Bradley Cooper Supported Former Neighbor Will Arnett atSmartlessTaping Over the Weekend

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper.Photo:Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Bradley CooperandWill Arnettgo way back.

The pair had a sweet reunion at SiriusXM’sSmartLesspodcast taping, which PEOPLE attended, on Saturday, August 17 atStephen Talkhousein Amagansett, New York.

Jimmy Fallon, Jon Hamm and Bradley Cooper.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Notable guests at the event also included podcast guestHoward Sternand his wifeBeth,Jimmy Fallonand wifeNancy Juvonen,Jon Hammand his wifeAnna Osceola,Chad SmithandShawn Levy.

Cooper has a tight connection with the trio as heappearedon their podcast in 2022 and told an emotional story about being neighbors with theArrested Developmentalum, whom he said “changed his entire life.”

The actor looked back at working in the comedy scene in the early 2000s and the “mean humor” trend at the time. Cooper said he leaned into the type of comedy because he was “insecure,” but later found that it delivered hurtful results, especially when combined with his past alcohol dependency.

Will Arnett speaks onstage during SiriusXM Presents SmartLess Live.Cindy Ord/Getty

“Will, do you remember this?” Cooper asked on the podcast. “I’ll never forget, man, we were living next to each other, and Will came into where I was living and he’s like, ‘Hey, man, we had dinner the night before.’ "

He paused before saying, “I know you’re not supposed to cry on the show. Sorry, this is pretty emotional. I’m not crying… but I’ll never forget it.”

Cooper continued to describe Arnett as someone who “can be mean, but there’s no ill will,” saying his behavior is typically reserved for close friends. “But I didn’t know Will that well then.”

The Oscar nominee recalled his neighbor asking about the dinner they recently attended. “How’d you think that went?” Arnett inquired at the time.

“I was like, I remember being at the dinner thinking I was so funny. And I thought these two guys, who were my heroes, thought that I was so funny. I don’t know if you remember this, Will. I was like, ‘Oh, I thought it was great.’ And Will, tells me, ‘You were a real asshole, man, you were a real asshole,’ " Cooper said.

Cooper said that the moment signified “the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol. And it was Will saying that to me. I’ll just never forget it. I was like, ‘Oh, the guy that I think is doing mean humor is telling me, like, the truth about that.’ "

He concluded: “And it changed my entire life.”

Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett.Ethan Miller/Getty

Ethan Miller/Getty

In 2023, Cooperspoke about his past addiction strugglesin an episode ofRunning Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge. The actor, who previously abused cocaine and alcohol, said he felt “very lucky” to have since overcome them. He said he “got sober at 29 years old, and I’ve been sober for 19 years. I’ve been very lucky.”

Deadlinereported in 2023 that the two are working to develop and co-star the upcoming movieIs This Thing On?,with Cooper also directing.

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The live episode ofSmartLessairs Sept. 9 on SiriusXM and on the app. It will be available on other podcast platforms on Sept. 16.

source: people.com