Bradley Cooper Opens Up About Cocaine Addiction

Bradley Cooper opened up about his struggles with addiction and how it affected his career, and why he decided to get sober.

During an appearance on the “Smartless” podcast, Cooper, 47, recalled finding himself in a place where he had a “problem” with drugs and alcohol. “I was so lost and I was addicted to cocaine — that was the other thing. I severed my Achilles tendon right after I got fired-slash-quit Alias and struggled with zero self-esteem,” he told co-hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes.

Cooper said his view of his career trajectory played into his personal challenges. Cooper played Will Tippin alongside Jennifer Garner in Alias from 2001 to 2003 before being demoted to guest star status.

“I did have the benefit of that happening when I was 29. I thought I made it when I got a Wendy’s commercial. In terms of the ‘made it’ thing, that’s when I made it. But I definitely did not feel, moving to Los Angeles for Alias feeling like I was back in high school,” he detailed. “I could not get into any clubs, no girls wanted to look at me. I was totally depressed. It wasn’t really until The Hangover. I was 36 when I did The Hangover, so I got to go through all those things before fame even played into my existence on a daily level. So all that happened before any of that.”

Cohost Arnett, 52, made the observation that Cooper’s appearance in 2009’s The Hangover helped him get to a “metamorphosis” in his life. “Having those realizations and having that change allowed you to — that’s what opened you up and allowed you to be you,” he said.

Cooper credited his friend for being “the reason” he decided to deal with his addiction. “I definitely made major breakthroughs at 29 to 33, 34, where at least I was able to stand in front of somebody and breathe and listen and talk,” he added, describing the transition as the “path of deciding to change my life.”

Arnett recalled noticing a “difference” once Cooper got sober. “It has been awesome seeing you in this place and seeing you comfortable. Nothing has made me happier,” Arnett said. “It’s made me happy to see you so happy with who you are.”

Cooper had previously discussed ending up in a spiral because of his addiction. “If I continued it, I was really going to sabotage my whole life,” the actor told GQ in 2013. “I think work was getting f–ked up. The one thing that I’ve learned in life is the best thing I can do is embrace who I am and then do that to the fullest extent, and then, whatever happens, happens. The more steps I do to not do that, the farther I am away from fulfilling any potential I would have.

The A Star Is Born actor also explained how his view on life changed once he got sober.

“I was doing these movies, and I got to meet Sandra Bullock and meet these people and work with them,” he added at the time. “And I’m sober, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m actually myself. And I don’t have to put on this air to be somebody else, and this person still wants to work with me? Oh, what the f–k is that about?’ I was rediscovering myself in this workplace, and it was wonderful.”