William McNamara, a prominent actor from the 1990s known for his roles in "Copycat" and "Stealing Home," has spoken candidly about the drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his career and his subsequent journey toward sobriety and activism.
McNamara, 61, returned to the spotlight recently, sharing his experiences in an interview with The Daily Mail. He detailed how substance abuse curtailed his rise in Hollywood, despite early success in films like 1995's "Copycat" alongside Sigourney Weaver and 1988's "Stealing Home" with Jodie Foster. IMAGE2: 90s heartthrob William McNamara opened up about the battle with drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his Hollywood career as he returned to the spotlight this week - pictured 1988
Following his struggles, McNamara pivoted from acting to animal rights activism. This involved significant personal sacrifice, including a jail sentence in Japan for his advocacy work. He is now 21 years sober and is attempting a comeback with his satirical series, "The Trouble with Billy." The show features McNamara playing a fictionalized version of himself striving for a Hollywood return while simultaneously working to rescue his dog. IMAGE7: The actor later made a decision to pivot from acting to animal rights activism - and even went to jail in Japan for his efforts, while working on his long-term sobriety - seen in Stealing Home with Jodie Foster in 1988
"I go to AA meetings still. You really can't stop," McNamara stated, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to his sobriety. He explained that his continued participation in Alcoholics Anonymous is about helping others, a principle he learned from a member with 21 years of sobriety when he first joined. "I don't want to drink. I could care less about drinking or drugs," he added. IMAGE5: Speaking exclusively to The Daily Mail at the Guru Beauty Awards, McNamara, whose addiction left him temporarily homeless , said, 'I go to AA meetings still. You really can't stop' - pictured June 23
McNamara also discussed the financial hardships he faced after leaving his acting career, admitting he depleted his savings while engaged in activism abroad. He described becoming a "big time activist," joining Sea Shepherd, and encountering trouble in Australia for his work. "I had all this money that I'd saved up from... I was on a couple of TV shows and little by little the money ran out and that's the actor's life. It sucks," he recalled.
He expressed frustration with the current state of Hollywood, particularly the disparity in pay between major stars and less established actors. McNamara criticized "billionaires" for awarding massive paychecks to A-list celebrities while others receive significantly less. He noted the impact of streaming services on residuals, stating, "There's either billionaires or there's peasants... And everything's streaming, so the residuals are a lot less." IMAGE4: While McNamara is focused on working in independent productions, he blasted 'billionaires' for giving huge stars massive paydays while less well-known actors are paid paltry sums - pictured 1992
Reflecting on his career, McNamara indicated a shift in priorities. He expressed a lack of strong interest in awards, calling them "watered down" and "so political." However, he remains enthusiastic about his own independent projects, particularly a potential second season of his show. He also stated he does not consider retiring, acknowledging that roles for older actors, such as a "grandfather" or "crotchety old man," will likely always be in demand. "I am a little more laid back in life. But when stuff comes up, especially my own stuff, like second season, I'm super excited. It's going to be fantastic," he said.
McNamara's acting credits also include "Texasville" (1990) with Jeff Bridges and "Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story" (1995). IMAGE6: Speaking exclusively to The Daily Mail at the Guru Beauty Awards, McNamara, whose addiction left him temporarily homeless , said, 'I go to AA meetings still. You really can't stop' - pictured with Brooke Shields in 1988
He has also been recognized for his animal rescue efforts, including intervening during the 2018 Woolsey fire in Malibu, where he helped save numerous animals, including those belonging to singer Diane Warren. In 2025, he received praise for his work saving animals affected by the LA fires, participating with volunteer groups and documenting their efforts on social media. IMAGE3: In 2025 McNamara won plaudits for his heroic efforts saving animals caught in the LA fires