Will Arnett

Early Life and Education

Will Arnett was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Edith Alexandra "Alix" Palk and Emerson James "Jim" Arnett, a corporate lawyer who later served as president and CEO of Molson Breweries from 1997 to 2000. His family has deep roots in Manitoba, with both parents originally from Winnipeg, and he has older twin sisters and a younger brother. His early education was marked by behavioural challenges, leading to a brief and troubled stint at Lakefield College School in Ontario, from which he was asked not to return after a single semester. A significant development came when his mother enrolled him at Subway Academy II, an alternative school that allowed him to take theatre classes at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, providing a constructive outlet that led him to graduate from Leaside High School. After a single semester studying theatre at Montreal's Concordia University, Arnett dropped out and began auditioning for commercials in Toronto before moving to New York City in 1990 to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

Career Beginnings and Early Struggles

Arnett's professional career began in New York with stage work and a small role in the 1994 independent film Erie, and his first television appearance was as a host for the pay-per-view broadcast of Woodstock '94. The late 1990s and early 2000s were defined by a series of professional setbacks, including several television pilots that were not picked up for series, such as one for CBS with Kevin Pollak in 1996 and another for The Mike O'Malley Show in 1999, though a guest role on Sex and the City in 1999 provided minor exposure. After his character was cut from the pilot of the CBS sitcom Still Standing in 2002, Arnett became so frustrated he swore off auditioning for pilots entirely, and during this period, which he later described as the darkest year of his life, he struggled with alcoholism until a friend helped him confront his addiction in the summer of 2000. He subsequently secured guest spots on prestigious dramas like The Sopranos and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2002, building momentum just before his major breakthrough.

Breakthrough with Arrested Development and Mainstream Success

Arnett's career transformed in 2003 when he was cast as the delusional and inept magician Gob Bluth on the Fox series Arrested Development, a role that earned him critical acclaim and his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2006. Although the series was cancelled in 2006 after three seasons due to low ratings, it developed a devoted cult following and was later revived by Netflix, and the success led to numerous film roles including his first leading part in Let's Go to Prison in 2006. The following year, he appeared in several major studio comedies, playing the antagonistic ice skater Stranz Van Waldenberg in Blades of Glory and a supporting role in Hot Rod, and he also began a recurring role on NBC's 30 Rock as the scheming executive Devon Banks, a performance that garnered him four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor. His voice became a staple in advertising, most notably as the spokesman for GMC trucks, and he lent his baritone to animated films like Ratatouille (2007), Horton Hears a Who! (2008), and Despicable Me (2010).

Voice Acting and Animated Roles

Arnett's deep, resonant voice has become one of his most recognizable assets, leading to a prolific career in voice acting across film, television, and video games. His early voice work included promos for CBS and Cartoon Network, as well as the voice of the announcer in the faux trailer "Don't" for the film Grindhouse, and in animation, he has voiced a wide range of characters including The Missing Link in Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) and the title character in the video game Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (2009). His most famous voice role is that of a self-absorbed Lego Batman in The Lego Movie (2014), a character he reprised in The Lego Batman Movie (2017) and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019), and from 2014 to 2020, he delivered a critically acclaimed dramatic and comedic performance as the titular depressed anthropomorphic horse in Netflix's BoJack Horseman. More recent voice work includes Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) and the television series Twisted Metal (2023).

Will Arnett is known for his distinctive deep baritone voice, which he has used for many voice roles. His notable voice acting credits include Horst in the animated film Ratatouille (2007) and Vlad in Horton Hears a Who! (2008). He also voiced The Missing Link in Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) and Mr. Perkins in Despicable Me (2010). Arnett voiced Batman in The Lego Movie franchise, including the 2014 film and its sequels. His other voice work includes roles in Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) and the series Twisted Metal (2023).

• Vlad in Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
• Batman in The Lego Movie franchise (2014 to 2019)
• BoJack Horseman in BoJack Horseman (2014 to 2020)
• Voice work for Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018)
• Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
• Twisted Metal (2023)

Later Television Work and Production Ventures

Following Arrested Development, Arnett starred in several network television series, including Running Wilde (2010 to 2011), Up All Night (2011 to 2012), and The Millers (2013 to 2015), and he co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the Netflix series Flaked in 2016, a project partly inspired by his personal experiences. From 2020 to 2025, he served as the host of the Fox reality competition series Lego Masters, and in 2020, he co-founded the comedy podcast SmartLess with actors Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, where the hosts interview celebrity guests. On the production side, Arnett and Bateman established DumbDumb Productions in 2010, focusing on digital content, and he later formed Electric Avenue Productions, through which he produced the Comedy Central original movie Cursed Friends in 2022, in which he also appeared. His recent acting credits include a role in the Netflix improv comedy Murderville (2022) and a recurring part as Mr. Quagmire in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017 to 2019).

