Jamie Lee Curtis Details “Miracle” of 27 Years of Sobriety

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Jamie Lee Curtis is reflecting on her recovery.

The Academy Award-winning actress celebrated 27 years of sobriety, expressing gratitude to her late friend, Richard Lewis, who supported her throughout her recovery.

Jamie shared on Instagram on February 3rd that 27 years ago, when she was struggling, her friend and former colleague Richard Lewis offered crucial support. She wrote, “He reached out and took my hand,” and explained that the key to overcoming addiction is simply having one person who understands what you’re going through, as that connection can be life-changing.

She explained that Richard connected her with a lot of other people, and over the past 27 years, she’s met countless individuals who, like her, have struggled with and overcome addiction – a daily struggle she describes as feeling like being in prison.

Jamie keeps Richard’s memory alive by supporting others in their recovery from addiction. Richard passed away in 2024 at the age of 76.

I feel grateful to be so open with people I’ve met online, even though some of them seem to understand me better than lifelong friends. I want to honor their bravery and resilience, and I try every day to be as helpful to others as my friend Richard was. I deeply miss him, but his legacy of kindness continues to inspire me.

Lindsay Lohan, known for her role in Freaky Friday, has previously discussed her hidden struggle with opioid addiction. It started in the late 1980s when she was prescribed pain medication following a simple eye procedure.

Okay, so everyone’s just catching on to how bad things got with opioids, but honestly, I saw it coming years ago. It’s just… heartbreaking. And it’s even harder because it affects my family, you know? I mean, I’m so proud of my daughters, Annie, who’s 39, and Ruby, who’s 30, and their dad, my husband… but seeing all this just makes you worry constantly. It’s like, I knew this was a problem brewing, and now it’s here, impacting people I love. It’s terrifying.

In 2018, Christopher Guest told People magazine that he spent ten years secretly stealing and scheming, and no one ever suspected a thing.

Jamie wants to be remembered for her advocacy around addiction and recovery, a cause deeply personal to her because of the 1994 heroin overdose death of her brother, Nicolas Curtis.

In a 2022 interview with Variety, actress Jamie Lee Curtis shared that getting and staying sober will be her most important achievement. She explained that it will break a cycle of alcoholism and drug addiction that has affected her family for generations. Curtis emphasized that prioritizing sobriety is, and always will be, her top priority, as it has the potential to change the course of her family’s history.

For more stars who have been open about their sobriety journeys, keep reading…

In October 2018, the actor known for American Pie shared on Instagram that he had been sober for a year, marking the occasion with a positive and uplifting message.

He shared that he first attempted to stop drinking and using drugs more than five years ago, realizing his addiction had become overwhelming. He admitted it was a very difficult process.

He shared that he’s been sober for a year, something he’s incredibly proud of after a difficult journey. He encouraged anyone struggling with addiction to seek help, emphasizing that there’s no shame in asking and that recovery is possible.

Looking back on his battle with addiction, he thought about how far he’d gone to keep it a secret.

He described a cycle where he’d go to therapy to address his issues, but then immediately after a session, he’d go buy a bottle of vodka, drink it, and drive home. He admitted on his wife Jenny Mollen’s podcast, All the Fails, that he used alcohol to escape his feelings and disconnect from his life and the present moment.

He explained that he’d carefully planned how much he’d drink, wanting to stay coherent enough to talk. He mentioned he was frequently refilling the bar’s bottles, implying he was subtly controlling his alcohol intake.

 

The two-time World Cup-winning soccer player has publicly discussed using Adderall while recovering from injuries during her time playing college soccer.

She shared on the 2025 podcast Question Everything with Danielle Robay that she had become seriously addicted to Adderall and was using it in dangerous ways. She explained she was taking it constantly, often going for days without sleep. It was a chaotic period, and she worried about seriously damaging her health. She admitted to crushing and snorting the pills, acknowledging how problematic her behavior had become.

However, in the midst of her struggle, her college coach Anson Dorrance was there to support her.

She described a difficult time where she had to adapt significantly. Anson encouraged her to read, and she discovered the book Man’s Search for Meaning. She said it helped her understand and cope with suffering, and ultimately had a profound impact on her life.

