Celebrity sobriety stories can look very different. Some people stop drinking after a single turning point. Others go through rehab, relapse, AA, repeated attempts or years of trying to control alcohol and drugs before recovery begins to stick.
This hub brings together IWNDWYT’s celebrity addiction and recovery stories in one place. Where a person’s current sobriety status is uncertain or has changed, the individual article explains that rather than treating an old recovery milestone as a permanent label.
Thinking about your own drinking? Start with our guide to quitting drinking without willpower, or see the programme we recommend if you want a structured way to stop.
Actors and television stars
- Tom Holland: Dry January led him to question his relationship with alcohol and eventually stop drinking.
- Brad Pitt: Pitt has spoken about AA and a long period of sobriety after his divorce.
- Anne Hathaway: She chose to stop drinking while raising her young son.
- Drew Barrymore: Alcohol became a way of coping during a painful period before she stopped drinking.
- Bradley Cooper: Cooper has spoken about cocaine, alcohol and getting sober before his biggest film success.
- Tom Hardy: Hardy has described alcoholism, crack cocaine addiction, rehab and more than two decades in recovery.
- Jenna Jameson: Her public story includes opioids, alcohol, treatment, relapse and rebuilding.
- Jamie Lee Curtis: Curtis has spoken for years about opioid addiction and long-term recovery.
- Dax Shepard: Years of sobriety were followed by a 2020 relapse and a return to recovery.
- Daniel Radcliffe: He has discussed problematic drinking during the Harry Potter years and getting sober.
- Rob Lowe: Lowe has spoken about treatment and decades of recovery from alcohol addiction.
- Jason Bateman: Bateman stopped alcohol and cocaine and later described himself as California sober.
- Heather Locklear: Her story includes alcohol problems, repeated treatment and periods of recovery.
- Mel Gibson: Gibson has publicly discussed alcoholism, relapse and recovery through a 12-step programme.
- Robin Williams: A look at his public battles with alcohol, drugs, recovery and depression.
- Kristin Davis: Davis has spoken about alcoholism and quitting drinking when she was young.
- Tim Allen: Allen has described decades of sobriety after alcohol and drug problems.
- Jason Biggs: Biggs has spoken about alcohol, cocaine, addiction and sobriety.
- Eliza Dushku: Dushku has discussed alcohol and drug addiction and the recovery that followed.
- Edie Falco: Her real-life alcoholism and AA recovery began before The Sopranos made her famous.
- Jason Mewes: Mewes has spoken publicly about heroin addiction, relapse and long-term recovery.
- Leah McSweeney: Her public recovery story includes sobriety, relapse and alcohol addiction.
- James Franco: Franco has discussed drug use and addictive behaviour from earlier in his life.
- Jason Isaacs: Isaacs marked 28 years sober in 2026 after addiction to drugs and alcohol.
- Demi Moore: Moore’s history includes cocaine, alcohol, treatment, long-term sobriety and later relapse.
- Anthony Hopkins: Hopkins stopped drinking in 1975 and later marked 50 years sober.
- Robert Downey Jr.: Addiction led to arrests, rehab and prison before he rebuilt his life and career.
- John Goodman: Goodman stopped drinking in 2007 and has spoken about how alcoholism affected his health and daily life.
- Samuel L. Jackson: Jackson entered rehab in 1990 and has linked sobriety with the career success that followed.
- Gary Oldman: Oldman has described severe alcoholism, rehab and nearly three decades of sobriety.
- Lucy Hale: Hale marked four years sober in 2026 after binge drinking, blackouts, relapse and rehab.
- Steve-O: The Jackass star got sober in 2008 after severe drug and alcohol addiction.
- Ben Affleck: Affleck has spoken openly about alcoholism, rehab, relapse and accepting that moderation did not work for him.
- Zac Efron: Efron entered rehab in 2013 and later discussed alcohol, AA and changing the routines around his drinking.
- Colin Farrell: Farrell entered rehab in 2005 and has spent roughly two decades in recovery.
- Kelly Osbourne: Osbourne’s recovery story includes drug and alcohol addiction, long periods sober and relapse.
- Charlie Sheen: Sheen says he has been sober since 2017 after years of alcohol and cocaine problems.
- Danny Trejo: Trejo got sober in prison in 1968 and later built a Hollywood career while helping others in recovery.
Musicians and performers
- Eminem: Prescription-drug addiction and an overdose were followed by long-term sobriety and a rebuilt career.
- Elton John: John has spent decades sober after cocaine, alcohol and other drug problems.
- Brian “Head” Welch: The Korn guitarist left the band while recovering from meth addiction and later returned without returning to drugs.
- Lily Allen: Allen stopped alcohol and drugs in 2019 and later sought extra support when relapse felt close.
- Cameron Whitcomb: The singer has made addiction, sobriety and accountability central themes in his music.
- Jessica Simpson: Simpson stopped drinking in 2017 after recognising alcohol had become a way of numbing trauma and pain.
- Demi Lovato: Lovato’s public recovery story includes addiction, relapse, a near-fatal overdose and changing approaches to sobriety.
- Macklemore: The rapper has written openly about rehab, relapse and maintaining recovery.
- Keith Urban: Urban got sober in 2006 after alcoholism, cocaine use and earlier treatment attempts.
Sports stars
- Richard Clune: The former NHL player has spoken openly about addiction and recovery throughout his hockey career.
- Sugar Ray Leonard: Leonard has discussed alcohol abuse after boxing and major sobriety milestones.
Celebrity recovery does not follow one route
Some of these stories involve AA or another 12-step programme. Some involve residential treatment. Others involve repeated attempts, relapse, family pressure, a health scare or a simple realisation that alcohol was making life worse.
That variety is useful. There is no requirement to copy the exact route taken by somebody famous. The point is to recognise that change can happen through different forms of support and that an earlier failed attempt does not rule out a later recovery.
If AA does not feel right for you, read our guide to quitting drinking without AA. If you are relying entirely on discipline and finding it exhausting, see how to quit drinking without relying on willpower.
Thinking about stopping drinking yourself?
Celebrity stories can make recovery feel possible, but your own next step matters more than somebody else’s sobriety total. If you want a structured programme, read our Stop Drinking Expert review or use the programme link below.