Bradley Cooper one of the Hollywood’s leading man, has also witnessed the dark phase in his life. Over the years Cooper has been very candid about his life’s struggles with alcoholism and depression, and what inspired him to put down the battle for good. Cooper first revealed that he was sober in 2012, confessing that he quit doing drugs and drinking alcohol at the age of 29 “I don’t drink or do drugs at all anymore,” he admitted. Then, just five months later, he was arrested again and charged with a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Stars like Johnny Depp, Drew Barrymore, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie have all struggled publicly with drugs and alcohol. Like Robert Downey Jr., these A-listers overcame their substance abuse disorders and now lead lucrative careers. During this time, he was once found unconscious and unresponsive by his neighbor and had to be resuscitated at USC medical center. The next day, he was court-ordered to attend a 24-hour drug rehabilitation program but escaped the facility and hitchhiked home. Four hours later, he was caught by the police and put in jail for nine days.

Years of Addiction During Robert Downey Jr.’s Rise to Fame

In his new Netflix documentary, Sr., Robert Downey Jr. gets a chance to say goodbye to his father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., who died last July at the age of 85. And he also gets a chance to have difficult conversations—including a heart-to-heart regarding their years using drugs. Downey has battled drug and alcohol addiction for most of his life, claiming his experience with substances began when he was just 6 years old. In 1999, the “Iron Man” star was sentenced to three years in California’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison after he failed to undergo court-ordered drug tests stemming from a 1996 cocaine possession charge.

Did Mel Gibson help Robert Downey Jr?

Stating that Mel Gibson was the one who came to support Downey Jr. when he was down on his luck, the actor felt grateful for the act of kindness. It wasn't long before the Dolittle actor had to repay the favor when the world turned against Mel Gibson as he became one of the most hated men in Hollywood.

Downey Jr.’s father, Robert Downey Sr., was the person who first gave him marijuana to try. Eventually, 40.3 million Americans are addicted to drugs and alcohol. That means more than 1 in 10 Americans has a problem with drugs or alcohol. Hopefully, seeing stories of struggling and recovery from people you know, not for their struggles, but for their success, can help you to find inspiration, to move into recovery, or to stay there.

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He revealed to Daily Mail in 2013 that he relied on a mix of yoga and meditation to stay clean, in addition to therapy and a series of 12-step programs. In 2001, he attempted to revive his career with a role in Ally McBeal, but was fired after he was arrested for walking the streets of Culver City while intoxicated. After the arrest, Downey was given the order to attend rehab in lieu of another stay in prison. With his drug use spiraling out of control, Downey was arrested in 1996 for possession of drugs that included heroin and cocaine.

who helped robert downey jr get sober

Celebrity survivors are an important source of inspiration for many who suffer from this disease. While addiction can target anyone, everyone has the power to overcome it with the right care. Santanu Roy is a film enthusiast with a deep love for the medium of animation while also being obsessed with Batman and The Everly Brothers. Apart from pursuing animation and analyzing movies, he possesses a deep fondness for narrative-driven games and is currently a content writer at Fandomwire with over 600 articles. Downey was full of shock and tried to stay to himself, but was moved into a group cell with four other guys where he was forced into interaction.

Committing to Recovery

Between 1997 and 2003, Downey Jr. was in and out of court and prison. In 1995, Downey Jr. found himself in a vicious cycle of going from rehab, to set and then going on a binge of drugs and alcohol. Fellow actor and friend, Sean Penn drove Downey Jr. to a treatment center in an attempt to help his friend get treatment, but Downey Jr. broke out of the facility a few days later. In 1996, Downey Jr. was arrested for various crimes like speeding, driving under the influence and possession of drugs and firearms. One of the most popular superhero franchises, “The Avengers”, features a hero on- and off-screen. Robert Downey Jr., who plays the iconic character Iron Man, has had a life-long battle with drug addiction and alcohol that began as early as six-years-old.

  • The actor says that he used to drink a lot during the filming of the last three Potter films and finally realized it was something he couldn’t control.
  • The same pattern continued in 1996 when the police stopped him for speeding and found him high, in possession of heroin and cocaine, and having a firearm on his front seat.
  • In 1995, Downey Jr. found himself in a vicious cycle of going from rehab, to set and then going on a binge of drugs and alcohol.
  • His status today is a reminder to all that no matter how bleak the situation may seem, there is always a chance to come out on top.

However, he wasn’t always the successful actor known around the world. For years, Downey Jr. spent time in and out of rehab, sober, relapsing, getting arrested, and repeating the cycle. As someone so visible in the public view, he has taken his story of hardships and turned it into an inspiring triumph over addiction. His path can prove to others that you can always rise back up no matter how low you sink.

One of Donald Trump’s Most Devoted Lawyers Just Traded In Her Role for ‘The Privilege of a Lifetime’

After almost a full year in prison, Robert Downey Jr was released in 2000 due to his collective time in incarceration facilities and he was immediately cast in a new television series Ally McBeal. Despite the rave reviews, his emmy nomination, and Golden Globe win, Robert Downey sober house Jr went on to say it was the lowest point of his life. Less Than Zero was the turning point, both in Downey’s career and addiction. The film launched him into larger roles, eventually starring in Chaplin as Charlie Chaplin in 1992 where he was nominated for an Academy Award.

If you have been on the fence about seeking treatment, or if a loved one has been repeatedly refusing to consider recovery despite obvious necessity, Evoke Wellness is available to help. Our recovery program caters to men and women of all ages and in all demographics. To learn more, or to begin your drug addiction recovery https://goodmenproject.com/everyday-life-2/top-5-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-a-sober-house-for-living/ journey, contact us today. If Robert Downey Jr. can pull himself out of the trenches while under intense public scrutiny, anything is possible – recovery is a possibility, no matter who you are or where you come from. In 1999, Downey Jr. was sentenced to three years in prison, but he was paroled after just one year.

Robert Downey Jr. Recalls Drug Addiction Years in Netflix’s ’Sr.’: “It’s Shocking A Single Movie Came Out Finished”

There were guard towers and a maximum security prison next door (with Charles Manson no less) and rumors that the guards would make the inmates fight or be shot. We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. We are committed to providing a comfortable and effective place for clients to get clean and begin their journey in recovery. Downey says his ex-wife, singer-songwriter Deborah Falconer, was left to explain much of what went on during the past few years to their son. Then, speaking on the phone with his father, Jr. states he’d be “remiss” not to bring up how his father’s drug use led Jr. down his own path of addiction.

  • Despite his active drug and alcohol addiction, Downey Jr. made a name for himself as a young actor in the mid to late 80s.
  • In 1999, the “Iron Man” star was sentenced to three years in California’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison after he failed to undergo court-ordered drug tests stemming from a 1996 cocaine possession charge.
  • As Yankee Stadium was the house that Ruth built, this is the house that Iron Man built.
  • The actor, who was nominated for an Oscar for his 1992 performance in Chaplin, has continued acting in between his stints in jail and rehab over the last seven years.
  • His career didn’t pick up again until Mel Gibson personally underwrote Downey’s liability insurance so that the actor could star in 2003’s The Singing Detective.
  • Addiction does not define you; in the words of Downey Jr., “I am not my story.” You may have an addiction story, but you will also have a story of recovery.

He was fired from the show Ally McBeal (for which he had previously won an Emmy) in 2000, which he joined after he had spent a year in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison. He was arrested again in 2001 for possession of cocaine and Valium and for being under the influence of a chemical substance. During this same year, he was ordered to attend drug rehab and was given three years of probation.