In October 2025, Migos member Quavo revealed he had been sober from codeine—an opioid often mixed with soda to make “sizzurp”—for four years. He credited a serious conversation with his teenage son, Jordan, as the turning point that led him to get clean.

Offset shared that his oldest son repeatedly asked for pineapple Fanta, even though he rarely drinks soda. The moment that really struck him, Offset explained on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, was when his son noticed his Fanta was a different color and asked why. It was a surprisingly emotional moment for the rapper.

Offset explained that the seemingly harmless comment really upset him, adding, “I almost cried when I went back to my room.”

Honestly, it really hit me hard as a dad. The toughest part is, he has no idea I’m even using drugs. It’s scary, because even something small – like him wanting the same soda as me – makes me worry. I instantly think, ‘Oh man, am I setting a bad example? Am I influencing him without even realizing it?’ It’s a really unsettling feeling.

The Academy Award-winning actor has often openly discussed December 29, 1975 – the date he stopped drinking.

In an October 2025 interview on The New York Times‘ podcast, The Interview, he admitted he was driving drunk in California and essentially lost consciousness at the wheel. He described not knowing where he was going and then realizing the danger he posed – that he could have seriously hurt or killed himself or someone else. This moment, he said, led him to recognize he had a problem with alcohol and was, in fact, an alcoholic.

After a friend offered support, he started a new chapter in his life. In December 2025, he celebrated 50 years of sobriety and shared a message of hope with others who are struggling with the same challenges he faced decades ago.

He urged people to embrace life in an Instagram message, repeating simply, “Life, life, life and more life.”

The Valley star shared his decades-long battle with drugs in March 2025 after going to rehab.

Jax revealed in a recent episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast that he’s struggling with addiction, specifically with cocaine. He admitted it was difficult to share this publicly.

He explained that he’s been struggling with this issue intermittently since he was 23, and now, at 45, it continues. He’d sometimes stop, but then other times it would become a significant problem again.

Jax stopped drinking as part of getting sober. He clarified that while he didn’t believe he had a serious drinking problem, he always drank when he used cocaine, so he decided to quit both at the same time. He’s now been sober for over 82 days – the longest stretch of his life without alcohol or cocaine, and he’s very proud of that.

Tom Holland, known for his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home, quit drinking in 2022 because he felt controlled by alcohol. He admitted on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that he was addicted. “I was definitely addicted to alcohol, and I’m not afraid to say that,” Holland shared. He believes that even having a beer every day could indicate a problem.

The actor explained that you eventually reach a point where you regret having that extra drink. Then, you wake up with a really bad headache the next morning.

After adopting a new lifestyle, Holland found he was sleeping more soundly and coping with challenges more effectively.

He explained that he was much calmer and more able to handle problems on set. He felt mentally clear, healthier, and in better physical shape.

Sean Connery, famous for his role in Hunt for Red October, rarely discusses his recovery, which started nearly four decades ago.

He revealed in a May 2024 podcast interview that he doesn’t often talk about his sobriety, only bringing it up when relevant. He shared that he’s been sober for 39 years, since February 23, 1985.

Alec described his early years in Los Angeles after leaving New York in 1983 as a period of intense struggle with cocaine addiction. He admitted to using a massive amount of the drug, saying it felt as common as coffee at the time and that many people were using it constantly. He characterized the first two years as a daily battle with a severe problem.

And after quitting the drug, he soon turned to alcohol—only to also quit that dependency. 

Today, he relies on the city around him. 

You know, New York City just really unwinds me. It’s amazing how, even though I’ve lived here a while, I still discover new things every time I walk around. I’ll be looking at a building I’ve passed a hundred times and suddenly notice some detail – a doorway, a carving – that I never saw before. And it’s not just the city itself; it’s the simple things, like having lunch or coffee with my friends, that make it so special.

In April 2024, Anne Hathaway, known for her role in The Princess Diaries, revealed she’s been sober for over five years. She told The New York Times that reaching this point feels like a significant achievement.

She explained her decision simply. “I realized it wasn’t the right path for me,” she said. “It felt difficult to completely reject it, but I had to. It’s like an allergy – if you have a severe reaction, you don’t question it. I finally stopped questioning it and accepted what I knew to be true.”

She’s glad she made the change. “I’ve found that things are just better overall,” she explained. “It used to drag me down, and I really don’t like feeling sorry for myself.”

