Christopher Lloyd Details Decades-Long Addiction Struggle in New Memoir
The 'Back to the Future' star recounts his years-long battle with cocaine and alcohol in his recently published memoir, 'In My Own Time.'
Actor Christopher Lloyd has revealed the extent of his long-standing addiction to cocaine and alcohol in his new memoir, "In My Own Time: A Memoir." The 88-year-old star details his first experience with cocaine in the 1970s, describing it as an immediate and powerful draw. "I loved it, and that was where my cocaine abuse began," Lloyd writes in the book, published Tuesday.
Lloyd, known for his roles in "Back to the Future" and "Taxi," states that his use of cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana quickly became ingrained in his life. However, he asserts that he never performed on stage or in front of a camera while under the influence of substances. "I just knew I liked it, and before long it had a hold on me," he explains.
The memoir recounts an incident in 1983, following the cancellation of "Taxi," where a drunken and high Lloyd became injured. After an argument with his then-girlfriend, he found himself locked out of his home and began punching its windows. He awoke on his kitchen floor, bleeding significantly and requiring medical attention. "I later learned that I had lost so much blood that they had to give me plasma," he writes. Coincidentally, his "Taxi" co-star Andy Kaufman died at the same hospital the previous evening.
The injury required surgery and physical therapy to regain the full use of his hand. In 1993, Lloyd entered a rehabilitation facility for five weeks, a decision prompted by his work with a psychologist who highlighted the damage his substance use was causing. Despite completing rehab, Lloyd admits to relapsing several times afterward. "Some years later on April 1, I got sober for what turned out to be the last time," he writes, marking the beginning of his sustained sobriety.
Lloyd also touches upon his iconic role as Dr. Emmett Brown in the "Back to the Future" trilogy, noting that actors John Lithgow and Jeff Goldblum were considered for the part before he was cast.
For those struggling with addiction, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).