When we see celebrities on the big screen or performing on stage they might seem like they are larger than life. As audiences we hold them in high regard and compare them to the grandeur and wonder that they often embody with their characters. Despite all this, celebrities are still people deep-down and they have their own struggles, problems, and secrets that they won’t always want other people to know about.
Like a lot of people, many celebrities have also had their fair share of struggles with alcoholism and have attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as part of their recovery. While revealing themselves as having attended an AA meeting violates one of the basic tenets of the movement, their opening up to the public about their attendance has definitely brought the movement some media attention and put the word out there that even celebrities attend these meetings as well.
Here are some celebrities that have been known to or are rumored to have attended AA meetings in the past.
- Brad Pitt
When it comes to the world of acting, there definitely isn’t a more recognizable man than Brad Pitt. He’s been the household handsome man that everyone and your mother has talked about since he was making the playbills. Appearing all the way from hit sitcoms like “Friends”, to cult classics like “Fight Club”, and even the latest Tarantino hit such as “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”, there is just no shortage of Pitt in the theaters.
He also made headlines when he opened up about attending AA meetings for a year and a half. He shared his experiences while he was in an all-male recovery group where he claimed that he had never seen people open up in the same way that his group opened up to each other. He shared that he felt that there was little to no judgment in the group and that it was a safe space.
- Lindsay Lohan
This actress’ claim to fame came in the form of the cult classic film “Mean Girls”. However, she had been a model since the age of three and lived most of her life in the public eye. Unfortunately, her mean struggles with alcoholism were also captured online for the world to see. Her subsequent efforts of getting sober through Alcoholics Anonymous was also publicized as a result along with many highly controversial headlines relating to the organization.
- Anthony Hopkins
This Hollywood actor has starred in many blockbuster hits throughout his career and he has enjoyed plenty of critical acclaim for his performances especially in films such as “Silence of the Lambs” and ”Hannibal”. As of late, he has been taking command of movie screens with his appearances as the mighty all-father Odin in Marvel’s “Thor” films. The multi-awarded actor has opened up about his battles with alcoholism. He shared that Alcoholics Anonymous saved him after he attended a meeting following a heavy night of drinking. He claims that he hasn’t looked back since.
- Demi Moore
If you think about any steamy, romantic love stories throughout the 80s and 90s, chances are, it’s probably starring Demi Moore in the lead. Thanks to her looks and on-screen appearances, this actress has become a Hollywood sex symbol. She has also opened up about her struggles with alcoholism in the past. Her time at Alcoholics Anonymous was also highly publicized upon the passing of her AA sponsor Patsy Rugg was attributed to a downward spiral that was caught in the lenses of that week’s hottest gossip.
- Mel Gibson
Starting with his breakout role as the titular character of the Mad Max series, Mel Gibson has led a somewhat mad and storied life as a celebrity. He pursued directing with popular films like “Braveheart” and “The Passion of Christ” under his belt. After facing many controversies, Gibson has found something of a resurgence after releasing “Hacksaw Ridge” back in 2016. The actor shared to the public back in 2020 that he managed to stay sober for over a decade thanks to his time at Alcoholics Anonymous.
- Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher’s claim to fame was playing Princess Leia Organa in what came to be known as a global phenomenon in the original Star Wars trilogy. The series propelled her into Hollywood royalty and she has been in the public eye since. Fisher struggled with bipolar disorder and was very open with her struggles on both her personality disorder as well as her struggles with drugs and alcohol. She has also been open about her experiences in AA and even invited talk show host Graham Norton to attend AA meetings with her in Los Angeles, something that was revealed in the talk show host’s memoirs.
- Al Pacino
Shooting to stardom with excellent films like “Scarface” and “The Godfather” series of films came easy to this actor. Accolades followed him throughout his career but even through his massive success, he still had his own struggles with alcoholism. The actor has opened up about not being ashamed to have attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He also shared that he found the AA programs supportive and meaningful.
- Owen Wilson
Famous for his comedy roles and crooked nose, this actor has been a mainstay for funny guys and even many drama films. He is also known for his frequent collaborations with filmmaker Wes Anderson. Though Wilson has had a very public struggle with drugs, there have only been rumors that the actor has attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He has spoken to the press and claimed that he does not see himself as an alcoholic, though he knows that it’s not good for someone in AA to speak to the press about their experiences within the organization.
- Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman has received plenty of accolades throughout his film career and is regarded as one of the most skilled and versatile actors of his generation. He has a colorful career spanning many different genres and many characters. One of the things that is often talked about in his performances are the plethora of different accents that the actor uses. More than this, however, the actor also talked about how he stayed sober for 24 years in 2021. He credited Alcoholics Anonymous as helping him to achieve and stay sober throughout the years.
- Roger Ebert
If you’ve ever had a passing interest in film or even film reviews then the name “Roger Ebert” should at least ring a couple of bells. Known for his movie reviews and film review site named after him, Ebert has been sharing his opinions on films for years and he did so up until before he passed away in 2013.
In a 2009 blog post, he finally decided it was time to share something about his time attending Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings and shared that it had helped him to stay sober for 30 years. During that time, he had not had a single drink. He hoped that anyone who managed to read his post would be encouraged to stay sober and try their hand at AA meetings as well.