‘Back to the Future’ star Christopher Lloyd confesses he was ‘hooked’ on cocaine during ‘Taxi’ years
Christopher Lloyd says cocaine and alcohol became entrenched in his life during his early years in Los Angeles, before he sought treatment and eventually achieved lasting sobriety. His account, in a new memoir and a conversation with co-star Michael J. Fox, describes how addiction affected both his personal life and his career.
Lloyd writes that he first tried cocaine at a nightclub and became hooked almost immediately; he also used alcohol and cannabis, though he says he stayed sober while working. In 1993, he entered treatment in Arizona, initially left the facility and was injured in a fall into a barbed-wire fence, then spent five weeks at Sierra Tucson. He says he relapsed several times before becoming sober for the last time on 1 April, without specifying the year.
In short
- Lloyd says he became hooked on cocaine soon after trying it.
- He entered treatment in Arizona in 1993.
- He says he later achieved lasting sobriety after several relapses.
Explained simply
Christopher Lloyd is an American actor whose early film and television work included the comedy series Taxi, which ran from 1978 to 1983. He later became widely known for playing Doc Brown in the Back to the Future films, alongside Michael J. Fox.
Lloyd’s account concerns substance addiction, a condition that can affect a person’s health, relationships and work. He has described using cocaine, alcohol and cannabis while living in Los Angeles, and said he kept sober while working.
He has also spoken about seeking treatment and experiencing relapses before achieving lasting sobriety. His story puts the focus on how addiction and recovery can unfold over time, including the role treatment may play.