Denzel Washington, the Oscar-winning actor, has candidly reflected on his past struggles with drug and alcohol use, admitting he’s “done a lot of damage” to his body. Now 69 and sober for nearly a decade, Washington shared his journey in the Winter issue of Esquire.
The actor revealed that his unhealthy habits initially started with wine.
“Wine is very tricky. It’s very slow. It ain’t like, boom, all of a sudden,” he explained.
While he avoided more addictive substances, Washington admitted to experimenting with heroin and cocaine but noted he was never dependent on hard drugs or liquor. Instead, wine became his vice.
“I had this idealized idea of wine tastings and all that, which it was at first. But it’s a very subtle thing. I drank the best,” he said, recalling his extravagant wine collection and indulgent spending habits.
Washington described how he would often spend thousands of dollars on fine wine, enjoying rare bottles such as ’61s and ’82s. Over time, he even turned to ordering high-end bottles from Gil Turner’s Fine Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles.
His wife, Pauletta, would question why he only ordered two bottles at a time. “Because if I order more, I’ll drink more,” he’d reply, confessing that he’d often finish both bottles in a single day.
Despite his struggles, Washington maintained boundaries while working. “I never drank while I was working or preparing. I would clean up, go back to work — I could do both,” he said, explaining how he alternated between months of sobriety while filming and heavy drinking during breaks.
When portraying an alcoholic pilot in the 2012 film Flight, Washington clarified he was not drinking at the time but admitted that his personal experiences informed the role. “I knew a lot about waking up and looking around, not knowing what happened,” he reflected.
Washington quit drinking in December 2014, shortly after his 60th birthday. Looking back, he acknowledged the toll his habits took on his health. “I’ve done a lot of damage to the body. We’ll see. I’ve been clean,” he said.
As he approaches his 70th birthday on December 28, Washington is embracing what he calls “the last chapter.” The actor also recently announced plans to retire after completing his next slate of films.
