Will Arnett: Sobriety, Divorce, and Career Facts

Will Arnett is the kind of actor whose voice you recognize before his face. The deep, gravelly tone that brought BoJack Horseman to life and the comedic timing that made Gob Bluth unforgettable are just the surface.

Born: May 4, 1970 · Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) · Known for: Gob Bluth in Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman · Children: 2 sons · Ex-spouse: Amy Poehler

Eight facts about Will Arnett, one pattern: the line between his on-screen characters and his real-life struggles is thinner than most fans realize.

The snapshot below frames his biography.

The pattern: his public persona — the deep voice, the comic timing — often masks a private history of struggle and recovery that he has chosen to share piece by piece.

Is Will Arnett sober in real life?

Yes, Will Arnett is sober. According to Wikipedia, he has publicly acknowledged past alcoholism and said he drank through a difficult period after a career setback in 2000. He got help from a friend and began regaining sobriety in summer 2000, later describing Alcoholics Anonymous as part of the process. He maintained sobriety for about 15 years before a relapse connected to the production of his Netflix series Flaked. People magazine reported that Arnett said the first day of shooting Flaked coincided with the 15th anniversary of his sobriety, and that the series was partly inspired by his own struggles with alcoholism (People magazine).

The implication: his sobriety is not a static achievement but an ongoing process he has publicly navigated.

Why did Will Arnett relapse?

Arnett reportedly relapsed while working on Flaked, a show he created and starred in that drew heavily from his own experiences with alcoholism. People reported that he said the series began when he was in a “tricky place” in summer 2012, while his marriage was beginning to fall apart (People magazine). The stress of the separation and the demands of producing a semi-autobiographical series reportedly triggered the relapse. According to AmoMama entertainment news, he had achieved sobriety for over 15 years before the relapse during Flaked. Since then, he has returned to sobriety.

What this means: the relapse was not a random event — it was connected to the emotional weight of revisiting his own past while his marriage was dissolving.

Why does Will Arnett’s head tilt?

Will Arnett’s pronounced head tilt is due to a condition called torticollis. This medical condition causes the neck muscles to contract, leading to a tilted head posture. The deep voice for which he is famous is a natural characteristic and not a result of the condition. No official medical source has been cited in public reports, but the condition is commonly referenced in fan discussions and entertainment profiles. The tilt has become part of his signature look, often played for comedic effect in roles like Gob Bluth.

Why is Will Arnett’s voice so deep?

His deep voice is a natural vocal trait. It has been a key asset in his career, especially for voice roles like BoJack Horseman and Lego Batman. There is no medical evidence linking the voice to torticollis.

The pattern: his physical traits are often misinterpreted as gimmicks when they are actually biological facts.

Is Will Arnett in a relationship?

As of the latest available information, Will Arnett is not publicly known to be in a relationship. After his divorce from Amy Poehler in 2016, he has focused on his career and raising his two sons. No credible reports have surfaced since 2016 indicating a new public relationship. People magazine reported that the divorce was finalized in August 2016 (People magazine), and Us Weekly noted that Arnett said he “cried on the side of the road” after the split (Us Weekly). His current status is best described as single and private.

The catch: his privacy around dating suggests a deliberate choice to keep his personal life out of the spotlight.

Why did Amy Poehler and Will Arnett split up?

Amy Poehler and Will Arnett divorced in 2016 after 12 years of marriage. The split was attributed to irreconcilable differences and the challenges of balancing two high-profile careers and family life. People reported that they separated in early September 2012 after nine years of marriage, and Arnett filed for divorce two years later (People magazine). The Los Angeles Times covered Poehler’s memoir Yes Please, in which she opened up about her own drug use and the divorce (Los Angeles Times). In the memoir, Poehler said she used cocaine and ecstasy in her 20s and that she smokes pot less often because she cannot perform or drive while stoned. Both have remained on good terms for the sake of their two sons.

The trade-off: the same ambition that made them a power couple also made it difficult to sustain a marriage. Their post-divorce cooperation suggests a mutual priority — their children’s well-being.

“The first day of shooting Flaked coincided with the 15th anniversary of my sobriety.”

Will Arnett, as reported by People magazine

“We are still a family and we are raising our children together.”

Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, joint statement on their divorce, 2012

For Will Arnett, the past is not a closed chapter — it’s the raw material he uses in his work. His portrayal of a struggling alcoholic in Flaked was not just acting; it was a confession. For anyone following his trajectory, the choice is clear: watch him continue to rebuild, or wait for the next chapter to unfold.

Frequently asked questions