Will Arnett - Film & Theater Personalities, Facts and Childhood

Will Arnett was born as William Emerson ‘Will’ Arnett to Edith Alexandra and Emerson James Arnett in Toronto. His father was a corporate lawyer and brewer. He was the third of the four children born to the couple.

Young Arnett attended the Lakefield College School, the Subway Academy II and Leaside High School to complete his formal education. It was while at Subway Academy that he took up theatre classes which provided him the first exposure to creative art.

Later on, he enrolled at the Concordia University, Montreal but dropped out of the same after one semester to pursue acting career. Meanwhile, it was his mother who encouraged him to make a foray in the world of showbiz. He started auditioning for commercials.

In 1990, he moved to New York to take up an acting course at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Henceforth, he started appearing in plays in New York.

He got his big break in acting in the year 1996 during which he was cast in two movies, ‘Close Up’ and ‘Ed’s Next Move’, as Dave and Weather Video Guy respectively.

In 1998 and 1999, he starred in three movies, ‘The Broken Giant’, ‘Southey’ ‘The Waiting Game’. In 1999, he also made his foray into television with the NBC series, ‘The Mike O’ Malley Show’ which was cancelled after two episodes. He also appeared and in an episode of ‘Sex and the City’

Post the cancellation of the Malley Show and with no further assignments under his kitty, he went into a depression. He also became an alcoholic.. However, this did not continue for long and with the help of a friend, he pulled himself back to mainstream art.

In 2001, he served as a narrator for the flick, ‘Series 7: The Contenders’. As for the television, he was cast in the CBS television series, ‘Loomis’. He played the role of a slacker brother of the protagonist, Cheri Oteri, a local news reporter. The show, however, did not pick up and was finally cancelled.

In 2002, he starred intermittently in an episode or two, in a number of television series, such as, ‘Yes, Dear’, ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’.

Frustrated with the lack of success coming his way, he declined the offer to audition for pilot roles. However, after much coaxing from his agent he auditioned for ‘Arrested Development’.

‘Arrested Development’ hit the television screens in 2003. In it, he played the role of George Oscar "Gob" Bluth II. The show garnered mainstream success and so did he for portraying the role with perfection. The show lasted until 2006 and gained much critical acclaim and cult following. In 2006, he was cast for the role of Duncan Schiesst in the television show, ‘Freak Show’

Following his successful television stint, he played major roles in several movies in 2006 such as ‘RV’, ‘The Great New Wonderful’, ‘Let’s Go To Prison’ and ‘Wristcutters: A Love Story’. He also rendered his voice for the character of Lone Gunslinger in ‘Ice Age: The Meltdown’.

In 2007, he bagged the role of Stranz Van Waldenberg in the movie, ‘Blades of Glory’ opposite Amy Poehler. The film was a blockbuster success grossing about $120 million at the theatrical run and $36 million at home video.

Same year, he played supporting roles in the movies, ‘Hot Rod’, ‘The Comebacks’ and ‘The Brothers Solomon’. He also gave a voiceover for the character of Horst in ‘Ratatouille’.

Year 2008 witnessed him play supporting role in the basketball comedy film, ‘Semi Pro’. In the film, he played the character of Lou Redwood, a commentator and former player. Furthermore, he starred in the film, ‘The Rocker’ and gave voice over for ‘Horton Hears a Who!’

In 2009, he was cast as a series regular in the television sitcom, ‘Sit Down, Shut Up’. Same year, he played supporting roles in a couple of films including ‘G-Force’, ‘Brief Interviews with Hideous Men’, ‘Spring Breakdown’ and ‘When in Rome’.

From 2010 to 2011, he played the character of Steve Wilde, a spoiled rich man, in the television series, ‘Running Wilde’ and that of Brent Wilts in ‘The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret’. The following season, he starred as Chris, an MRI technologist, in the television series, ‘Up All Night’.

In 2010, along with former ‘Arrested Development’ co-star Jason Bateman, he started the DumbDumb Productions. The company aimed at producing digital content. They came up with their first video ‘Prom Date’ the same year.

In 2012, he appeared in a single episode of both, ‘The Cleveland Show’ and ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ Furthermore, he made a cameo appearance in ‘Men in Black 3’ and appeared as himself in the documentary ‘Mansome’.

Currently, he stars in the CBS sitcom ‘The Millers’ as Nathan Miller.

In 2004, he was awarded the TV Land Awards for the category of Future Classic Award.

He was times nominated for the Emmy Awards seven times; thrice for ‘Arrested Development’ and four times ’30 Rock’.

In 1994, he married actress Penelope Ann Miller but the relationship did not last for more than a year and the two separated.

Post-divorce, he was romantically linked with various stars including Missy Yager with whom he shared a four year live-in relationship and Amy Poehler. Eventually, he married Poehler in 2003. The couple was blessed with two sons. In 2012, they separated after nine years of marriage.

This Canadian actor portrayed the role of George Oscar "G.O.B." Bluth II in the television series, ‘Arrested Development’.