Is Will Arnett Sober? How The Actor And His Support System Kick Their Addiction

Despite a short relapse in 2016 following his divorce from comedienne Amy Poehler, Arnett has successfully abstained from alcohol ever since. And he is not alone. With more than 14 million U.S. adults having an alcohol use disorder in 2023, sobriety is a problem in even Hollywood. The story of how Will Arnett’s alcoholism and his relapse isn’t that uncommon. 

Relapses are always painful for recovering addicts. Sometimes, it only takes a little to push someone over the edge. For Arnett, he attributes one of the reasons for his fall off the wagon to work.

Will Arnett’s relapse in 2016 was around the time he was writing the character Chip for the show “Flake,” who is a divorcee in recovery as a way to tackle his personal issues, but it didn’t go too well. Because Chip was written based on Will Arnett’s alcoholic addiction, the actor then resorted to drinking to better get into Chip’s head space, which is a very bad decision.

Thankfully, Arnett pulled himself back up and sought help. "I just know where this path goes, and it's a dead end," he shared. 

Despite his brief relapse, Will Arnett's sobriety has become an inspiration for his friends and colleagues, with more people sharing their own experiences with addictions and substance abuse. Including his support system. 

1. Jason Bateman

During a rough patch when his marriage to then-wife Amy Poehler was ending, and his NBC sitcom Up All Night wasn’t doing well, Arnett started drinking again. Will Arnett’s sobriety was inspired shortly after his relapse, by his best friend Jason Bateman. “I was motivated by Jason’s decision to quit drinking in 2016. He’s been such a great friend and a great example for me,” Arnett says.

Jason Bateman, who played his brother on Arrested Development and co-hosts his podcast SmartLess, has also been one of the sober for many years. Bateman started drinking heavily when he was 18 and quit when he was 24 after realizing he was wasting his life. He said he turned down a role in The Hangover to do the Arrested Development movie, which never happened.

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2. Amy Poehler

Arnett’s ex-wife, famous comedienne Amy Poehler also had a problem, albeit it was with both alcohol and drugs. She revealed in her memoir “Yes, Please” that she was a drug user in her 20s, dabbling in cocaine and ecstasy, while also drinking heavily at parties. Because it made her feel confident and funny.  

How did she kick her habit? Same as her ex-husband Arnett: because they became parents. “How do you explain to a 4- and 6-year-old that you can’t play Rescue Bots because you have to spend all day in bed eating Cape Cod potato chips and watching ‘The Bicycle Thief’?” she wrote.

Related: Will Arnett's Net Worth: Unveiling What The Actor's Value Is

3. Bradley Cooper

But Arnett didn’t come out of his fight with addiction empty-handed. Thanks to his experience with addiction and sobriety, he was able to help others with their struggle. One of them was his close friend of 20 years, Bradley Cooper. 

Among many actors overcoming alcoholism, Arnett’s long-time friend Bradley Cooper contributed his sobriety to Arnett. Long ago, when they were sharing an apartment, it was Arnett that had the tough conversation with Cooper on his addiction.”Will took that risk of having that hard conversation with me in, like, July of 2004 and that put me on a path of deciding to change my life. It truly was Will Arnett. He is the reason,” Cooper told Arnett during the latter’s podcast SmartLess. This only strengthens Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper's bond.

But they don't just help each other to stop drinking. Smoking is another of Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett's addictions that they tried quitting together. Further down the road, the two actors also support each other's decision to quit smoking. Truly, the Bradley Cooper Will Arnett friendship propels both of their life in a very healthy direction, don't you think?  

4. Ben Affleck

Unlike his squeaky-clean character from the Lego Batman Movie, Will Arnett's alcoholism is a problem that started a long time ago, going back to his days as a voice-over actor, trying to get his big break in the industry. During the weekdays, he would spend large amounts of money and time drinking in a local bar. "I could've gone to law school a couple of times over with the time and money I spent in that place," Arnett said. 

Ben Affleck, who played Batman in the live-action films, has also struggled with alcoholism for a long time. The famous actor started drinking when he was 15, and went to rehab in 2001 and 2017. He also had a relapse in 2019, and said he is working on his recovery every day. He said he is grateful for the support of his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and his friends Matt Damon and Bradley Cooper.

In a candid interview with Men's Health in 2019, actor Will Arnett opened up about his decision to quit drinking in 2010 after a relapse and how he also conquered a two-pack-a-day smoking habit around the same time. The journey to sobriety wasn't easy, especially since he had been smoking for 30 years until then, but he persevered using nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges to cope with withdrawal symptoms. 

So, does Will Arnett smoke? No. Will Arnett smokes little to none these days. His habit might be hard to give up, but he did triumph it! Motivated by his two sons, Archie and Abel, whom he shares with ex-wife Amy Poehler, Arnett embraced healthier habits, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, for his physical and mental well-being. Hoorah, Will Arnett the Smoker is no more!

Despite a short relapse, the actor has been sober since 2016. But it wasn’t easy to defeat his inner demon. Arnett admitted during an interview promoting his show, Flake, “I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I'm smart enough to know that this is not where I want to live.” You'd be happy to hear that, with the same determination, Will Arnett's smoking addiction is also snuffed out!

While Hollywood seems like the breeding ground for addiction and substance abuse, many are fighting teeth and nails for a healthier and happier life. And Will Arnett's sobriety journey is just one of the many success stories. So the next time you feel the need to ask the question, “Is Will Arnett sober?” you can always assume the answer is a resounding “Yes!”