Bradley Cooper had to complete intense challenges on a recent episode of “Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” but one of the most harrowing was his 19 years of sobriety he discussed with the host.
On the Nat Geo program, Grylls and Cooper were in the Wyoming Basin where a winter storm made things like zip-lining across a 100-foot ravine.
After completing that run, Cooper looked back on his sobriety saying how fortunate he is.
Grylls noted how Cooper had “some wild years.”
"In terms of alcohol and drugs, yeah. But that had nothing to do with fame, though," Cooper admits. "But I was lucky, y'know? I got sober at 29 years old. And I've been sober for 19 years."
Cooper also told Grylls his past struggles informed his character in 2018’s “A Star Is Born.”
“It made it easier to really enter in there,” the actor said. “And thank goodness I was at a place in my life where I was at ease with all that. So I could really let myself go.”
Cooper has discussed his sobriety before on the “Smartless” podcast, with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes.
After stopping by Cooper’s home in 2004, Arnett made notice that Cooper hadn’t taken his dogs outside to use the bathroom and it was already late afternoon.
“That was the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol,” Cooper told the podcast. “It was Will saying that to me. I’ll never forget it… It changed my entire life.”