When accepting the 2018 Woman of the Year Award from the Peggy Albrecht Friendly House – a program helping women recover from addiction – Moore discussed how she almost lost her career due to her own harmful choices.

I think we all have key moments that define us and change the course of our lives. Early in my career, I was heading down a really destructive path. Despite any success I achieved, I never felt satisfied or worthy. I had very little self-worth, and that quickly led to a crisis. At the time, I didn’t understand why, but it almost felt like something bigger was intervening.

In 2012, seeking help, Moore expressed gratitude to two strangers who gave her a wake-up call. She jokingly said they told her she needed to get her life back on track, stating, “Unless I was dead, I better show up.” She explained they gave her an opportunity to change direction before she ruined everything.

Moore reflected that others recognized potential in her that she hadn’t seen in herself. She expressed deep gratitude for their belief in her, saying she wouldn’t be where she was today without it.

Miley Cyrus revealed in 2022 that she’s been overcoming an addiction to Xanax since 2020. She told Rolling Stone that recovery provided much-needed stability when she was struggling. “It gave me something to focus on and kept me from spiraling,” she explained, adding that it “gave me hope.”

You know, the artist recently shared something that really resonated with me. They said that the moment they realized they could just block everything out, even for a little while, and temporarily escape the hurt, that’s when things truly ended. It was a really powerful way of describing finally giving up on fighting the pain.

She explained that her friends previously seemed to accept her drug use, which led to a downward spiral she described as a never-ending cycle. However, during the pandemic, Miley Cyrus realized she was struggling and felt disconnected from her emotions. She remembers frequently falling asleep and being unable to stay awake because of how deeply affected she was.

She eventually sought help and noted that “it took some time to get on my own two feet.”

As a longtime fan, it was really powerful seeing Eminem open up in his documentary, Stans. He talked about a dark time with prescription pills, even admitting he overdosed. What really hit me hard was hearing how he missed Hailie’s birthday party, and that was the turning point that made him realize he needed to change his life. It was incredibly honest and moving.

He explained that he became emotional realizing he was on the verge of repeating past mistakes. He described an internal pep talk, urging himself not to let opportunities slip away again. He challenged himself, saying that if he couldn’t act for his own sake, he should at least do it for the people who depended on him.

Focusing on making music again played a key role in the Oscar winner’s recovery from addiction.

You know, it’s amazing how little things can shift your perspective. I remember a moment when something simple – like turning on a light – really hit me. It was a turning point where I realized I wasn’t ashamed of being sober anymore. In fact, I started to see it as a strength, something to be proud of. It wasn’t about giving something up, it was about gaining control and feeling good about the choice I made. It truly felt like unlocking a superpower!

The former star of Parenthood had been sober for 16 years when they had a relapse in 2020. This happened after a motorcycle accident, and they began taking Vicodin again.

He explained on his Armchair Expert podcast that he’s been taking prescription medication consistently for about the past two months. He also mentioned he’s taking more than the prescribed dosage.

He went on, saying he hated what was happening and felt he was deceiving everyone around him. He knew he needed to stop, but his tolerance was increasing so fast that he was now using eight pills a day. He was terrified, knowing that stopping would cause severe withdrawal symptoms, and he felt incredibly isolated, burdened by a huge secret.

In 2018, the actress known for her role in Halloween openly discussed her decade-long struggle with opioid addiction. It began in the late 1980s after a small cosmetic procedure to address puffy eyes, which led to a life-altering prescription. She told People magazine that she spent ten years stealing and deceiving others, keeping her addiction a secret from everyone.

In the summer of 1998, when her sister came to visit, Curtis reached her lowest point. Her sister had brought pain medication for a broken rib, and Curtis admitted to taking all of it. Remembering the event, she explained that she knew her sister would discover the missing pills before leaving. She confessed in a note left on the suitcase. When her sister returned, she embraced Curtis, expressing her love and concern, and stating she couldn’t bear to watch Curtis destroy herself.

Jamie Lee Curtis went to her first support group meeting on February 3, 1999, and that same day, she told her husband, filmmaker Christopher Guest, about her struggles. She said he was surprised he hadn’t noticed before, and she has been sober ever since.

