Denzel Washington opens up about overcoming alcohol and embracing a healthier life

As Denzel Washington approaches his 70th birthday in December, he is reflecting on the significant changes in his life, particularly when it comes to his health. 

The two-time Oscar-winning actor is now living a healthier lifestyle, having given up alcohol nearly 10 years ago. In a recent interview with Esquire, titled "The Book of Denzel," the actor opened up about his past struggles with drinking and how he turned his life around.

Looking back on his life, Denzel revealed a period of excessive drinking that lasted for about 15 years. 

This started in the late 1990s, around the time he and his wife, Pauletta, moved into a new house that featured a wine cellar filled with 10,000 bottles of wine. At that time, wine became his drink of choice, and he developed a pattern of drinking more than he should.

“I’m gonna drink my ’61s and my ’82s and whatever we had,” Denzel said, remembering the expensive bottles of wine he would drink. He would often spend thousands of dollars on wine, sometimes popping $4,000 bottles, just because they were available. 

[Image Credit: Kayla Oaddams / WireImage]

He even recalls calling up a local store, Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits, asking for just two bottles of the best wine they had. “Why two?” his wife asked. Denzel explained that if he ordered more, he would drink more, so he kept it to two bottles, which he would finish over the course of a day.

Denzel admitted that his drinking habits were influenced by his work. He would refrain from drinking while making movies or preparing for roles but would return to his old drinking routine once filming was over. “I never drank while I was working or preparing,” Denzel explained. “However many months of shooting, bang, it’s time to go. Then, boom. Three months of wine, then time to go back to work.” This pattern continued for years until he started to realize that his drinking might be a problem.

Interestingly, Denzel didn’t immediately recognize the seriousness of his drinking. He felt that his habit was different from more dangerous addictions like heroin or cocaine.

 “I never got strung out on heroin. Never got strung out on coke. Never got strung out on hard drugs,” he said. “I had this ideal idea of wine tastings and all that—which is what it was at first. And that’s a very subtle thing.” However, by the time 15 years had passed, he was drinking a lot, and it was taking a toll on his body.

A major turning point came in 2012 when Denzel starred in the film Flight, in which he played a pilot struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Filming the movie made Denzel think more about addiction and the people who suffer from it. 

He recalled that during filming, he wasn’t drinking but thought about the effects of addiction on people’s lives. “I know during Flight, I was thinking about those who had been through addiction, and I wanted good to come out of that,” Denzel said.

[Image Credit: Romuald Rat / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images]

In December 2014, shortly before his 60th birthday, Denzel decided to cut alcohol out of his life for good. He hasn’t had a drink since, and in his Esquire interview, he shared that he hasn’t had "a thimble’s worth" of alcohol in almost 10 years.

Reflecting on his decision, Denzel said, “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body. Things are opening up for me now—like being seventy. It’s real. And it’s okay.” He added that he was ready to enter this “last chapter” of his life, focusing on living his best life.

Since becoming sober, Denzel has made other changes to improve his health. He’s been focusing on strength training and maintaining a healthy weight. His close friend, musician Lenny Kravitz, helped him get started by introducing him to a personal trainer. Denzel now works with the trainer, who prepares his meals and helps him stay on track with his fitness goals. "I’m now 190-something pounds on my way to 185," he said, sharing his progress.

In a touching moment, Denzel recalled attending the 2022 Academy Awards with his wife, Pauletta, for the film Macbeth. “I was looking at pictures of myself, and I’m just looking fat, with this dyed hair, and I said, Those days are over, man,” he said. Denzel now feels stronger and healthier than he did before, and he’s committed to keeping that momentum going.

As Denzel Washington continues to reflect on his life and career, he remains open and honest about the challenges he faced, especially with alcohol. His journey toward better health is a reminder that it’s never too late to make positive changes and take care of yourself. Whether you’re facing personal struggles or just want to improve your overall well-being, Denzel’s story shows that transformation is possible.