Most Famous Actors With Multiple DUI Arrests

Hollywood has seen many of its most prominent figures struggle with substance abuse, often leading to public legal battles involving the operation of vehicles while intoxicated. While some stars use these moments as turning points for personal recovery, their repeated encounters with the law remain a significant part of their public records. From veteran character actors to leading men in blockbuster franchises, these individuals have faced multiple arrests for driving under the influence across several decades. The following list highlights famous male actors who have been booked for DUI offenses on more than one occasion.

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland has a well-documented history of alcohol-related driving offenses spanning over twenty years. He was first arrested for driving under the influence in 1989 and again in 1993, with both incidents occurring in the Los Angeles area. A third arrest followed in 2004, but it was his fourth arrest in 2007 that garnered the most media attention due to a mandatory jail sentence. Because he was still on probation for the 2004 offense at the time of the 2007 incident, he was required to serve 48 days in the Glendale City Jail. Sutherland is widely recognized for his portrayal of Jack Bauer in the long-running television series ’24’.

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. faced a series of highly publicized legal troubles in the late 1990s that frequently involved driving under the influence alongside drug possession. In 1996, he was stopped for speeding and subsequently arrested when authorities found him under the influence of narcotics with a weapon in his vehicle. This was followed by a cycle of arrests and probation violations, including a notable incident in 2000 when he was apprehended at a Palm Springs hotel while on parole. Despite these early setbacks, he achieved long-term sobriety and eventually transformed his image by leading the ‘Iron Man’ film franchise. His journey remains one of the most famous examples of career redemption in the entertainment industry.

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson’s first major alcohol-related driving incident occurred in 1983 while he was filming ‘Mrs. Soffel’ in Toronto, which resulted in a three-month driving ban. He faced a much more high-profile arrest in July 2006 when he was pulled over for speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. This arrest became notorious for the anti-Semitic tirade Gibson unleashed against the arresting officer, an event that significantly damaged his professional reputation for years. He eventually pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor DUI charge and was sentenced to three years of probation. Gibson is a celebrated filmmaker known for directing ‘Braveheart’ and starring in ‘Lethal Weapon’.

Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown has encountered numerous legal difficulties throughout his career, with several arrests specifically related to driving while intoxicated. His first DUI conviction came in 1996, but the issue resurfaced significantly in 2012 when he was arrested twice in a single year. The first 2012 arrest occurred in March after he was stopped for using a cellphone while driving, and the second took place in October after he was spotted driving erratically. These repeated infractions led to a 55-day jail sentence and a mandatory 18-month alcohol treatment program. Brown is a former member of the R&B group ‘New Edition’ and had a role in the film ‘A Thin Line Between Love and Hate’.

Michael Madsen

Michael Madsen has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence, with notable incidents occurring in 2012 and 2019. During the 2012 arrest in Malibu, his blood-alcohol level was reported to be twice the legal limit, though he initially avoided a lengthy jail sentence through a plea deal. However, he was arrested again in 2019 after crashing his Land Rover into a utility pole, an incident that resulted in a four-day jail stint. Authorities noted that this second conviction within a ten-year window triggered harsher penalties under California law. Madsen is a frequent collaborator of director Quentin Tarantino, appearing in ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘The Hateful Eight’.

Chris Klein

Chris Klein, who rose to fame as Oz in the ‘American Pie’ series, has faced two separate arrests for driving under the influence. His first arrest took place in San Diego County in 2005, where he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was ordered to perform community service. Five years later, in 2010, he was arrested again in Los Angeles after being observed weaving between lanes on the Hollywood Freeway. This second offense carried a mandatory minimum of four days in jail, which he served in a private city facility. Following these events, Klein checked into a residential treatment center to address his struggles with alcohol addiction.

David Koechner

David Koechner made headlines after being arrested for a suspected DUI and hit-and-run on New Year’s Eve in 2021. During that incident in Simi Valley, he reportedly struck a street sign and blew out two tires before being apprehended by police. Only five months later, in June 2022, Koechner was arrested for a second DUI in Ohio while he was on a comedy tour. This second arrest occurred shortly after he had hosted an ‘Office’-themed trivia night in the local area. Koechner is well-known for his comedic roles as Todd Packer in ‘The Office’ and Champ Kind in ‘Anchorman’.

Zachery Ty Bryan

Zachery Ty Bryan has dealt with a string of legal issues in recent years, including multiple arrests for driving under the influence. In early 2024, he was arrested in La Quinta, California, on a felony DUI charge, and he was arrested again in Oklahoma later that same year for a similar offense. During his court proceedings, it was revealed that he had multiple prior DUI convictions that aggravated his legal standing. Consequently, he was sentenced to 16 months in county jail in early 2026 for his repeated violations of traffic and sobriety laws. Bryan first gained fame as the eldest son, Brad Taylor, on the 1990s sitcom ‘Home Improvement’.

Rip Torn

Rip Torn had several high-profile run-ins with law enforcement involving alcohol and driving throughout his later years. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2004 after a collision with a taxi in Manhattan, though he was later acquitted by a jury. However, he faced subsequent arrests in 2006 and 2009 for similar offenses in North Salem and Salisbury, respectively. The 2009 arrest was particularly notable because he was pulled over while driving with a Christmas tree tied to the roof of his vehicle. Torn was a highly respected actor who won an Emmy for his role on ‘The Larry Sanders Show’ and played Zed in ‘Men in Black’.

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