For years, this Hollywood actor has been known for his successful career and famous family connections. From the outside, his life appeared glamorous, but behind the spotlight he faced addiction, difficult childhood experiences and painful personal struggles that remained largely unknown to the public.

In his new memoir, the actor opens up about growing up in an unusual environment and recalls some disturbing experiences from his childhood. He also describes how alcohol and drugs entered his life at a remarkably young age, eventually becoming a serious problem that followed him for decades.

His journey also included moments of tough love from people close to him. One particularly memorable confrontation came when his stepmother questioned why he wanted a glass of wine despite knowing he struggled with alcoholism. Years later, another deeply emotional family moment would force him to reconsider the direction his life was taking.

The actor is Josh Brolin. He says that he finally chose sobriety in 2013 after arriving at his 99-year-old grandmother’s deathbed while hungover and realizing he wanted more time to live. Now, more than a decade sober, Brolin says he genuinely enjoys getting older and living without alcohol, describing sobriety as a life in which he has “more fun.”