Bradley Cooper: his dark fall and impressive revival in Hollywood

He seems to have it all right now: Golden Globe, Bafta, and Oscar nominations for his beautiful biopic 'Maestro' (2023) about Leonard Bernstein, and the production of a much-anticipated 'Joker' sequel (2024) with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Yet, it hasn't always been so great for Bradley Cooper...

Only recently has it become clear just how much Bradley Cooper suffered from problems with alcohol and other illegal substances. Here are more details about his darker past.

Follow Showbizz Daily to see the best photo galleries every day

His problems started with his dismissal from 'Alias', the J.J. Abrams series where, throughout 46 episodes between 2001 and 2006, he played the role of Will Tippin, the best friend of Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), star of the story. He wasn't quite the superstar yet...

In an interview to GQ magazine in 2013, Cooper said: "I was only working for three days a week and during the second season the script marginalized me a little more, (it) shattered my self-esteem and made me think about [taking my life]... There comes a point when you accept the fact that the business doesn't want you."

That was not the only reason for his bad circumstances. As he revealed in that interview, "when I moved to Los Angeles for the filming of 'Alias' I was very depressed."

At the time, Bradley Cooper was having bad experiences in the film and television industry and, as a result, he turned to alcohol and illegal substances to escape from it all.

On the 'SmartLess' podcast, hosted by fellow actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, he exposed more details about those years of his life.

He recalls that, around the age of thirty, "I was very lost and addicted to cocaine, I had zero self-esteem. I cut my Achilles tendon right after I got fired/quit 'Alias'" Bradley Cooper told his interviewers on 'SmartLess'.

Follow Showbizz Daily to see the best photo galleries every day

"I was lucky enough to have that happen when I was 29. I thought I'd made it when I got a Wendy's ad, but when I moved to Los Angeles to do 'Alias' I felt like I was back in high school. I couldn't get into any clubs and no girl wanted to look at me. I was totally depressed," said the actor.

It was the comedy 'The Hangover' (2009), in which he played Phil Wenneck, the school teacher and leader of 'The Pack', that helped Bradley Cooper rise to fame. Finally, he began to get out of that self-destructive spiral.

"I had the opportunity to deal with all these things before fame came knocking on my door," Cooper told 'SmartLess,' while recalling that in those years he experienced a very intense personal development process: "I made great strides between 29 and 34, where I could at least stand in front of someone and breathe, listen and talk."

He also revealed who were the people behind his ability to overcome those terrible moments. Among them was the host of the 'SmartLess' podcast himself: Will Arnett.

Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett shared an apartment during those years and the host of the podcast 'SmartLess' was able to witness firsthand the problems that his good friend was having.

It was in 2004, when Arnett realized Cooper was in trouble after he hadn't taken the dogs for a walk all day. "That was the first time I realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol. It was Will telling me that, I'll never forget it... It changed my whole life," he said.

"Will took the risk of having that difficult conversation with me in July 2004 and that set me on the path of deciding to change my life. It was really Will Arnett. He's the reason," Bradley Cooper said.

Another person who was important in Bradley Cooper's fight against his addictions was Brad Pitt. As he explains, both actors were partners on the road to recovery and they were dealing with alcohol problems together.

In the interview, the presenters were quick to praise Cooper's struggle to get out of that hole. Arnett himself said, "It's amazing to see you now, nothing makes me happier. I'm glad to see you like this." While Jason Bateman recalled that Cooper straightened himself out by becoming the "warm, thoughtful, generous person he is now."

Years after that success and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Bradley Cooper experienced a new setback with the death of his father due to lung cancer. However, that did not make him relapse into his problems. It did add another reason to keep fighting his addictions.

In an interview he gave to Vanity Fair, he said that after losing his father, whom he loved dearly, he realized that he had to get out of the destructive situation he had lived with for so many years.

Follow Showbizz Daily to see the best photo galleries every day

And, luckily for him, he was able to get out quickly and move on to the success he can enjoy today. "I did it naturally because I've been sober for 10 years and I didn't want to take anything," he told Vanity Fair.

In that interview, Cooper also made clear what his current view of life is: "I see life as much more gray as I get older. In my early twenties, everything was black and white. It's very rare for me to judge someone now, really rare."

Love also gave him a serious setback during his worst years, when he married actress Jennifer Expósito and separated just five months after their liaison. Despite the fact that his marriage ended in 2019, he also found years of stability next to model Irina Shayk, with whom he had his daughter Lea de Seine in 2017. The couple ended up separating but it was a lot less shocking.

Both the relationship and, above all, his daughter, were compelling reasons for Bradley Cooper to stay sober and forget the past. "Everything changed... Every single thing is completely nuanced or highlighted in great colors by the fact that I'm the father of a wonderful human being. It's just the best," said Bradley Cooper.

Professionally, those years of fear and uncertainty have been replaced with a string of successes. Cooper is now one of Hollywood's most recognized actors, accumulating no less than twelve Oscar nominations - among them five as an actor, four as a producer and two as a screenwriter - and winning other awards such as a BAFTA, four Critics' Choice and two Grammys.

His filmography speaks for itself and reflect his life change: 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012), 'American Hustle' (2013) and 'A Star Is Born' (2018) are just a few examples.

Bradley Cooper completely immersed himself in the role of composer Leonard Bernstein for the biopic 'Maestro,' which he also produced. He may have been able to draw on some of his own experiences to depict the troubles of the genius artist. In any case, he did a remarkable job.

Follow Showbizz Daily to see the best photo galleries every day