Josh Brolin recalls dark moments with mother Jane and alcoholism

Josh Brolin is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, but his life hasn’t always been full of positive experiences. The Oscar nominee spoke about how his mother, Jane Cameron Agee, struggled with her demons and the impact it had on his childhood.

Jane was a wildlife activist from Texas. In an interview with The times In the series, published on November 16, Josh described his mother as “clownish, funny, eccentric, authentic.” The Milk The actor was born to Jane and an actor James Brolin in 1968.

However, while his father worked in Hollywood, Josh admitted that life at home was tough at times.

“I was born to drink,” he wrote in his new memoir. From Under the Truck: A Memoir. “I was born to drink. My mother drank like me, and I was raised to be a man who drank like my mother’s male counterpart.”

The family lived on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, with farm animals and rescue animals. Josh’s daily tasks included feeding, caring for and cleaning up the animals. He revealed that his mother would shout “Sic ’em” at him and his brother. Jess Brolinto make wild animals chase them.

“You knew that if you didn’t get to the other side of the closed door within a few seconds, you would be cleaning fresh bloody spots somewhere on your body for the rest of the day,” he wrote.

Despite his experiences on the ranch, he gave his mother grace.

“You know, she was a pain in the ass. I mean, there’s no one who would deny that – no one – but you don’t want to have her around,” he explained, adding that she made “everything a little more powerful, a little more alive.”

When the family left the ranch, Josh joined the wrong crowd, which led him down a path of violence, drug use, and trouble with the law. His escapades led to him being imprisoned nine times over the years.

James and Jane were married until 1984. Josh moved to Hollywood to live with his father and after landing a role in the 1985s The Goonieshe soon returned to his old habits. His mother died in a car accident in 1995 at the age of 55.

After having children of his own, Josh finally realized that his destructive behavior had to stop. During a conversation with his two eldest children, Trevor and Eden, whom he welcomed with his first wife, he had an epiphany. Alice Adairabout not caring for a family pet.

Then, in 2013, he showed up hungover to visit his 99-year-old grandmother on her deathbed. It was a moment he will never forget.

“I knew that would be the last time I drank,” Josh said. “I like getting older. It’s like a good excuse to finally say, ‘Okay, just calm down, you don’t have to keep spinning.'”

More than a decade later, Josh has embraced his sobriety as he lives with his wife. Kathryn Boydand their daughters Westlyn and Chapel, and continues his work in Hollywood.

“I love being sober. I have more fun,” he said dune Actors shared. “There’s nothing I go through that I’m absolutely certain wouldn’t be worse if I drank.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, reach out Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline. at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).