Jamie Lee Curtis is reflecting on a milestone in her personal life, celebrating 26 years of sobriety on . The actress, currently starring alongside Lindsay Lohan in the sequel Un Viernes de Locos, has been open about her personal struggles, including a past battle with opioid addiction.
In a recent conversation, Curtis revealed a story about a childhood opportunity she almost took – a role in the iconic horror film The Exorcist. Fortunately for her, her mother, actress Janet Leigh, intervened. “A producer called my mom and said, ‘I’m producing the movie of the book The Exorcist. Will you let Jamie audition?’” Curtis recalled. “But, thank God, my mother wanted me to stay a child and prevented me from starring in The Exorcist. She really wanted me to have a childhood.”
Curtis, the daughter of Tony Curtis, shared her sobriety journey on Instagram, acknowledging the support she received from her friend and colleague, Richard Philip Lewis, who passed away in 2024. She described the “miracle of sobriety” as needing just one person to connect with your feelings, and how that connection can be transformative.
A Wave of Sobriety in Hollywood
Jamie Lee Curtis joins a growing number of celebrities who have publicly discussed their struggles with substance abuse and their commitment to recovery. Elton John is celebrating 36 years of sobriety this year, while Charlie Sheen and Bradley Cooper are both marking nine years. Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins also recently shared his decades-long journey to sobriety on social media.
During an interview, Curtis described her sobriety as the greatest achievement of her life. She credited Lewis as a key figure in her process. In her Instagram post, she recounted reaching out for help when she was experiencing pain and sorrow 27 years ago, and Lewis being the one to extend a hand. Beyond celebrating her years without alcohol and opioids, Curtis honors Lewis’s memory by helping others on their own paths to recovery.
“The miracle of sobriety is that it just takes one other person to relate to how you’re feeling and THAT can change everything,” she wrote. Curtis also acknowledged the importance of community, noting that the church where she attended recovery meetings was lost in the recent Palisades fire, yet the commitment to sobriety remained unwavering. “We don’t drink or use no matter what and this is a big f—— no matter what,” she stated.
The actress, originally from Santa Monica, California, also spoke about a family history of addiction, and her desire to break the cycle that has impacted generations. Her brother, Nicholas, died from a heroin overdose in 1994, and her father, Tony Curtis, struggled with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin throughout his life, passing away in 2010.
Curtis’s awareness of this familial pattern has fueled her dedication to maintaining her sobriety. She recognizes the importance of confronting these issues and actively working to create a different future. As she shared on social media, the journey is about taking things “one day at a time.”
The actress’s openness about her struggles and her commitment to recovery serve as an inspiration, highlighting the power of support, community, and the ongoing effort required to maintain a sober life. Her story underscores the growing trend of celebrities using their platforms to destigmatize addiction and encourage others to seek help.
