Chris Klein on his alcoholism “I would have died, and I think about that every single day”


Chris Klein, aka “that guy from American Pie who used to date Katie Holmes,” has been off our radar for some time. The last time we reported on him was in September of 2010, after he had racked up two DUIs and spent time in rehab that summer. People were mocking Klein’s lousy acting, with videos of his ridiculous overacting in Street Fighting: The Legend of Chun-Li, and his leaked Mamma Mia audition tape, in which he seemed buzzed and/or coked up while he tried to sing.

Chris is in American Pie: Reunion, and I noticed while looking at the premiere pictures that he’s looking really good after going through a very fug phase in 2008 (scroll to bottom of story for pics.) It looks like he got hair plugs and sobered up. Well Chris tells People Magazine that he’s been sober 19 months and that he realized that his alcohol abuse was so bad that he could have died.

Chris Klein became an overnight heartthrob after starring in Election and the 1999 breakout hit American Pie.

“It was nothing short of magic,” says the actor, of his early stardom – something he quickly learned wouldn’t last forever.

Klein slid into a battle with alcoholism that nearly cost him his career – and his life.

“I would have died, and I think about that every single day,” the actor, 33, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive new interview.

After two DUI arrests and a jail sentence, the Nebraska-reared actor knew he had to turn his life around. Now nearly 19 months sober, Klein opens about his struggles for the first time.

“It got to the point where I was a fragile shadow of the young man that came into this business,” he says. “Today, I’m the luckiest guy alive.”

[From People]

Who talks like that “It got to the point where I was a fragile shadow of the young man that came into this business“? I guess Chris Klein does. E! News has more on the article, out in the latest edition of People. They report that Chris said “I was drinking by myself. I was drinking to pass out and I was very affected by that.” I’m interested to read what he says about Katie Holmes.

Well good for him for staying sober and figuring out what matters in life. I remember seeing Klein’s Punk’d episode years ago and thinking that he’s not the brightest bulb, but he seemed well natured and harmless enough – until he got behind the wheel drunk repeatedly. He could have ended up like Lane Garrison, but thankfully he never harmed anyone. Now that he’s sober he’ll have some time to take acting classes.

Klein will next star in Sam, in pre-production now, in which he probably plays the buddy role for James Lafferty as Sam, “An alpha New York City male [who] magically transformsinto a beautiful girl, falls in love with his best buddy, and learns what it means to be a woman.” It sounds awful and predictable, and I’m sure I saw this movie on HBO in the late 80s. How many gender switch comedies can there be?

Chris Klein in 2008:

In 2012:

2011:

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27 Responses to “Chris Klein on his alcoholism “I would have died, and I think about that every single day””

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  1. Eve says:

    He uses the same make-up artist Pee Wee Herman does, right?

    • Maguita says:

      LOL! Add the bow-tie, and you’ve got it!

      I used to have such a crush on him and Skeet Ulrich. They had that sexy-yet innocent look about them… Well Ulrich had it with a sprinkle of naughty. It is always weird how some make it in Hollywood, and others don’t; Especially when things looked so promising a the time.

      Who would have ever thunked that Katie Holmes would be the more recognizable and in our gossip pages, rather than her sexy ex.

  2. Jag says:

    He is so Suri’s father!

    • Marjalane says:

      aaaaakkk! I know! First thing I thought was, “Poor guy, he gave up rights to his baby and then almost drank himself to death”

      Can you imagine how guilty you’de feel if you let Tom Cruise raise your child? Allegedly….

    • Relli says:

      That is always been my thought too, why he had the downward spiral in 2008. Maybe when she gets old enough it will be a Liv Tyler situation where it will be obvious it will be difficult to hide.

    • Nanea says:

      My favorite candidate for being Suri’s father was always Josh Hartnett, who apparently was Katie’s rebound after she and CK broke up.

      • Fleur says:

        I have thought for ages that Suri looks just like Josh Hartnett (the same nose and those hooded eyes!). But anyway, Tom is her father in every way that counts. I do wish Chris Klein well. Sobriety is something he has every right to be proud of, and I think it’s great that he’s up front about it

  3. Ruby Red Lips says:

    God he looked bad in 2008

    Congrats on him for staying sober.

    Still don’t think he’s Suri’s father tho

  4. Elizabeth says:

    I wish him the best for the future. Addiction kills people and destroys their lives and the people they love before that. I always thought his acting was OK, maybe we’ll see more depth from him now.

    Re : Jag – look at pics of Tom Cruise’s cousin. He looks like a possible sperm donor for Suri. Same eyes. But Chris looks good for it too. When I saw the story, I thought “Aw, Suri’s real father”

    • Bobby sue says:

      The cousin, something (William?) Mapother is definitely her father. It’s so striking it’s undeniable.

  5. Jazzmin says:

    Good for Chris, he deserves a second chance because he took responsibility for his actions, sought help and stopped.

  6. Jessica says:

    I hate to say this, but he is quite Pee Wee Hermanishy now…

    • Rio says:

      That’s an insult to Pee-Wee! Lol, seriously, I saw Pee-Wee’s Broadway show on Christmas Eve 2 years ago, about 15 rows back from the stage– for a nearly 60-year-old guy, he looks amazing!

  7. lucy2 says:

    He’s looking a little odd, but better than before.
    I can’t see him having much of an acting career, but good luck to him with his sobriety, good thing he took control and got help before he hurt himself or someone else.

  8. EmmaStoneWannabe says:

    Yeah he’s a good looking guy, the plugs and teeth whitener have definitely helped him. Not so much a fan of the light reflecting powder and concealer though. Anyway, good for him he’s sober now. I loved him in Just Friends. He should stick to cheesy comedies, which sounds like he’s doing with ‘Sam.’

  9. Kathy says:

    Did he get his 2 front teeth altered? he looks nice now.

  10. nikzilla37 says:

    Who talks like that? Program people talk like that because they really were walking around with a death sentence prior to sobriety.

  11. some bitch says:

    Alcohol can sometimes be a really scary substance, I think.

    He looked effin’ terrible in 2008 and looks MUCH better now. Best of luck to him and his continued recovery.

  12. gee says:

    So good for him. Cleaning up is no small task, I really admire people who can stick with it.

  13. Lindsay says:

    Am I seeing a nose job here?? He really creeps me out.

  14. Jayna says:

    I can’t imagine being married to an alcoholic or heavy drinker who looks slack-faced, sloshed every night. What a turn off.

  15. danielle says:

    Didn’t he talk some smack when he was dating Ginnifer Goodwin? Something about he wouldn’t date a girl if she put on a few pounds, or somethiing horrible like that?

  16. Aubra says:

    So basically, he’s reviving his career doing a remake of “Switch”…ok

  17. Paula says:

    Something strange about him! He is Suri’s father!

  18. Nan209 says:

    He was absolutely hilarious in Just Friends as Dusty Dinklemen. I think that is the only role I’ve seen him that I liked. I hope his future is a much happier brighter one. Addiction is so devastating that it’s great to see some get out from under it.