It was the kind of pairing that made the internet collectively squint and say, "Wait, for real?" When news broke in 2015 that January Jones and Will Forte were dating, people were caught off guard. On one hand, you had the ice-queen elegance of Betty Draper from Mad Men. On the other, the man who once played a character called MacGruber and spent years doing weird, high-energy sketches on Saturday Night Live. It felt like a glitch in the Hollywood matrix. But if you were actually watching their show, The Last Man on Earth, the chemistry wasn't exactly a mystery.
They met on the set of that weird, brilliant Fox comedy. Forte was the creator and lead; Jones was the "unobtainable" woman who somehow survives the apocalypse. Life imitated art, sort of. People love a "mismatched" couple. It’s a classic trope. Yet, in the high-pressure cooker of a television set, these things happen way more often than we think.
The Short, Sweet Timeline of January Jones and Will Forte
They started dating around April 2015. It wasn't some big, flashy red-carpet debut with flashing lights and publicists whispering in ears. Honestly, they kept it pretty low-key. By the time the public realized they were a thing, they had already been hanging out for a few months. Sources at the time told People and Us Weekly that it was "casual" and "fun."
It didn't last long.
By September 2015—just five months later—it was over. They showed up to the 67th Emmy Awards separately. That’s usually the universal sign of a Hollywood breakup. If you aren't walking that carpet together after months of rumors, the spark has probably fizzled out.
Reports suggested that January Jones wasn't looking for a "serious" commitment at the time. She’s always been notoriously private about her personal life, especially regarding her son, Xander. Will Forte, meanwhile, has often been described by colleagues as a bit of a workaholic, especially when he’s showrunning. Sometimes the schedules just don't align. It’s boring, but it’s usually the truth.
Why the Public Was So Obsessed
Contrast. That’s the answer.
January Jones has this specific aura. She’s incredibly beautiful in a way that feels like she stepped out of a 1950s Vogue editorial. Her Instagram is a chaotic, wonderful mix of high-fashion shoots and weird, self-deprecating humor. Will Forte is different. He’s the guy who grew a half-beard for a year just for a joke. He’s the guy who commits to the bit until it’s almost uncomfortable.
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When those two worlds collide, people pay attention. It breaks the "brand" we’ve built for them in our heads. We like to think stars only date people who "match" their aesthetic. January dating Will was a reminder that celebrities are just people who meet at work.
Working Together After the Breakup
This is where it gets interesting. Most people can’t stand to be in the same room as their ex five months after a split. These two had to go back to work.
The Last Man on Earth ran for four seasons. That means they spent years working long hours in close proximity after their brief romance ended. If there was drama, they hid it incredibly well. In fact, they seemed to remain genuine friends.
Professionalism on Set
There are plenty of horror stories about TV stars who date and then make the set a living hell for the crew once they break up. Think Gossip Girl or The Vampire Diaries. But with January Jones and Will Forte, the vibe remained collaborative.
- Mutual Respect: Forte, as the creator, had a lot of power. If he wanted to write her off, he could have. He didn't.
- The Comedy Factor: You can't be funny if the energy is toxic. The show stayed weird and hilarious until its cancellation.
- Public Interaction: Even years later, they’ve been seen supporting each other’s projects.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. It suggests that the "casual" label sources gave the relationship was actually accurate. When things aren't heavy to begin with, the fallout isn't as nuclear.
The Mystery of January’s Personal Life
You can't talk about January Jones and her dating history without acknowledging the elephant in the room: she is a vault. She has never revealed the father of her son. She doesn't do the "tell-all" interviews.
This privacy makes every relationship she does have—like the one with Will Forte—seem more significant than it might have been. Because we get so little information, we over-analyze the crumbs. Was he "the one"? Probably not. Was it a fun summer fling between two talented people? Almost certainly.
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Will Forte eventually found his "person." He married Olivia Modling in 2021, and they have a daughter. January continues to live her best life, posting cryptic and funny content, seemingly unbothered by the public's need to know her business.
Lessons from a Hollywood "Mismatch"
There is a weird lesson in the January Jones and Will Forte saga. It’s about the projection of persona. We thought they were a weird match because we only knew their characters. Betty Draper and MacGruber? Disaster. January and Will? Two professionals who share a dry, somewhat eccentric sense of humor.
It makes sense if you stop looking at the IMDB pages and start looking at the people.
Both have a history of being slightly "off-beat." Forte’s comedy is high-concept and risky. Jones’s public persona is intentionally confusing and often satirical. They are both "weirdos" in their own right. That’s the common ground.
How to Handle a Post-Relationship Workspace
If you find yourself in a situation like theirs—dating a colleague and then having to see them every Monday morning—there are actual takeaways from how they handled it.
- Keep it private. They didn't bash each other in the press. They didn't "soft launch" the breakup with cryptic quotes. They just stopped appearing together.
- Prioritize the work. They both had a hit show to protect. If you let your personal drama bleed into your professional output, you’re the one who looks bad, regardless of who dumped whom.
- Accept the "Casual." Not every relationship needs to be a grand romance. If you enter something knowing it might just be a seasonal thing, the exit is much smoother.
- Humor helps. Both have used humor to deflect intrusive questions. It’s the ultimate shield.
The story of January Jones and Will Forte isn't one of tragedy or scandalous betrayal. It’s a very human story about two people who liked each other for a bit, realized it wasn't a "forever" thing, and decided that being friends (and coworkers) was actually better.
In a town like Hollywood, that’s actually the rarest ending of all.
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To really understand why this worked, you have to look at their individual career trajectories post-split. Forte leaned harder into character work and voice acting. Jones has become a cult icon on social media, leaning into her "unbothered" aesthetic. They both thrived. No one "won" the breakup because there was no war to begin with.
If you're looking for drama, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a blueprint on how to date a coworker and not ruin your career, these two are the gold standard.
Next Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you want to see the chemistry that started it all, watch the first season of The Last Man on Earth. Pay attention to the comedic timing between Phil and Melissa. It’s sharp, it’s awkward, and it’s clearly built on a foundation of mutual trust.
For those tracking celebrity relationship patterns, keep an eye on how January Jones manages her public image going forward. She remains one of the few A-listers who has successfully maintained a "private" life in the age of oversharing. Study her interviews; she’s a master of the polite pivot.
Finally, check out Will Forte’s more recent work, like The Great North or Sweed Tooth. You’ll see a performer who is comfortable in his own skin, likely because he doesn't let the tabloid cycle define his worth or his relationships. Moving on isn't just about finding someone new; it's about staying true to the work you love.
The most important thing to remember is that "mismatched" is usually a term used by people who don't know the full story. Sometimes, the most unlikely pairings are the ones that make the most sense behind closed doors. Even if they don't last forever, they serve a purpose in that moment. And in the case of January and Will, that purpose was likely a lot of laughs during a very busy time in their lives.