Actors Who Were Heavy Drinkers (But Are Sober Now)
Many well known actors have spoken publicly about heavy drinking in their past and what it took to get sober. Their stories often include rehab, support groups, therapy, and big lifestyle changes that lasted for years. These men have shared timelines, milestones, and practical steps that helped them stay on track. Here are some of the most documented examples from film and television who have built stable sobriety and talk about it in clear terms.
Robert Downey Jr.
He was arrested multiple times in the late 1990s for drug and alcohol offenses and served time before treatment finally stuck. He has maintained sobriety since 2003 with a mix of recovery meetings, therapy, fitness, and strict routines. Downey often credits family support and structured work schedules as anchors that keep him consistent. He continues to describe recovery as a daily practice that makes long productions easier to manage.
Bradley Cooper
He stopped drinking in 2004 at age 29 after seeing how alcohol was affecting his work and health. Cooper has said early sobriety meant changing his social circle and habits to avoid triggers. He keeps a low profile about the day to day details but marks each year as a personal milestone. His long run of steady projects came after sobriety took hold and he has continued to maintain it.
Ben Affleck
He first sought treatment in 2001 and returned to rehab in 2017 and again in 2018. After a public relapse in 2019 he recommitted to recovery with meetings, therapy, and a structured routine. Affleck has emphasized ongoing accountability and daily check ins with a support network. He has continued working while openly describing his alcoholism as a lifelong condition that he manages one day at a time.
Daniel Radcliffe
He quit drinking in 2010 after realizing he was using alcohol to cope with stress during and after the final ‘Harry Potter’ films. Radcliffe has spoken about avoiding certain nightlife scenes to protect his sobriety. He leans on friends who understand his boundaries and keeps work separate from social pressure. He has consistently described sobriety as central to his health and focus on stage and screen.
Ewan McGregor
He stopped drinking in 2001 after recognizing escalating patterns that were harming his life. McGregor has said abstinence was the only approach that worked for him long term. He keeps his recovery private but credits a supportive family life for helping him stay consistent. Years of continuous sobriety have coincided with steady work across film and television.
Colin Farrell
He entered rehab in 2005 after heavy drinking and drug use during his early career. Farrell has said he embraced total sobriety and built a routine around exercise, sleep, and travel discipline while filming. He keeps a close relationship with counselors and recovery peers when projects move him around. His long period of sobriety is something he marks quietly but consistently.
Anthony Hopkins
He stopped drinking in 1975 and has spoken about attending meetings and finding structure in daily habits. Hopkins often notes that early sobriety required strict routines and a focus on work. He marks his sober anniversary each year and encourages others to seek help when needed. His decades of continuous sobriety are among the longest in the industry.
Rob Lowe
He has been sober since 1990 after entering treatment in his twenties. Lowe credits a combination of recovery programs, mentorship, and consistent meeting attendance. He treats anniversaries as checkpoints and stays open about relapse prevention strategies. His long career since the early 1990s has run alongside stable sobriety.
Gerard Butler
He gave up alcohol in the late 1990s and later sought treatment in 2012 for prescription painkiller dependence. Butler has described building guardrails around travel, training, and downtime so filming does not disrupt recovery. He continues to prioritize sleep and physical fitness as relapse prevention tools. His approach emphasizes routine and asking for help early when stress ramps up.
Russell Brand
He got sober in 2002 after years of heavy drinking and drug use. Brand has worked with sponsors, recovery meetings, and service oriented projects that keep him connected to others in sobriety. He speaks about daily practices like meditation and structured schedules to manage triggers. He frequently shares clear timelines of his recovery and the steps that support it.
Zac Efron
He entered treatment in 2013 after acknowledging problems with alcohol and other substances. Efron has said he changed his social life and focused on fitness and early mornings to stay on track. He attends meetings and keeps work routines that minimize late nights. His sobriety has been ongoing since that period with regular check ins on set and off.
Brad Pitt
He quit drinking in 2016 and has talked about participating in recovery meetings for over a year afterward. Pitt credits therapy and a simplified lifestyle for helping him stabilize. He focuses on parenting routines and creative work that fit a healthier schedule. He has continued to note that abstaining from alcohol remains a cornerstone of his well being.
Kit Harington
He sought help in 2019 for stress and alcohol problems near the end of ‘Game of Thrones’. Harington has described his recovery as a long term process that includes therapy and sobriety. He set clear boundaries around travel and press to protect healthy routines. His continued work on stage and television has run alongside a focus on staying alcohol free.
