Bradley Cooper Opens Up About Substance Abuse, How Will Arnett Helped Him

Bradley Cooper recently opened up about his struggles with substance abuse in a recent episode of the podcast ‘Smartless.’

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Actor Bradley Cooper attends the "Burnt" European premiere at the Vue West End on October 28, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

It may seem like the world is Bradley Cooper’s oyster, but the A-List actor recently revealed his past struggles in reaching his current level of success.

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Bradley Cooper recently opened up about his struggles with substance abuse in a recent episode of the podcast Smartless.

Cooper opened up about his cocaine use and other poor decisions during a “rough patch” in his 20s. The Star Is Born actor/director certainly chose the podcast as an appropriate program in which to open up because it is co-hosted by Will Arnett — who helped Cooper get into recovery.

“I know you’re not supposed to cry on this show,” Bradley Cooper recalled on Smartless. “I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s pretty emotional. … I didn’t know Will that well then, and he was like, ‘Hey man, do you remember we had dinner the other night?’ And Will Arnett saying, he was like … ‘You were a real —-.’ And I was like, ‘What?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah. And, by the way, have your dogs gone out to the bathroom?’ I was like, ‘What, what time is it?’ ‘It’s 4 o’clock.’ Oh no. ‘I think they have to go to the bathroom. They’re literally standing by the door.’ And that was, like, the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol.’”

Unlike many stars who go through struggles after becoming famous, Cooper underscored that he went through lows and depression before he even got famous with The Hangover in 2009.

“[I] couldn’t get into any clubs, like, no girls wanted to really look at me — it was like, ‘What?’ Totally depressed. It wasn’t till really 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.’”

Bradley Cooper’s Long Path to Health

Bradley Cooper said he continued working intensively on his lack of self-esteem until summer 2021.

“I made major breakthroughs from 29 to 32, 33, 34,” he said. “Where at least I was able to stand in front of somebody, and breathe and listen and talk.”

Smartless co-host Jason Bateman asked Cooper: “Was touching bottom one of the things that allowed you to push off?”

To which Cooper replied: “Of course. … Will is the reason … he took the risk of having that hard conversation with me in, like July of 2004. That put me on the path of deciding to change my life.”

“It truly is Will Arnett. He is the reason. There’s nobody else.”

“I’m not the reason,” Arnett interrupted.

Nevertheless, Bradley Cooper continued to sing his praises: “It was the guy I was emulating. … The king told me. … ‘The king came down to tell you that what you’re doing really isn’t the thing you should be doing.’”

Check out the full interview here:

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