Murray Hill Recounts Alcoholism and Psych Ward Stay in Memoir

Actor Murray Hill, known for his role in HBO's "Somebody Somewhere," has detailed a difficult period in his life marked by alcoholism and a subsequent stay in a psychiatric ward, as outlined in his new memoir, "Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man."

Hill, 54, described his struggles with excessive drinking during his 30s, attributing it partly to the lifestyle often associated with the entertainment industry. "Show business or the music industry or comedy, whatever, it’s like a lot of people do drink; it’s part of the lifestyle," he told Page Six.

He characterized alcohol as a "silent killer" due to the progressive nature of addiction, noting that it led to a "deep depression" and a significant loss of his former personality. "When you get chemically addicted, it’s very hard to get out of that. Like you have to get help," Hill reflected.

The actor explained that his alcoholism escalated to a point where he felt he had "no pilot light" and "no hope." This led him to voluntarily check into a psychiatric ward in 2014, a decision that marked the beginning of his sobriety.

"I never want to go back. I have not touched a drink since then," Hill stated, emphasizing the frightening nature of his experience. He credited the difficult stint with helping him maintain his sobriety, saying, "it’s still in my head like I don’t want to go back there. ‘Why?’ Cause it was so scary."

"Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man" is now available.