDumb Productions and Digital Content Creation (2010): In 2010, Will Arnett, alongside former “Arrested Development” co-star Jason Bateman, co-founded DumbDumb Productions, focusing on digital content creation. One of their early projects was “Prom Date,” the initial installment in a series of “Dirty shorts” created for Orbit.
  • Executive Producer and Tribeca Film Festival Spotlight (2012): Arnett earned his first executive-producer credit alongside Jason Bateman in March 2012 for “Mansome,” a documentary exploring male identity through grooming habits. Directed by Morgan Spurlock, the film featured celebrity and expert commentary and was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival Spotlight.
  • Netflix Original Series “Flaked” (2016): In 2016, Arnett took on the roles of co-creator, co-writer, and star in the Netflix original series “Flaked.” Despite Arnett’s involvement, the show received negative reviews from critics.
  • Cursed Friends and Electric Avenue (2022): Announced in September 2022, “Cursed Friends,” a Comedy Central original movie, is produced by Arnett’s production company, Electric Avenue. Arnett is slated to make an appearance in the film.

Will Arnett’s Other Work:

  • Hulu Advertisements and Devon Banks Persona (Present): Will Arnett currently serves as the spokesperson for a series of Hulu advertisements. In these television spots, his role intentionally mirrors that of Devon Banks, a power-hungry manipulator, highlighting Arnett’s versatility in portraying diverse characters.
  • SmartLess Podcast Creation (2020): In July 2020, Arnett, in collaboration with Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, entered the world of podcasting by creating “SmartLess.” This comedy and talk podcast feature the trio engaging in humorous conversations and interviews, adding another dimension to Arnett’s multifaceted career.

Will Arnett’s Accolades and Recognition (2005-2019):

  • In 2005, New York magazine honored Will Arnett and his then-wife Amy Poehler as “New Yorkers of the Year” during the annual New York Magazine Culture Awards.
  • In April 2007, talk show host Conan O’Brien and his writing staff named Arnett as one of their all-time favorite guests during a panel hosted by The Paley Center for Media. This honor was shared with fellow Canadians Norm Macdonald and Harland Williams.
  • Also in April 2007, Entertainment Weekly bestowed the title of “Future King of Comedy” upon Will Arnett, recognizing his comedic prowess and potential in the industry.
  • Best Week Ever’s “Top 15 Sexiest Nerd Boys” poll in May 2007 ranked Arnett at No. 9, emphasizing his appeal in the eyes of the audience.
  • Premiere magazine added to the accolades in July 2007 by naming Arnett as one of “The 20 Hottest New Faces in Comedy,” acknowledging his rising status in the comedic landscape.
  • In July 2019, Will Arnett received the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame, solidifying his recognition and contributions to the entertainment industry.

Will Arnett in Films:

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Close Up Dave
Ed’s Next Move Weather Video Guy
1997 The Broken Giant Ezra Caton
1999 Southie Whitey
The Waiting Game Lenny
2000 The Acting Class Will Bennett
2001 Series 7: The Contenders Narrator Voice
2005 Monster-in-Law Kit
2006 Ice Age: The Meltdown Lone Gunslinger Voice
RV Todd Mallory
The Great New Wonderful Danny Segment: Emme’s Story
Let’s Go to Prison Nelson Biederman IV
Wristcutters: A Love Story Messiah
2007 Blades of Glory Stranz Van Waldenberg
Grindhouse Announcer Voice, segment: “Don’t”
On Broadway Tom
Ratatouille Horst Voice
Hot Rod Jonathan Ault
The Brothers Solomon John Solomon
The Comebacks Mailman
2008 Semi-Pro Lou Redwood
Horton Hears a Who! Vlad Vladikoff Voice
The Rocker Lex Drennan
2009 Spring Breakdown Ted Direct-to-DVD
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Subject No. 11
Monsters vs. Aliens The Missing Link Voice
G-Force Secret Agent Kip Killian
2010 When in Rome Antonio Donatelo
Jonah Hex Lieutenant Grass
Despicable Me Mr. Perkins Voice
2012 The Secret World of Arrietty Pod Voice, English dub
Men in Black 3 Agent AA Uncredited
Mansome Himself Documentary
Producer
2014 The Nut Job Surly Voice
The Lego Movie Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vern Fenwick
2015 Being Canadian Himself Documentary
2016 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Vern Fenwick
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Main CMZ Reporter
2017 The Lego Batman Movie Bruce Wayne / Batman Voice
Dark Hoser Voice, short film
Batman is Just Not That Into You
Cooking with Alfred
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Surly Voice
2018 Show Dogs Det. Frank Nicholas
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies Slade Voice; also producer
2019 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Batman Voice
2020 Dolittle Jackrabbit in prison cell Voice, uncredited
2021 Rumble Steve Voice
2022 Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers Sweet Pete Voice
Minions: The Rise of Gru Mr. Perkins Voice
G’day, the short film Louie Voice, short film
2023 Next Goal Wins Alex Magnussen