Drew Barrymore, who has previously sought treatment for substance abuse, revealed in 2021 that she had reached a significant point in her recovery. Speaking on CBS Mornings, she shared that she’d been sober for two and a half years, explaining that alcohol simply wasn’t beneficial to her life.

She explained that sharing who you truly are and the things you’ve achieved is both incredibly freeing and makes you feel exposed, which is a really interesting combination.

Drew Barrymore later told the Los Angeles Times she avoids calling herself “sober” because she doesn’t want to be seen as someone who’s overly strict or judgmental.

She described a long period of trying to succeed, saying she kept telling herself, ‘I’ll get this, I’ll find a way.’ But in 2023, she came to a different conclusion: ‘I’m not going to master this, and that’s okay.’

Bradley Cooper battled a cocaine addiction in the early 2000s. His friend, Will Arnett, helped him by directly addressing the issue and confronting him about his struggles.

Cooper shared in a 2022 podcast interview that it was then he first understood he had a problem with drugs and alcohol, a moment he says he’ll never forget.

Cooper explained that Arnett was instrumental in his decision to get sober, saying, “Arnett bravely confronted me, which ultimately led me to change my life for the better.”

The actor, known for his role in Fight Club, battled alcohol addiction for years until Bradley Cooper helped him get sober. Accepting an award from Cooper at the 2020 National Board of Review Awards, he shared, “I wouldn’t be sober without this guy, and I’ve been happier every day since.”

In September 2023, the former Cruel Intentions star revealed on Instagram that they had been without nicotine or marijuana – and other substances – for the longest time since their teenage years.

He expressed gratitude for overcoming addiction and substance dependency, saying that achieving sobriety, mental clarity, and a stronger spiritual connection feels truly rewarding.

In 2018, the singer first celebrated six years of being sober while on tour. However, she surprised fans later that year with her song “Sober,” in which she admitted to having struggled with relapse.

She sang, filled with regret, apologizing to her parents for losing control and drinking too much. She acknowledged repeating past mistakes and expressed her sorrow for her current state, also thanking those who had stayed by her side.

A month later, Lovato was hospitalized for a near-fatal overdose.

She shared on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that she’s been open about her struggles with addiction. She explained that it’s an ongoing battle, not something she’s simply overcome, and that she still has work to do. She asked for time to focus on healing and getting sober, expressing gratitude for the support she’s received and hope for a future where she’s fully recovered. She finished by saying she’s committed to continuing the fight.

In 2018, she spoke about her past struggles with sex and alcohol. She explained that her addictions tended to shift over time, and when she was younger, she believed sex could solve any problem. She also described realizing she had developed a serious issue with drinking.

She recalled a low point when she was home alone and nearly finished her third bottle of wine. It was then she realized she might have a drinking problem.

I stopped abruptly. I’m good at doing that – I tend to go all-in on things and really get fixated. It’s not necessarily what you do, but how and why. It’s about the motivations behind your actions. For example, wanting to have a lot of sex is fine, but you need to understand why you want that. That’s the important part to examine.

Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean revealed he first experimented with drugs before shooting the music video for their 2000 hit, “The Call.” He later told Good Morning America that he was “completely out of control” during filming. After a setback, he achieved sobriety in 2021 and experienced significant improvements in his health within a year, including losing 32 pounds over seven months by giving up alcohol and junk food.

He told People magazine in July 2025 that he’s committed to staying on his current path. He described it as a daily effort, but shared that following advice from the recovery community has dramatically improved his life.

While AJ acknowledged he is “still learning, still growing,” he’s now confident in who he is.

I’ve been learning to set healthy boundaries, something I didn’t used to do, and it’s been really helpful. ‘AJ’ is a character I play, but it’s not the whole me. My real name is Alexander James, and that’s who I truly am.

Following the unexpected death of Mac Miller, rapper Bow Wow, whose real name is Shad Moss, shared a personal struggle with addiction on Twitter. He revealed that while working on the ‘Face Off’ album with Omarion, he was regularly using lean, a code name for cough syrup mixed with soda. He admitted to being high on lean during a memorable on-stage outburst at the BET Awards involving Torae. He explained that his behavior changed, straining relationships with fans and family, despite never mentioning lean in his music. Bow Wow detailed his addiction, saying he was consuming lean at least seven times a day during the UCP tour with Chris Brown, until a show in Cincinnati where he collapsed backstage and woke up in the hospital experiencing withdrawal. He described the pain as unlike anything he’d ever felt, noting he was constantly cold and missed shows in Chicago and Baltimore due to being high and sick. He emphasized that he was using drugs to appear cool and urged others to avoid the same mistake, encouraging them to be good sons or daughters and strive for their best selves. He vowed to speak out more about the dangers of drug use, especially for young people, and asked parents to educate their children. He shared that his stomach has never fully recovered and reiterated that staying drug-free is the best path. He concluded by expressing his love for his fans and young artists worldwide, urging them to break the cycle of drug use and prioritize their lives.

