Bradley Cooper admits he’s ‘very lucky’ to be alive despite past struggles with addiction

Sadly, addiction isn’t uncommon in the world of the rich and famous.

Bradley Cooper is just one of many who are “lucky” to be alive after battling years of addiction.

During a new episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge, the Oscar-nominated actor opened up about his challenges with overcoming his dependency to alcohol and drugs.

He explained that prior to The Hangover, he had already been “in the game for 10 years just bangin’ around.” So he was fortunate, “I didn’t get lost in fame.”

However, that didn’t stop him from having “some wild years” prior to reaching celebrity status.

“In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah. But that had nothing to do with fame, though,” he said. “But I was lucky, y’know? I got sober at 29 years old. And I’ve been sober for 19 years.”

The Maestro star previously discussed hitting “rock bottom” on the Smartless podcast, hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes.

In 2004, Arnett stopped by Cooper’s place and noticed he still hadn’t let the dogs out to go to the bathroom.

“That was the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol,” Cooper said. “It was Will saying that to me, I’ll never forget it… It changed my entire life.”

Cooper recalled having “zero self esteem” and being “so lost,” especially after he “got fired-slash-quit Alias.”

Despite the struggles, Cooper said his former life as an addict helped him play Jackson Maine in 2018’s A Star is Born.

“It made it easier to really enter in there,” Cooper said. “And thank goodness I was at a place in my life where I was at ease with all that. So I could really let myself go.”

READ MORE:
Irina Shayk finally breaks silence about her much-publicized split from Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper’s dad passed away in his arms — so he moved in with his mom & became her caregiver
Staying sober for 19 years is a huge accomplishment. Bradley Cooper deserves our praise!

Related Posts

The Speed Limit Mix-Up

The Speed Limit Mix-Up

A police officer pulled over a minivan that was crawling along the road at just 25 miles per hour, causing quite the backup in mid-day traffic. Inside…

Pit bull found dragging the baby across the floor by her diaper – seconds later everyone is hailing her a hero

Pit bull found dragging the baby across the floor by her diaper – seconds later everyone is hailing her a hero

Having a dog around a small helpless baby is a situation that can cause concern for some people, especially when it comes to certain dog breeds with…

Skywatchers Delight: Planetary Alignment To Create Smiley Face On April 25

Skywatchers Delight: Planetary Alignment To Create Smiley Face On April 25

Plan for April 25, 2025, when astronomers throughout the world will see a remarkable celestial event: a crescent moon, Venus, and Saturn will align to create what…

A plane was cruising smoothly toward Vancouver

A plane was cruising smoothly toward Vancouver

A plane was cruising smoothly toward Vancouver when a woman named Lily, seated in economy class, decided she deserved an upgrade. Without hesitation, she marched up to…

28 Perfectly Timed Photos That Will Make You Look Twice

28 Perfectly Timed Photos That Will Make You Look Twice

1. Peek-A-Boo: Framing the Subject Perfectly Sometimes the water parts and you get a split second opportunity for a perfect picture. There’s no way you could ever…

“I’ll Have What He’s Having”

“I’ll Have What He’s Having”

One sunny afternoon, I met up with a group of friends for lunch. Among us was Jim—a spirited 85-year-old with a twinkle in his eye, a thinning…