Denzel Washington’s Shocking Past: 10 Years Sober After Drugs and Alcohol Caused ‘Massive Damage’

This December, Denzel Washington has more to celebrate than just the holiday season.

Washington, a two-time Academy Award recipient, is about to reach a significant milestone in his journey to recovery: a decade without alcohol or drugs. Speaking candidly in an interview with Esquire, the esteemed 69-year-old actor reflected on the damage his past addictions caused to his health.

“I quit when I was 60 and haven’t touched a drop since,” he revealed in the feature story published on Wednesday. “Now, as I approach 70, new opportunities are emerging. It’s a reality.”

Washington, known for his roles in “Training Day” and “Gladiator II”, opened up about his battle with addiction in a detailed recounting of his life’s most pivotal moments. He humorously remembered his first, relatively uneventful, encounter with acid as a child and discussed how alcohol became a coping mechanism after losing the 2000 Best Actor Oscar to Kevin Spacey. Washington was nominated for his performance in “The Hurricane”, while Spacey won for “American Beauty.”

Washington admitted that he resorted to drinking as he struggled with the disappointment of losing the award. Despite his initial bitterness, he harbors no resentment towards Spacey, who has since fallen out of favor in Hollywood. After reminiscing about his self-indulgent ‘pity party’, Washington shared that he relied on his wife, Pauletta, to assist him with his Oscar voting duties, confessing that wine had become his vice of choice. He would frequently buy two bottles of wine from a liquor store on Sunset Boulevard.

“My wife would question my habit of only buying two bottles. I’d tell her, ‘If I get more, I’ll drink more,’” Washington explained. “So I limited myself to two bottles, which I’d finish over the day.”

Washington, who stars in “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, clarified that he never drank while working or preparing for a role, but would resume drinking once filming concluded. “Three months of indulgence, then back to work,” he stated.

While he labeled his drinking habit as a “15-year pattern”, the “Equalizer” actor traced its roots to his pre-fame days. Earlier in the interview, he shared a childhood memory involving drug addicts from his New York neighborhood. “Honestly, that’s where it all began,” he admitted, adding that, although he experimented with hard drugs like heroin and cocaine, he never became dependent on them.

“I dabbled in drugs the way they did, but I never became addicted. And I never became dependent on alcohol,” he added.

In 2012, Washington starred in “Flight,” a movie about an alcoholic pilot whose substance abuse issues come to light after he miraculously lands a plane during an emergency. The actor noted that the film coincided with the tail end of his drinking period, causing him to reflect on people struggling with addiction. Since giving up alcohol and drugs, Washington has also started prioritizing physical fitness, thanks to a personal trainer recommended by his friend, musician Lenny Kravitz.

In addition to celebrating a decade of sobriety, Washington has other achievements to be proud of this year. His children, John David, Malcom, and Katia, collaborated on a film, “The Piano Lesson,” which Washington also produced. The final part of Washington’s feature story focuses on a memorable moment from the film’s festival run.

“When I reflect on what I’m most proud of, nothing I’ve achieved personally comes to mind. It’s my children,” Washington shared. “They are truly wonderful people.”