Josh Brolin
He decided to stop drinking in 2013 after recognizing repeated issues tied to alcohol. Brolin has pointed to family responsibilities and early morning training as key changes that supported sobriety. He emphasizes consistency and avoiding old environments that encouraged heavy use. He has maintained his recovery while taking on demanding roles year after year.
Tom Hardy
He became sober in his mid twenties after realizing he was losing control of alcohol and drugs. Hardy has said recovery meetings, writing, and rigorous physical training helped him rebuild his daily structure. He avoids situations that conflict with early mornings and disciplined routines during filming. His sobriety has remained steady as he balances intense roles with a stable personal life.
Tobey Maguire
He stopped drinking in the mid 1990s after recognizing that alcohol was taking over his life. Maguire has spoken about joining recovery meetings and building a daily routine that kept him grounded during early fame. He stayed focused on work schedules that favored early mornings and clear boundaries. His long standing sobriety has remained a quiet constant through years of film and producing work.
Dax Shepard
He got sober in 2004 after years of heavy drinking and substance use. Shepard credits recovery programs, sponsorship, and service to others as the structure that helped him stabilize. He publicly marked a relapse in 2020 and recommitted to the same tools that worked before. He continues to emphasize accountability, therapy, and consistent meeting attendance.
Gary Oldman
He quit drinking in the late 1990s after realizing alcohol was affecting his health and relationships. Oldman has discussed attending recovery meetings and keeping strict routines around travel and filming. He treats anniversaries as milestones and credits steady habits for preventing backsliding. His sobriety has spanned decades alongside a demanding acting schedule.
Samuel L. Jackson
He entered rehab in the early 1990s and has remained sober since. Jackson has said that a structured program and family support were key to turning things around. He keeps firm boundaries around work, rest, and travel so long shoots do not disrupt recovery. His continued consistency is something he notes with gratitude each year.
John Goodman
He sought help in 2007 after years of heavy drinking and has stayed sober since then. Goodman has said daily exercise, routines, and recovery meetings keep him on track. He treats sobriety as a first priority that makes all other commitments manageable. Long running television and film projects have fit around the healthier rhythms he built.
Jason Bateman
He stopped drinking in the early 2000s after realizing it was costing him opportunities and focus. Bateman has credited a renewed routine and accountability with friends for helping him maintain sobriety. He adjusted social habits to reduce triggers and protect early mornings. The stability he built has carried through directing and acting work across many sets.
Tim Allen
He recommitted to sobriety in the late 1990s and has maintained it for many years. Allen describes regular recovery meetings and a disciplined schedule as essential supports. He keeps travel and production days organized so sleep and workouts are not skipped. Marking sober anniversaries remains a steady part of his routine.
Ben Kingsley
He gave up alcohol in the 1970s and has often noted how sobriety reshaped his life and career. Kingsley credits patience, daily structure, and privacy as anchors that protect his recovery. He avoids environments that conflict with the habits he built early on. His long span of continuous sobriety is something he acknowledges with quiet pride.
Nick Nolte
He chose sobriety in the early 2000s after widely reported struggles with alcohol. Nolte has said that removing himself from old patterns and focusing on health were turning points. He keeps his approach simple with routines that prioritize rest and clear workdays. His later career has unfolded with those habits firmly in place.
Billy Bob Thornton
He quit drinking after a serious health scare in the 1990s and has remained sober since. Thornton has explained that strict diet, regular sleep, and exercise are non negotiable parts of his routine. He avoids nightlife settings that once fueled problems and keeps a tight schedule on set. The consistency has helped him manage long shoots without sliding back.
Kelsey Grammer
He has spoken openly about multiple rehab stays before achieving long term sobriety. Grammer credits therapy, recovery programs, and strong family support as the foundation of change. He keeps firm limits on travel and late nights when production ramps up. His approach stresses daily maintenance rather than dramatic gestures.
Michael J. Fox
He stopped drinking in the early 1990s after realizing alcohol was making it harder to manage his health. Fox has credited therapy, family, and honest self assessment with helping him stay sober. He keeps routines that protect rest and clarity during advocacy and production work. Regular check ins with a support network continue to be part of his day.
David Harbour
He quit drinking in his twenties after seeing how it affected his mental health and relationships. Harbour has said that sobriety gave him the stability needed for demanding stage and screen schedules. He relies on routines that include exercise, therapy, and quiet time away from crowds. Those habits travel with him when shoots move from city to city.