In 2018, the singer opened up about her struggles with addiction, coinciding with the release of her album No Shame and her memoir My Thoughts Exactly. She revealed she had been using cocaine and drinking excessively. Things came to a head when, after accidentally hitting Orlando Bloom with her head at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party and losing consciousness, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin organized an intervention to help her.

In an interview with The Guardian, she described a period of deep unhappiness, saying she felt nothing could bring her satisfaction. She recalled one morning considering heroin use, as she felt nothing else was helping her cope.

The actor best known for The Parent Trap struggled with cocaine addiction during the 1980s, leading him to seek treatment in 1990. He later shared on Today that he came of age in the 1960s and 70s, a time when attitudes towards drug use were very different.

He confessed that in the 1980s, he was using cocaine almost every day, to the point where it was impacting his finances. He described desperate pleas to God to stop, promising to quit right before work, only to find himself rationalizing his use again by the afternoon. He admitted to thinking, ‘It’s not so bad,’ just hours after begging for help.

He described a powerful experience, what he called seeing a white light, where he felt he was either dying or about to lose everything important in his life. He then had to explain this to his then-fiancée, Meg Ryan, and afterwards, he decided to get help. He says this marked the end of his struggle with cocaine.

Following an incident at a Newport Beach hotel where he attempted to break down his own door, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte entered treatment for alcohol addiction in 2018. A representative for Lochte stated that he had been struggling with alcohol abuse for years, and it had become a harmful pattern. Lochte recognized his need for professional help and began treatment immediately.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following Ryan’s journey, and it’s clear this isn’t just about health. He understands that getting this under control now is crucial for all areas of his life – making good choices, being the husband and father he wants to be, and ultimately, chasing his dream of competing at his fifth Olympics in Tokyo. It’s about building a foundation for success, both in and out of the pool.

Despite knowing you shouldn’t get sober for another person, actor Jason Ritter credits his relationship with Melanie Lynskey as a key factor in his decision to stop drinking.

He realized how wonderful she was and believed she deserved someone truly special. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show in March 2023, he admitted he didn’t feel up to the task, saying he was ‘a little bit too crazy’ for her.

However, as Ritter noted to TopMob News, he now sees that sobriety is ultimately a personal choice.

He remembered that in the beginning of their relationship, it was simpler to justify his actions by saying he was doing them for her. He admitted he didn’t value his own well-being as much then, and was more concerned with avoiding her pain. So, it felt easier to claim his motivations were all about her. Now, though, he’s finally prioritizing his own needs and doing things for himself.

The country singer has been sober for almost ten years, but achieving that took a lot of effort. His struggle with alcohol and painkillers started shortly after high school and continued even as his music career gained momentum. He confessed to People magazine that he always kept a black leather laptop bag stocked with Jagermeister or vodka, needing to drink from it every hour and a half to two hours, and take a couple of pills every three to four hours.

It didn’t hinder his accomplishments at all. “I wasn’t falling apart,” he explained. “Actually, I was incredibly productive – I wrote more songs during that time than I am now, and that’s what really worried me.”

In late 2011, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis and warned that continued drinking could be fatal. He admitted he initially tried to cut back on his own, setting daily limits on pills and alcohol. “I’d tell myself, ‘Okay, just two pills today, and only this much from the bottle,’ and I’d even mark the bottle to keep track,” he remembered. “But it would only work for a couple of days—then someone would have a party and I’d start again.”

Gilbert finally decided he needed help and checked into rehab on December 18, 2011. He explained, “I realized I couldn’t overcome this on my own.” He admitted it was frustrating and humiliating, saying, “I’m usually very determined, but this was the one thing I just couldn’t control.”

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2026-02-04 16:52