Actor Ethan Suplee, known for his role in "Remember the Titans," has shared a candid account of his past struggles with drug addiction, including using heroin on the night of the film's 2000 premiere.
Suplee, 50, detailed his experiences in an essay published on his Substack page on Monday. His essay followed the recent death of his "Remember the Titans" co-star Hayden Panettiere, who died at age 36 from a suspected overdose. Panettiere was found unresponsive at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday. The cause of death is under investigation, though a 911 dispatcher noted "cardiac arrest" and sources told TMZ that Narcan was found at the scene.
In his essay, Suplee recalled attending the "Remember the Titans" premiere at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. He described a heartwarming moment on the red carpet where a then ten-year-old Panettiere ran up to him for a hug. Suplee wrote that he felt a momentary sense of relief from her "energy and innocence" amid his ongoing battle with drug addiction.
However, Suplee stated that immediately after this encounter, he went to a bathroom and used heroin. He explained that his mood further soured after he inadvertently broke a golf cart by sitting on it. While the movie played, Suplee reported continuing to use heroin in the bathroom, feeling emotional.
He recounted seeing Panettiere again at the end of the premiere, and once more, she embraced him, providing him with another moment of relief. Suplee concluded the recollection by stating that he had gone to bed that night expecting not to wake up, finding that prospect preferable to facing another day.
Suplee also referenced the deaths of Panettiere and actor Harold Pruett, who died from an accidental drug overdose in 2002. "I feel a tremendous sense of loss today," Suplee wrote, adding, "I don't know what they were going through at the end. I only know that for them, the battle is over. And I'm sad."
He reflected on his own recovery, noting, "The miracle of my life wasn't just asking for help, it was finding the courage to accept it. Something that seemed impossible."
"Remember the Titans," released in 2000, is based on a true story about the integration of a high school football team in Virginia in 1971. The film starred Denzel Washington as coach Herman Boone and Will Patton as assistant coach Bill Yoast. Panettiere played Sheryl Yoast, Bill Yoast's daughter, while Suplee portrayed the character Louie Lastik.
Details surrounding Panettiere's death include a 911 call that mentioned cardiac arrest and a suspected overdose. Sources indicated that Narcan was present at her residence. The actress was found unresponsive by her boyfriend's brother, Brian Hickerson, and his sibling Zach. EMS personnel attempted resuscitation for nearly an hour before she was pronounced dead. Police stated that the preliminary investigation showed no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances, and an autopsy revealed no contributing trauma.
Panettiere had a public and tumultuous relationship with Brian Hickerson, which included multiple domestic violence arrests against him. She wrote about these experiences and her struggles in her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," published three months prior to her death. The actress had an 11-year-old daughter with her ex-partner Wladimir Klitschko.