At the National Board of Review Awards Gala on Wednesday night of January 2020, where Brad Pitt was honored with the Best Supporting Actor award, he took a moment to reflect on his journey to sobriety and express gratitude to a key figure who supported him along the way.
“Thank you, Bradley,” Pitt shared. “I got sober because of this guy, and every day’s been happier ever since. I love you, and thank you.”
Bradley Cooper, who has maintained his sobriety since the age of 29, is now 45 years old. He previously shared that he was concerned alcohol could derail his life.
“I don’t drink or do drugs anymore,” Cooper revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I realized I wasn’t going to live up to my potential, and that scared the hell out of me. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m actually going to ruin my life. I’m really going to ruin it.’”
Pitt has spoken openly about his struggles with alcohol before. In a conversation with Anthony Hopkins, he discussed his past dependency on drinking.
“Well, I just saw [alcohol] as a disservice to myself, as an escape,” Pitt admitted.
The decision to pursue sobriety came in the wake of a significant conflict with his then-wife, Angelina Jolie, in 2016, during a private flight where his drinking became an issue.
“I had taken things as far as I could take it, so I removed my drinking privileges,” Pitt recounted in an interview with The New York Times.
Following Jolie’s decision to file for divorce, Pitt dedicated a year and a half to Alcoholics Anonymous.
“It was this safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself,” he said.
Brad Pitt earned the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Next Steps
If you’re concerned that you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol or another substance, many treatment centers are available to offer support. Sunrise Recovery, a drug and alcohol rehab center in Indiana provides personalized programs to help individuals overcome addiction.
To learn more about your treatment options, contact Sunrise Recovery’s admissions team today.