Will Arnett on Television:

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Cybermania ’94 Himself (remote host) Awards show
1999 Sex and the City Jack Episode: “La Douleur Exquise!”
The Mike O’Malley Show Jimmy 13 episodes
2000 Third Watch Kenny Episode: “Spring Forward, Fall Back”
2001 Boston Public Hand Salesman Episode: “Chapter Twenty-Nine”
2002 Yes, Dear Bobby Episode: “Johnny Ampleseed”
The Sopranos Mike Waldrup 2 episodes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Tony Damon Episode: “Angels”
2003 Undefeated Scott Green’s Assistant Television film
2003–2006 Arrested Development George Oscar “G.O.B.” Bluth II 82 episodes
2013
2018–2019
2004 Will & Grace Artemis Johnson Episode: “Back Up, Dancer”
2005 Odd Job Jack Tiberius McKorkindale Voice, 2 episodes
Danny Phantom Ghost Writer Voice, episode: “The Fright Before Christmas”
2006 Freak Show Duncan Schiesst Voice, 7 episodes
O’Grady Dougski Voice, 1 episode
The X’s Pork E. Bacon Episode: “From Crusha With Love”
2007 King of the Hill Portis Voice, episode: “Hank Gets Dusted”
2007–2013 30 Rock Devon Banks 9 episodes
2008 Sesame Street Max the Magician Episode: “Max the Magician”
Human Giant Himself Episode: “I’m Gonna Live Forever!”
2009 Sit Down, Shut Up Ennis Hofftard Voice, 13 episodes
Delocated TV Announcer Voice, episode: “Good Buds”
Monsters vs. Aliens: The Missing Link Voice, television film
Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space
2009–2011 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Himself/Brett Favre 6 episodes
2010 Parks and Recreation Chris Episode: “The Set Up”
2010–2011 Running Wilde Steve Wilde 13 episodes; also co-creator and executive producer
2010–2012 The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Brent Wilts 17 episodes
2016
2011 The Office Fred Henry Episode: “Search Committee”
2011–2012 Up All Night Chris 35 episodes
2012 The Cleveland Show General Richter Voice, episode: “A General Thanksgiving Episode”
Comedy Bang! Bang! Dale Episode: “Seth Rogen Wears a Plaid Shirt & Brown Pants”
2013, 2015 The Late Late Show Himself (Guest host) 3 episodes
2013–2014 The Millers Nathan Miller 34 episodes
2014 The Simpsons Deputy Director Gratman Voice, episode: “Steal This Episode”
2014–2020 BoJack Horseman BoJack Horseman Voice, 76 episodes; also executive producer
/ Additional voices
2014 Wander Over Yonder Ryder Voice, episode: “The Rider”
2016–2017 Flaked Chip 14 episodes; also co-creator, executive producer and director
2016 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Kitty Voice, episode: “Kimmy Kidnaps Gretchen!”; uncredited
2017 A Series of Unfortunate Events Father/Mr. Quagmire 8 episodes
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Himself (guest host) 1 episode
Minecon Earth 2017 Himself (co-host) YouTube live show
Netflix: LIVE Himself (host) Netflix special
2017–2018 The Gong Show Himself (guest judge) 5 episodes; also executive producer
2017 The Magic School Bus Rides Again Galapagos Gil Voice, episode: “Frizzle Of The Future”
2017–2019 Hot Date Sam Keurig Episode: “For Real, Where Have All My Friends Gone?”; also executive producer
2018 The Guest Book Rob Episode: “Under Cover”
2019 Unikitty! Bruce Wayne / Batman / Batkitty Voice, episode: “Batkitty”
Riviera Jeff Carter 10 episodes
2020–present LEGO Masters Himself (host) Also executive producer
2020 The First Team Mark Crane 4 episodes
2021 All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs Himself (narrator) Voice, 5 episodes
Muppets Haunted Mansion Ghost Host Television special
The Morning Show Doug Klassen 2 episodes
Live in Front of a Studio Audience Dink Lockwood Episode: “Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life”
2022 Murderville Senior Detective Terry Seattle 7 episodes; also executive producer
Our Flag Means Death Calico Jack Episode: “We Gull Way Back”
Island of the Sea Wolves Himself (narrator) 3 episodes; Netflix documentary series
2023 Twisted Metal Sweet Tooth Voice, main role
Also executive producer