Sam Worthington
He stopped drinking in the mid 2010s after an arrest and has maintained sobriety since then. Worthington has described replacing late nights with training, sleep, and focused preparation. He keeps close contact with counselors and supportive peers while filming abroad. The changes helped him settle into a calmer daily rhythm around work and family.
John Stamos
He sought treatment in 2015 and has been sober in the years since. Stamos credits recovery meetings, therapy, and structured days with keeping him steady. He plans press and production schedules to protect sleep and workouts. He continues to mark sober milestones and speaks about asking for help as soon as problems appear.
Charlie Sheen
He quit drinking in 2017 after decades of public struggles with addiction. Sheen has said regular therapy, exercise, and time with his children help him maintain balance. He avoids old environments that fueled his drinking and keeps his schedule structured. His continued sobriety has coincided with a focus on health and long-term stability.
Shia LaBeouf
He entered rehab in 2017 and has stayed sober since. LaBeouf credits therapy, support groups, and a disciplined routine for his turnaround. He channels energy into writing and acting instead of self-destructive habits. His ongoing recovery has helped him rebuild relationships and steady his career.
Russell Crowe
He reduced and eventually quit drinking after realizing it affected his behavior and focus on set. Crowe has spoken about choosing clarity and discipline to stay consistent. He focuses on fitness, outdoor training, and early mornings to maintain structure. His current lifestyle reflects the steady balance he sought after leaving alcohol behind.
David Arquette
He entered rehab in 2011 and has maintained sobriety since then. Arquette credits recovery meetings, therapy, and family for helping him stay grounded. He continues to speak openly about relapse prevention and maintaining healthy routines. His consistent approach has supported both acting and personal projects.
Matthew Perry
He battled alcohol and prescription drug addiction for years before getting sober in the early 2000s. Perry often discussed recovery programs, therapy, and structured accountability as key to his stability. He used his experience to help others through support initiatives. His years of sobriety remained a central part of his legacy.
Stephen King
He quit drinking in 1987 after family intervention and has been sober ever since. King replaced substance use with strict writing schedules and family time. He keeps a disciplined routine that protects early mornings and rest. His decades of steady sobriety have accompanied a nonstop writing career.
Mickey Rourke
He gave up drinking after realizing it was derailing his life and career. Rourke has credited boxing, therapy, and mentorship with helping him stay on track. He structures his days around physical training and creative work. His commitment to sobriety has remained strong for many years.
Jon Hamm
He sought treatment in 2015 and has maintained sobriety since. Hamm has said that therapy and balanced daily habits help him stay focused. He avoids old social patterns that once encouraged heavy drinking. His continued sobriety has brought a steadier rhythm to his personal and professional life.
Jack Osbourne
He became sober in 2003 after a period of heavy drinking and drug use in his teens. Osbourne continues to mark milestones and works as a mentor within recovery groups. He balances travel, work, and fitness to support long-term sobriety. His consistency has made him a steady voice for recovery awareness.
Eric Dane
He stopped drinking after entering rehab in 2011. Dane has said therapy and family responsibilities helped him stay committed to recovery. He maintains his health through training and simple routines that minimize stress. His ongoing sobriety remains part of how he keeps balance during long filming schedules.
John Krasinski
He quit drinking in his twenties after realizing it was starting to interfere with his focus. Krasinski has shared that removing alcohol brought stability and clearer priorities. He relies on fitness and early routines to keep himself consistent during projects. His decision to stay sober has supported a disciplined approach to work and family life.
Danny Trejo
He became sober in 1968 after serving time in prison and has never relapsed. Trejo remains active in recovery programs, mentoring others facing addiction. He attributes his decades of sobriety to structure, service, and gratitude. His long track record of helping others reflects the lifestyle that has kept him steady.
Joe Manganiello
He stopped drinking in 2002 after a period of heavy partying and self-destructive behavior. Manganiello focuses on fitness, diet, and personal development as replacements for old habits. He openly marks his sober anniversaries and mentors younger actors. His years of consistency have become a major part of his identity.
Simon Pegg
He revealed in 2019 that he had been sober for several years after seeking help for alcoholism. Pegg used therapy, family support, and strict daily routines to rebuild his life. He keeps travel and work carefully balanced to avoid exhaustion. His disciplined approach continues to support his long-term recovery.
Martin Sheen
He has been sober since the early 1980s after realizing alcohol was harming his relationships. Sheen has said faith, family, and steady daily routines keep him grounded. He avoids environments that might trigger old habits and focuses on service work. His decades of sobriety remain a quiet constant in his life.
Share your thoughts on these journeys and add any other names we should cover in the comments.
