Climbing Out of the Depths of Addiction
Society looks at the lives of Hollywood actors with awe. You might imagine star-studded parties, red carpets and working on incredible films to be a wonderful part of these stars’ everyday lives. However, some actors don’t revel in the limelight and have trouble dealing with the lifestyle. For actor Wes Bentley, fame and fortune were too much to handle and he fell into the dark world of drugs. His climb out of addiction has breathed life into his stalled acting career.
Descent into Chaos
Wes Bentley captured audiences with his performance in “American Beauty.” At 21, his career seemed to be full of possibilities. However, the stress of expectations made him search for an escape. He found it in heroin and said he got addicted in a matter of days. For the next decade, Bentley’s life and career nosedived into chaos.
Bentley gave up many roles and opportunities to work with directors he admired just to get high. He was arrested for possession, in debt with the IRS, lost his best friend Heath Ledger from a prescription drug overdose and went through a divorce. Life couldn’t have been further removed from the glitz and glamour of stardom.
Rise to the Top
Bentley turned his life around and has been sober for four years now. He was able to get the help he needed for his addiction. He resurrected his career with a starring role in the 2012 blockbuster “The Hunger Games” and has more movies on the way.