Will Arnett worked in Video Games:

Year Title Role
2009 Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard Matt Hazard
Monsters vs. Aliens The Missing Link
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Sgt. Arnett
2015 Lego Dimensions Bruce Wayne / Batman (The LEGO Batman Movie), Excalibur Batman
2022 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Dragon Lord

Will Arnett Awards and Nominations:

Year Award Category Project Result
2004 TV Land Award Future Classic Award (Shared with cast and producers) Arrested Development Won
2005 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with cast) Nominated
2006 Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2008 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2010 Nominated
2011 Nominated
2012 Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Up All Night Nominated
2014 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with cast) Arrested Development Nominated
American Comedy Award Best Comedy Supporting Actor – TV Nominated
2015 Kids’ Choice Award Favorite Movie Actor The Lego Movie Nominated
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nominated
2017 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Nominated
MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Comedic Performance The Lego Batman Movie Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Comedy Movie Actor Nominated
2019 Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Series BoJack Horseman Won
2021 Critics’ Choice Super Awards Best Voice Actor in an Animated Series Won

 


Facts & Trivia About Will Arnett:
  • Entertainment Luminary: The Impact of Will Arnett
    Will Arnett, a distinguished Canadian-American actor and comedian, has etched his name in the annals of the entertainment industry.
  • Early Beginnings: A Star is Born (May 4, 1970)
    Born on May 4, 1970, in Toronto, Canada, Will Arnett’s foray into the entertainment world commenced.
  • Rising Star: Gob Bluth in “Arrested Development”
    Will Arnett soared to stardom through his compelling portrayal of Gob Bluth in the critically acclaimed series “Arrested Development.”
  • The Voice of Batman: “The Lego Movie” Franchise
    Will Arnett’s unmistakable voice brought the iconic character of Batman to vivid life in “The Lego Movie” franchise.
  • Acclaimed Voice Artist: “BoJack Horseman” Achievements
    His outstanding contributions to “BoJack Horseman” earned Arnett accolades and awards for his exceptional voice work.
  • Versatility on Display: TV Shows Beyond the Icons
    Beyond these iconic roles, Arnett showcased his multifaceted talent in popular TV shows such as “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation.”
  • Creator and Star: “Flaked” on Netflix
    Taking on the roles of both creator and star, Arnett led the Netflix series “Flaked.”
  • Host Extraordinaire: “LEGO Masters” (2020)
    In 2020, Arnett delved into hosting as he took the helm of the reality competition show “LEGO Masters.”
  • Personal Spotlight: Marriages and Relationships
    With two marriages, including one to actress Amy Poehler, Arnett’s personal life has also been under the public’s watchful eye.
  • Captivating Audiences: The Arnett Essence
    Known for his resonant voice and deadpan comedic style, Will Arnett remains a captivating force in the entertainment realm, showcasing his versatile talents.
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