In a revealing Esquire cover story published on October 6, George Clooney candidly discussed his experiences with drugs, confronting long-held rumors with surprising honesty. The 64-year-old Oscar-winning actor shared details about trying cocaine and other substances in 1982, offering insight into his youthful experimentation and the misconceptions surrounding drug use at that time.
Early Encounters with Cocaine and the Reality Behind It
Clooney acknowledged that while he joked about using drugs excessively, it was never a significant problem in his life. He recounted a famous episode of the TV show Taxi where characters were using cocaine, highlighting how attitudes toward the drug have shifted over time.
“I used to make jokes about how I did too many drugs, but the truth is, it was never a big issue for me at all,”
Clooney revealed.
“And look, there was an episode of Taxi where they’re all doing blow.”
He admitted that people at the time believed cocaine was less harmful than heroin, saying,
“At the time, it was like, ‘No, this is not like heroin. It’s not addictive.’ But then it was like, ‘Oh, well, it’s actually pretty f***ng bad.’”
Clooney added that the cocaine was often cut with mannitol, a common baby laxative, leading users to
“do a line and then take a s***,”
a grim detail that illustrates the drug scene’s darker side.
Minimal Marijuana Usage and a Memorable Pot Brownie Experience
Contrasting his cocaine use, Clooney revealed that his experience with marijuana was very limited, having tried it just once about 15 years ago. He described a night spent with friends making pot brownies, accompanied by watching The Wizard of Oz and listening to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
He vividly recalled the overwhelming effect of marijuana on the group:
“We were f***ed. I literal — I think all of us — there was like 20 of us in the screening room, and the movie ended, and we sat there without speaking for, like, hours. Hours! Like the sun was coming up and we’re — it’s just not my drug.”
Alcohol: Clooney’s Preferred Indulgence and Business Venture
Alcohol remains Clooney’s favored substance, an affinity partly expressed through his entrepreneurial effort with friend Rande Gerber to launch Casamigos tequila in 2013. Clooney admitted to periods of heavy drinking without it ever becoming a severe problem for him.
“I’ve had periods where, I wouldn’t say it was a problem — I never woke up and drank or anything, but I’d have runs where I’d get pretty toasty every night,”
he said.
At the 2025 Tony Awards in June, following the conclusion of his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, Clooney shared that he indulged heavily in alcohol after abstaining for six months while preparing for the role. “I got blasted,” he confessed.
“Barely-walking drunk, you know? Came home with Amal, and I was just laughing. We’re lying in bed, and I go, ‘Well, I caught up for all my abstinence in one night.’ I was sick all day the next day; it was hysterical. I was like high school drunk. Like, dumbass drunk.”
Clooney attended the ceremony with his wife, Amal Clooney, and was nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, though the award ultimately went to Cole Escola for their role as Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!
Facing Challenges and Fears on Broadway
Tackling a demanding role on Broadway with Good Night, and Good Luck, Clooney admitted he was unusually nervous. This production, based on his 2005 film about the legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow, pushed him far beyond his comfort zone.
“Part of it was strictly age-related. As you get older — I’m 64 — and as you get older, it doesn’t matter how many granola bars you eat; your brain starts to lock up,”
Clooney said.
“I had all these long monologues, and I was afraid of blowing my lines. So every single night for one hundred performances, I would do the whole play in the dressing room before I went onstage. I was so terrified.”
The significance of this performance was heightened by its broadcast on CNN on June 7, marking the first time a Broadway play was televised live. The recording is now available for streaming on Prime Video, expanding Clooney’s reach beyond the stage to viewers worldwide.
Why Clooney’s Revelations Matter
George Clooney’s frank admissions about his past drug use and the struggles he faced as an actor address the realities behind his calm public image. By discussing his experiences openly, from youthful cocaine use to nervousness on stage and his relationship with alcohol, he sheds light on the pressures and misconceptions surrounding celebrity life. His story also reflects changing attitudes about substances and aging in a high-profile career. Clooney’s honesty may resonate with fans and professionals alike, highlighting resilience and the complexities behind fame.
