Will Arnett Says Becoming a Dad at 38 'Brought Everything Into Focus' but Jokes That 'It's a Zoo'

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Arnett in November 2023.Photo:ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

Will Arnett’s life was forever changed when he became a dad.

TheArrested Developmentalum, 54, appeared on the podcastOur Way with Paul Anka and Skip Bronsonand shared a little bit about becoming a dad at 38. Arnett shares his older sons Abel, 14, and Archie, 15, with exAmy Poehlerand is dad to son Alexander Denison “Denny,” 4, whom he shares with girlfriendAlessandra Brawn.

“I’m crazy about my kids. I always joked that before I had kids, I didn’t notice them. I didn’t have my first son until I was 38,” Arnett said. “Up until that point — I mean, it’s a joke obviously — I was always like, ‘Yeah, people have kids. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.’ "

“And then you have kids of your own and you go, ‘Wow!’ It really brought everything into focus for me in life and it really put everything into perspective,” he continued.

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Will Arnett and Alessandra Brawn in 2019.Rachel Murray/Getty

Arnett went on to say that there were always things that took priority in his 20s and early 30s, but when he had kids, they jumped to the top of the list.

Arnett said he had to balance Little League practices and games with his busy shooting schedule, which was difficult.

“I was going nuts man! But it was actually those moments being with the kids that actually kind of brought my blood pressure down,” Arnett admitted. “It just kind of changed it all for me and, you know, I’m blessed now.”

Will Arnett in 2017.Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

“My oldest son is almost 16 and then I got a 14 year old and then I got a 7-year-old stepson and then I got a 4-year-old,” he explained. “I got four boys and it’s a zoo. But you’ve gotta kind of give into it, you know? It’s a fun time.”

During a July 2020 appearance onThe Tonight Show, Arnett made it clear that his and Brawn’s son is notnamed after the popular chain restaurantDenny’s. “We call him Denny. I know what you’re [gonna say] — not after the fast-food chain,” he said.

After hostJimmy Fallonasked, “Why not?” Arnett joked, “Everybody who knows me knows that I’m a fan of the Grand Slam breakfast. The price hasn’t been right … yet.”

source: people.com