Bradley Cooper has opened up about a pivotal moment in his life that led him to embrace sobriety.
From his early appearance in Sex and the City in 1999 to acclaimed performances in Silver Linings Playbook and A Star Is Born, Cooper’s rise to stardom seemed effortless.
Yet behind the success, he recalls his early years in Hollywood as a period marked by low self-esteem and a struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Bradley spoke about his experiences on the podcast SmartLess hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
During Bradley’s early days in the industry, he forged a friendship with Will and his wife at the time, Amy Poehler.
The trio had a dinner party and the Hangover star had apparently tried to copy their style of humor at the gathering, but it didn’t go as planned.
“Will was like, ‘Hey man, do you remember we had dinner the other night?’ He goes, ‘How do you think that went?’” Bradley recalls.
“I remember being at the dinner thinking I was so funny, and I thought these two guys, who were my heroes, thought that I was so funny. ... I was like ‘I thought it was great. I thought I was killing.’"
However, Will said: “You were a real a**hole, man.”
Bradley Cooper’s wake-up call in 2004
The comment was a rude awakening for Bradley, who realized he had to make a drastic life change.
“That was like the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol," he shares.
“It was Will saying that to me, and I'll just never forget it. ... It changed my entire life.”
Bradley added: "I was so lost, and I was addicted to cocaine," he recalled.
“Will is the reason (I overcame it). He took the risk of having that hard conversation with me in July of 2004, and that put me on a path of deciding to change my life."
Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid. Credit: Aeon/GC Images / Getty
The impact doesn’t end there
In 2020, Bradley Cooper took the stage at the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala to present Brad Pitt with the Best Supporting Actor award.
What could have been a routine moment instead became a deeply personal revelation — as Pitt publicly credited Bradley for inspiring his own path to sobriety.
“I got sober because of this guy,” Pitt told the audience, adding, “And every day has been happier ever since.”
Bradley, who is now dating Gigi Hadid, was just 29 when he made the life-changing decision to get sober, and by 2023, he reflected on nearly two decades of sobriety, saying he felt “very lucky.”
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born. Credit: Warner Bros.
Speaking candidly on Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge, Bradley opened up about his struggles and gratitude.
When Bear asked if he’d had any “wild years,” Bradley admitted he had “in terms of alcohol and drugs” before sharing how fortunate he feels to have turned his life around.
“I was lucky. I got sober at 29 years old, and I’ve been sober for 19 years. I’ve been very lucky,” he said.