Champagne-soaked premieres, wild afterparties, and bottomless glasses on set—these are what Hollywood has been known for, always. However, behind the glare and shimmer, there have been hundreds of stars who have suffered in secret the dark side of that lifestyle—alcohol addiction. What only made the fights so memorable was, in addition to the combat, the way these people changed their lives and, hence, made it possible for a recovery to be a success story. Below are 10 celebrity stories of sobriety that eventually became the most emotionally impactful ones.
10. Kat Von D
Before she became a household name in tattoos and makeup, Kat Von D was partying life on the wild side, hard and crazy. She’s been candid about her past, admitting that she drank to facilitate dysfunction. Now with over a decade of sobriety, she attests that it allows her to be at her best: “When you’re on the other side of it, you have such a profoundly different perspective on life.” Her creativity was her anchor, and now she speaks out to remind everyone they’re not alone.
9. Tim McGraw
Country music legend Tim McGraw admits his early years were too heavy with “liquid courage.” Post-show drinking was simply routine, and soon, the liquor spilled over into marriage, career, and family life. With encouragement from his wife, Faith Hill, he decided to give up alcohol in 2008. Looking back, McGraw says he realized he was becoming a person he didn’t want to be and that he could lose everything. His story shows that even during his peak popularity, there’s real strength in restarting.
8. Edie Falco
Best recognized for her roles as Carmela on The Sopranos and tormented Nurse Jackie, Edie Falco had wrestled with alcoholism years earlier than she ever portrayed addiction on television. Now more than 25 years sober, she credits remaining grounded to remaining truthful and present. Falco has even stated that performing in roles about addiction didn’t encourage her to return to drinking—it reminded her of how far she had gotten.
7. Zac Efron
From Disney heartthrob to box-office phenomenon, Zac Efron’s rise was foiled by crushing pressures. Binge partying and popularity egged him on toward drugs and alcohol, compelling two stints through rehab within a year. With therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous, he got his life back on track. Efron has been candid about the shame of humiliating public mistakes, but also the pride of getting healthy again. His biography is proof that even picture-perfect idols can possess real demons.
6. Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell’s charm made him Hollywood’s best box office bet, but in his personal life, he was drowning. After Miami Vice, he confessed he was so low that he didn’t want to exist anymore. Rehab put him back on track, mended relationships, and gave him some solace. In 2018, he even returned to therapy proactively, showing recovery is not a one-time solution but rather a continuous process.
5. Jamie Lee Curtis
The original scream queen battled alcohol and painkiller addiction. Curtis has been clean for over 20 years now, calling it her greatest achievement—greater than her family, career, or success. She now advocates for recovery using her platform, proving that vulnerability and courage are actual strengths.
4. Daniel Radcliffe
The overnight celebrity was also challenging for the boy who lived. Daniel Radcliffe relied on drinking to cope with his OCD and anxiety, occasionally drinking by himself or even on set. He quit drinking by 2010 with the help of close friends. He attributes his recovery to providing him with the courage to risk more and grow as an actor. His candor regarding blackouts and shame makes his story even more lovable.
3. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback is among Hollywood’s most famous. Downey’s father introduced him to drugs at an incredibly young age, and Downey drifted into addiction that landed him in jail, lost jobs, and close to self-annihilation. But through treatment, support, and determination over the course of many years, he remade himself. Today, over 16 years sober, he owes rehabilitation not only for having saved his life but for allowing him to remake himself as Iron Man and one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.
2. Bradley Cooper
At 29, Bradley Cooper realized that his drinking was destroying his life. Not wanting to squander his career, he stopped drinking and never looked back. Later, playing an addict musician in A Star Is Born allowed him to use personal experience for his craft. Cooper credits his wake-up call to friend Will Arnett, and now he’s committed to inspiring others in the process.
1. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck’s struggle with alcoholism has played out in public for decades, but so has his resilience. With multiple rehab stints, he’s been open about the lifelong effort of addiction, calling it a “full-time job.” Affleck’s openness has de-stigmatized addiction, reminding fans that relapse is not defeat. His story is proof that recovery is not perfection—it’s perseverance.
These are not star tales; these are tales of second chances, development, and resurgence. If anything can be gleaned from this, it’s that the real Hollywood ending is not the way someone falls—it’s the way that they get up.