Film Career and Recent Projects

Arnett has maintained a steady presence in feature films, often in supporting comedic roles such as in Semi-Pro (2008) alongside Will Ferrell and as Vern Fenwick in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) and its 2016 sequel. In 2023, he joined the cast of Next Goal Wins, replacing another actor during reshoots to play the role of Alex Magnussen, and he has upcoming films scheduled for release in the mid-2020s, demonstrating his continued activity in the industry. He co-wrote the screenplay and stars alongside Bradley Cooper in the 2025 film Is This Thing On?, which Cooper directed, and Arnett also appears in the 2026 film Behemoth!, which had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in 2026. His film work has also included roles in The Brothers Solomon (2007) and The Comebacks (2007), and he was originally attached to star in We're the Millers (2013) before scheduling conflicts led to his replacement.

Will Arnett has acted in a variety of film roles throughout his career. His film credits include comedic performances in Hot Rod (2007), Blades of Glory (2007), and Semi-Pro (2008). He played Vern Fenwick in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) and its 2016 sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Arnett stars in the 2025 film Is This Thing On?, for which he also co-wrote the screenplay. He also appears in the 2026 film Behemoth!.

Personal Life

Arnett is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States and resides in Los Angeles, California, after living in New York City for two decades, and he has been open about his past struggles with alcoholism, a theme he explored in his series Flaked and BoJack Horseman. After achieving sobriety for 15 years, he experienced a relapse during the production of Flaked but has since attested to the role of Alcoholics Anonymous in reclaiming his sobriety, and in his personal relationships, Arnett has been married twice, first to actress Penelope Ann Miller in December 1994, a union that lasted less than a month before ending in divorce in January 1995. He later married comedian and actress Amy Poehler in August 2003, and the couple had two sons, born in October 2008 and August 2010, before separating in September 2012 and finalizing their divorce in July 2016, and Arnett began a relationship with Alessandra Brawn in 2019, with whom he had a son in May 2020 before they separated in late 2024. He lists Steve Martin and Chevy Chase as his two biggest comedic influences and is known to be an avid hockey fan and workout enthusiast.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Will Arnett has received significant recognition from his peers and industry organizations, primarily for his television work, with his performance as Gob Bluth on Arrested Development earning him his first major award nomination. He has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards in total, with four of those nominations stemming from his recurring guest role as Devon Banks on 30 Rock, and Arnett has also received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, often as part of the ensemble cast of Arrested Development. In a 2007 panel hosted by The Paley Center for Media, talk show host Conan O'Brien and his writing staff named Arnett one of their three all-time favourite guests, alongside fellow Canadians Norm Macdonald and Harland Williams. His voice work has also been widely recognized, contributing to the success of projects like The Lego Movie and BoJack Horseman, which received critical praise and multiple award nominations during their runs.

Throughout his career, Will Arnett has received major award nominations for his work. He has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards for his performances in television. Four of these Emmy nominations were for his recurring role as Devon Banks on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. Arnett has also received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his acting.

• Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Arrested Development (2006)
• Four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor for 30 Rock (2007 to 2013)
• Three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations
• Additional Primetime Emmy nominations for BoJack Horseman and other projects

Questions about Will Arnett

Where is Will Arnett from?

Will Arnett was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 4, 1970. His parents, Edith Alexandra and Emerson James Arnett, were originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father was a corporate lawyer who served as the president and CEO of Molson Breweries from 1997 to 2000. Arnett holds dual citizenship of Canada and the United States and attended schools in Ontario, including Leaside High School, before briefly studying at Concordia University in Montreal.

What is Will Arnett's most famous role?

Will Arnett's most famous role is George Oscar 'Gob' Bluth II in the Fox and Netflix sitcom Arrested Development, which aired from 2003 to 2019. This performance brought him mainstream success and his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He is also widely recognized for voicing the titular character in the critically acclaimed Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman from 2014 to 2020. His deep baritone voice and comedic timing in these roles have defined his career.

What is the SmartLess podcast?

SmartLess is a comedy and talk podcast co-hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes, which launched in July 2020. The podcast features the three hosts surprising one another with a different celebrity guest each episode for a conversational interview. Arnett co-founded this podcast, which has grown to be very popular. It represents one of his ongoing projects alongside his acting and production work.

Who did Will Arnett voice in The Lego Movie?

In The Lego Movie franchise, Will Arnett voiced the character of Batman. He first portrayed this parody version of the superhero in the 2014 film The Lego Movie. He reprised the role in the 2017 spin-off The Lego Batman Movie and the 2019 sequel The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. His distinctive voice for the character contributed to the franchise's success.

Was Will Arnett married to Amy Poehler?

Yes, Will Arnett was married to actress and comedian Amy Poehler. The couple began dating in 2000 after meeting years earlier, and they married on August 29, 2003. They have two sons together, one born in October 2008 and the other in August 2010. Arnett and Poehler separated in September 2012, and their divorce was finalized in July 2016.

What upcoming movies does Will Arnett have?

Will Arnett has upcoming roles in the films Is This Thing On? scheduled for 2025 and Behemoth! for 2026. In Is This Thing On?, he co-wrote the screenplay and stars alongside Bradley Cooper, who also directed the film. He also appears in Behemoth!, which had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in 2026. These projects continue his extensive filmography.

Sources and further reading

• Will Arnett (Wikipedia)
• Will Arnett: Movies, TV, and Bio (primevideo.com)
• Will Arnett | Biography | Research Starters | EBSCOhost (ebsco.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.