Rob Lowe is celebrating a sobriety milestone! The actor has revealed that he has completed 33 years of being sober. The 59-year-old made the announcement on Instagram by posting a shirtless selfie from the ocean.
Lowe battled addiction in the late 1980s, shortly after he found success with The Outsiders. However, he soon decided to turn his life around and got into rehab. The actor’s son, John, also celebrated five years of sobriety last month.
Rob Lowe Celebrates 33 Years of Sobriety
Lowe took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a selfie while swimming in the ocean during the sunset and wrote, “33 years ago today I found recovery and a tribe that has sustained me on my incredible, grateful journey. My life is full of love, family, God, opportunity, friends, work, dogs and fun.”
“If you or someone you know is struggling with any form of addiction: hope and joy are waiting if you want it, and are willing to work for it!” Lowe added. A number of celebrities took to the comments section to praise the actor.
Linda Thompson commented, “Beautiful shot of beautiful you! Love you and your family! 🥰.” Gwyneth Paltrow wrote, “We are so proud of you. We love you so much.” Lowe’s son John joked, “Proud of your recovery, opposite feeling about this selfie.”
Lowe Battled Alcoholism in the 1980s
The actor’s issues with alcoholism began on the sets of The Outsiders, where he claimed beer was given even to underage actors. “Without even knowing it, it became just a big part of my life to the point where… I decided that I needed to go and get help,” Lowe recalled in an interview.
Talking about his journey to sobriety, the Parks and Recreation actor earlier said in an interview, “The only way to stay in recovery is to be honest with yourself on a minute-by-minute basis. No secrets, no double life. And you have to get real. That’s what acting is all about — being real and being honest.”
“Nothing can make you get sober except you wanting to do it,” he says. “The threat of losing a marriage, losing a job, incarceration, you name the threat, it will not be enough to do it. It’s got to be in you. The reason that people don’t get sober 100% of the time when they go into programs is that people aren’t ready when they go to use the tools,” he added.
The Actor was Honored with the Spirit of Sobriety Award in 2015
Lowe completed 25 years of sobriety in 2015 and was honored with the Spirit of Sobriety award at The Brent Shapiro Foundation Summer Spectacular. At the time, credited his wife, Cheryl Berkoff, for being his support during the journey.
“Being in recovery has given me everything of value that I have in my life. Integrity, honesty, fearlessness, faith, a relationship with God, and most of all gratitude. It’s given me a beautiful family and an amazing career. I’m under no illusions where I would be without the gift of alcoholism and the chance to recover from it.”
“My wife inspired me to get sober. She’s put up with my defects of character as they call it. In sobriety, the lessons keep coming if you’re lucky enough to be along as long as I have,” Lowe concluded.
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