Entertainment

Bradley Cooper says he’s ‘lucky’ to be sober after drug addiction nearly killed him

Bradley Cooper is feeling “very lucky” that he managed to overcome addictions that nearly claimed his life decades ago.

The Oscar nominee, 48, opened up about his sobriety in a recent episode of National Geographic’s “Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge” as Grylls asked about Cooper’s “wild years.”

“In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah, but nothing to do with fame,” said Cooper, who shares 6-year-old daughter Lea with ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk.

“But I was lucky. I got sober at 29 years old, and I’ve been sober for 19 years. Very lucky.”

“The Hangover” star, who recently sparked backlash over his prosthetic nose in the upcoming Netflix film “Maestro,” battled a heavy drug and alcohol addiction in the early 2000s which he openly admits hindered his work.

Cooper previously shared how his addiction took a turn for the worse after he was fired from the Jennifer Garner action-thriller series “Alias.”


The Oscar nominee, 48, opened up about his sobriety in a recent episode of National Geographic's “Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge."
The Oscar nominee, 48, opened up about his sobriety in a recent episode of National Geographic’s “Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge.”
National Geographic for Disney/Jeff Ellingson

The actor, pictured in 2002, battled a heavy drug and alcohol addiction in the early 2000s.
The actor, pictured in 2002, battled a heavy drug and alcohol addiction in the early 2000s.
WireImage

And he said he nearly suffered a similar relapse in 2011 after his father died following a cancer battle.

“I definitely had a nihilistic attitude towards life after, just like I thought ‘I’m going to die,’” he told Grylls. “I don’t know, it wasn’t great for a little bit until I thought I have to embrace who I actually am and try to find a peace with that, and then it sort of evened out.”

And while addiction may have hindered his work in the past, Cooper said his knowledge ultimately helped him execute his role of an addict in “A Star Is Born.”


Cooper, 48, told Grylls that he "got sober" at age 29.
Cooper, 48, told Grylls that he “got sober” at age 29 following a heavy drug addiction.
National Geographic for Disney/Jeff Ellingson

During his candid chat with the British adventurer, Cooper said he nearly suffered a similar relapse in 2011.
During his candid chat with the British adventurer, Cooper said he nearly suffered a similar relapse in 2011.
National Geographic for Disney/Jeff Ellingson

“It made it easier to be able to really enter in there,” Cooper said about his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2018 film opposite Lady Gaga.

“And thank goodness I was at a place in my life where I was at ease with all of that so I could really let myself go.”

“I’ve been very lucky with the roles I’ve had to play. It’s been a real blessing. I hope I get to keep doing it,” he added.


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Cooper has been open in the past about his struggles with addiction, telling GQ in 2013 that his substance abuse was going to “sabotage [his] whole life” if he did not get help.

“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,” he said at the time.

“The more steps I do to not do that, the farther I am away from fulfilling any potential I would have.”

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