A Look at Ben Affleck’s Ugly History With Alcoholism 

Ben Affleck’s journey with alcoholism is a tale of highs and lows. This Hollywood star has been open about his battles and has shared his story with honesty. Imagine a kid whose parents divorce, and his dad struggles with alcohol.

That was Affleck’s life. He often talks about how this affected him growing up. His father eventually got sober, which inspired Affleck in his own fight against addiction.

The actor had his share of rehab visits, all while balancing his career and being a dad. Let’s take a closer look at the key moments in his life, from partying hard to working on recovery.

Father’s Alcoholism Impacted Ben Affleck’s Life

To understand Ben Affleck‘s journey, we should look at his childhood. When he was just 12, his parents divorced—a big moment that influenced his early life. He has stated feeling relieved by their separation, mostly because of the tension between them. This event marked the beginning of many challenges he would face later on.

A major factor in this tension was his father’s struggle with alcoholism. The Caped Crusader actor revealed that his dad drank heavily, which created a tough environment for him as a child. The star, in a 2012 interview, told ABC News‘ Barbara Walters: 

[My father] was an alcoholic… I did know that as a child. He drank a lot. My father was a — what did they call him — a real alcoholic. He, you know, drank all day, drank every day, and to his credit, he got sober ultimately. He’s been sober for several decades, which I think is pretty impressive.

This part of his dad’s life really shaped how he looked at addiction. Affleck often said that growing up around tough issues like that changed his view on life. Experiencing alcoholism early on helped him deal with his own struggles later.

Ben Affleck Regrets Actions During His Drinking Days

Fast forward to the late 1990s, and Affleck’s life took a dramatic turn. He became a rising star in Hollywood, co-starring with Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. With fame came the party lifestyle, and Affleck dove in headfirst. He enjoyed the high life but quickly realized that it came with consequences. 

In an interview with Fox News back then, Affleck honestly shared how he acted while drinking. He admitted that he often did things without really thinking them through. Check out his quote:

I just wanted to stop. I started regretting some things I did when I was drunk. It’s funny to be obnoxious or out of control, but then it’s like, ‘I think I hurt that person’s feelings,’ ‘I made a fool of myself’ or ‘I didn’t want to kiss that girl. I have almost no inhibitions, so it’s dangerous for me.

By 2001, after a period of intense partying and high-profile relationships, Affleck realized he needed to make a change. He understood that he wasn’t just having fun—he was hurting himself and possibly others, too.

Ben Affleck’s First Rehab Experience

In July 2001, Affleck made a big move by checking into a 30-day rehab program at Promises in Malibu. This came after a night of heavy partying that really drove home how much he needed a break. He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2012:

I went to rehab for being 29 and partying too much and not having a lot of boundaries and to clear my head and try to get some idea of who I wanted to be. It was more a ‘let me get myself straight,’ before it became a rite of passage.

This experience marked a pivotal moment in his life, where he started to confront his issues and seek maturity.

Ben Affleck Found Motivation for Sobriety in Fatherhood

By 2017, Affleck had fully stepped into dad life, and it totally changed how he saw sobriety. With three kids—Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel—to look after, their well-being became his top priority.

In March 2017, the Hollywood mogul announced on Facebook that he had wrapped up another round of treatment for alcohol addiction. He credited his family as a big motivation for seeking help.

Affleck wrote about wanting his kids to understand that there is “no shame in getting help.” He recognized the support from his family, especially his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, and stressed that he wanted to be the best dad he could be.

Ben Affleck Faced Challenges but Stayed Committed to Sobriety

Despite his commitment to sobriety, Affleck still faced struggles. In August 2018, Garner took him to rehab again, showing her concern for his well-being. Eyewitnesses remarked on how emotional and distressed she looked.

In 2019, the Oscar winner raised eyebrows about his sobriety when TMZ dropped a video of him in a Halloween mask. The actor was stumbling as he tried to get to the passenger door of a parked SUV. But he owned up to his slip, saying (via E! News), “It’s a slip, but I’m not going to let it derail me.”

This statement showed his understanding of the nature of recovery—it’s not always a straight path. Setbacks can happen, but what matters is the willingness to keep moving forward.