Bradley Cooper Thanks Will Arnett for Supporting His Journey to Sobriety 21 Years Ago Through Honest Conversations

Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett, circa 2005.
Credit:

Gregory Pace/FilmMagic

Key Details

• Bradley Cooper credits Will Arnett for his decision to get sober in the 2000s
• The two have maintained a close friendship since their first meeting in the early 2000s
• Cooper and Arnett’s latest film, Is This Thing On?, is set to hit theaters on December 19

In a recent interview, Bradley Cooper revealed the significant influence Will Arnett had on his decision to achieve sobriety during the 2000s. The two actors, who have been friends for over two decades, spoke candidly about their journeys in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter focused on their upcoming film, Is This Thing On?, which is scheduled for release on December 19.

Cooper, 50, and Arnett, 55, reflected on a revealing 2022 episode of Arnett’s podcast, SmartLess, where they discussed their experiences with addiction and recovery. Cooper shared, “Will took the risk of having that hard conversation with me that put me on the path of deciding to change my life. It is truly Will Arnett, he is the reason,” indicating the profound impact their discussion had on him.

Arnett echoed Cooper’s sentiments, stating, “I think it allowed us both to open up and talk about our shared history, and how profound and deep those connections were.” Their connection was further strengthened following that podcast episode, leading to their collaboration on Is This Thing On?.

Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett in Is This Thing On?.

Searchlight Pictures/Jason McDonald

Cooper and Arnett’s friendship began more than twenty years ago, facilitated by Amy Poehler, to whom Arnett was married from 2003 to 2012. During a recent appearance at the New York Film Festival, Arnett recalled their initial encounter at a bar in New York, where they “instantly hit it off and became pals.” They later became neighbors in a Los Angeles building renowned for housing Dennis Hopper, further solidifying their bond.

Reflecting on their friendship, Cooper remarked, “Will was always the funniest guy in the room. The fact he’d even talk to me back then made me feel cool.”

Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper on October 10, 2025.

Cindy Ord/Getty

In Is This Thing On?, Arnett stars alongside Laura Dern as a married couple facing the challenges of raising two young sons while on the brink of divorce. Cooper, who wrote and directed the film, also has a supporting role.

At the GQ Men of the Year celebration on November 13, Arnett remarked that his longstanding friendship with Cooper “made it so much easier to work on something that was really, intensely emotional,” noting that their mutual trust allowed for honest collaboration.

As the anticipation builds for its impending release, Is This Thing On? promises to blend humor and poignant themes when it opens in theaters on December 19.