Michael O'Keefe Recounts Cocaine Use on 'Caddyshack' Set
The actor stated that cocaine was present on set and claimed it was budgeted as a miscellaneous item.
Michael O'Keefe, known for his role as Danny Noonan in the 1980 comedy "Caddyshack," has spoken candidly about the prevalence of cocaine use on the film's set. In a recent interview with Page Six, O'Keefe, 71, recalled that the drug was so common during filming in 1979 that it was treated casually.
"There was some miscellaneous item" accounted for in the film's budget, O'Keefe said, adding, "It was the '70s. That's what was happening back then. People were just treating it like it was toothpaste, and you had to do it twice a day to stay healthy."
O'Keefe admitted to using cocaine himself before filming certain scenes. Reflecting on those moments, he stated, "it was not my favorite memory," and expressed dissatisfaction with them. He also revealed that his time on the "Caddyshack" set marked the last time he used cocaine. "I realized that it was a terrible thing to get involved [with], and like so many things in the drug world, it looked like fun, but in reality, it wasn't."
A significant factor that contributed to O'Keefe's decision to step away from drug use was the death of Doug Kenney, a co-writer and producer of "Caddyshack." Kenney died at the age of 33 in 1980 after falling from a cliff in Hawaii. O'Keefe described Kenney's death as "a huge wake-up call," attributing it to drug addiction.
Prior to his role in "Caddyshack," O'Keefe received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "The Great Santini." He has also appeared in "Ironweed," "Frozen River," and the Apple TV series "Your Friends & Neighbors."
Despite his varied filmography, O'Keefe acknowledged that his role in "Caddyshack" remains his most recognizable. He previously told Yahoo in 2020 that while he was always grateful for the film, he sometimes wished his other work received more recognition. However, he also shared an anecdote about a wardrobe designer whose father watched "Caddyshack" with his family during his final weeks, which altered O'Keefe's perspective on the movie's impact.
"Caddyshack," which also starred Ted Knight, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield, is set at the fictional Bushwood Country Club.