12 Actors Who Were Actually High On Set

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We’ve all heard the rumors that many of the people who are the most popular in Hollywood are often drunk or high. Unfortunately, some of those rumors are actually true.

Of course, there are many reasons why celebrities (and people who aren’t celebrities) do drugs. Some want to be considered the life of the party wherever they go. Some famous people need a way to keep their energy levels up during extremely long workdays. There are also instances in which celebrities decide to do drugs in order to mask depression or anxiety. These are often the situations in which drug use leads to a host of unhealthy behaviors. As we know, some celebrities have met their demise due to their addictions.

Just in case you were wondering, there are some pretty popular movies and television shows that feature actors who were actually high while on set. You may not have been able to tell that the celebrity was “under the influence” at the time, but if you watch these shows or movies again, it may be easier to see. Of course, there are a few instances in which it was pretty obvious that the star of a production was using drugs. Here are 12 actors whose systems were affected by drugs while at work.

12. Justin Kirk and Kevin Nealon

Hilarious actors Kevin Nealon and Justin Kirk starred on the TV series Weeds, which was about a soccer mom who sold drugs. It was long rumored that some of the actors on set actually smoked weed, and it’s been confirmed that Kirk and Nealon got high off the prop marijuana. Instead of actual weed, the actors smoked herbal tobacco, which caused them to be lightheaded and a little loopy, according to Roberto Benabib, the executive producer of the show. Kevin and Justin actually played potheads on Weeds, and stated that they got higher from the props than they would have from actual marijuana. Interesting.

11. Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson has tried weed before. Shocker. On the set of the movie Easy Rider, Nicholson admitted that he smoked marijuana pretty regularly. During an interview with Playboy, he stated that every time he did a take or angle, he smoked almost an entire joint. He confirmed that he and the actors were smoking “Mexican grass” and that it was “pretty good.” It’s also not a surprise that Nicholson relied on marijuana, as well as LSD and alcohol to get him through some of the roles he’s most popular for, including Goin’ South, The Shining, Five Easy Pieces and Tim Burton’sBatman.

10. Shannen Doherty

If you were a fan of the show Beverly Hills, 90210, then you remember when Shannen Doherty was fired from the show after the fourth season. Reportedly, she had a really bad attitude and the producers had enough. Jason Priestly, who starred with Doherty on the show, stated in his memoirs that Shannen wasn’t the easiest to work with. She even complained that she was being taken to the airport in a town car instead of a limo her first day on the job! Doherty was later fired from Charmed, and her co-star Alyssa Milano stated that working with Shannen was pretty difficult. Doherty’s mood swings and inability to deal with change or take instruction was largely due to her drug and alcohol use, which proves that these substances don’t make everyone upbeat and ready to deliver comedic one-liners.

9. Brett Butler

Comedienne and actress Brett Butler is perhaps best known in the show Grace Under Fire, which was pretty popular in the 1990s. The show had a pretty good run for five years, but in 1998, Butler was let go due to her drug use. She was often high on set, and was addicted to Vicodin. By the time she was fired, Brett was showing up to work late, and was irrational. Producers tried to work with her, but she eventually wasn’t able to function, according to The New York Times. Butler stated that she knew her time on the show was officially over when she showed up on the lot to get her things and was escorted by armed guards. Sad, indeed.

8. Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher is best known for her legendary role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. She has stated that while she loves George Lucas, she wasn’t able to get many roles since that point, because everyone associated her with this groundbreaking role. Carrie later went on to star in The Empire Strikes Back, and she admits that she used cocaine during the filming. She states that the drug use was mainly when she was shooting the scenes on Planet Hoth, but shares in an interview with The Daily Mail that she didn’t even “like coke that much” and that “it was just a case of getting on whatever train I needed to take to get high.”

7. Dan Aykroyd

You may be surprised to know that comedic actor Dan Aykroyd, who is an SNL alum and a co-writer and star of family-friendly movies like Ghostbusters, has used drugs. Aykroyd admits that when he was filming The Blues Brothers, he was also using cocaine. He starred in the movie with John Belushi, who was almost just as well known for being an avid drug user as he was for his acting talent. Some believe that Belushi supplied Aykroyd with the drugs while the two were working together on set. Dan even stated in an interview with Vanity Fair that the budget for The Blues Brothers included money for cocaine that was reserved for night shoots. He admits that everyone on set did it, but he never snorted cocaine “in excess,” or to the point where he wanted to purchase it for himself.

6. Dennis Quaid

Actor Dennis Quaid is almost as famous for his marriage to fellow actor Meg Ryan, as he is for his actual acting talent. The two divorced years ago, partly because it was alleged that Ryan cheated on Quaid with actor Russell Crowe. There were also allegations that Dennis had multiple affairs while married to Meg. Recently, Quaid had a complete meltdown while on set. It seems as though someone came to give a message to the direction, and Dennis wasn’t happy about the fact that other people were talking around him while he was trying to shoot his scene. Quaid admits that he had a cocaine problem, and that during movies like The Big Easy, he was high all the time. Hopefully his most recent tirade isn’t a result of a relapse.

5. Jason Segel and Paul Rudd

Jason Segel is perhaps best known for his role as Marshall, on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. If you’re a fan of the still-popular sitcom Friends (which is in syndication) you likely remember Paul as Phoebe’s husband, Mike. While we can’t confirm that Segel was high on the set of his show (which is also now in syndication), it’s pretty clear that he and Paul Rudd were high when they were interviewed for the movie I Love You, Man. This may be an indication that the co-stars also got high on the movie set from time to time. Jason and Paul giggled like high school kids during the interview, and actually got them an additional fan base, which proves that some people can be charming and adorable when they’re a little buzzed.

4. Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage comes from a family who has long been successful in the entertainment business (he’s Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew). So, it’s pretty likely that he’s been around actors, directors and producers who have used drugs on set, even if he was indulging for that particular movie. Recently, Cage’s acting talent has come into question, mainly because of his performances in Raising Arizona and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. It’s pretty much known by fans and Hollywood executives that Cage can be exceptional in a role, completely terrible in a role, or so awful that the performance is actually good. While at a press conference, Nicolas Cage admitted that during filming in Australia for The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, he got a prescription for cocaine as treatment for a sinus infection. He admitted that the substance definitely affected his performance in front of the camera.

3. Lindsay Lohan

It’s no secret that Lindsay Lohan has had her share of run-ins with the law. She’s also struggled with drugs and alcohol, and even got a special on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, chronicling her attempts to turn her life around. Lohan was often high on the set of movies and showed up late to work pretty regular, which caused her to get fired from some jobs. She was likely under the influence when she starred in the Elizabeth Taylor movie, and Lohan was also late and unprepared for her guest starring role on Glee, where she was difficult to work with. Lohan also allegedly showed up to court high on meth, and was said to have been seen shooting heroine on a separate occasion. These days, Lohan can be seen having dinner with friends, keeping a low profile, and hopefully steering clear of harmful substances.

2. Charlie Sheen

This one really isn’t a surprise at all. By now, everyone knows that Charlie Sheen, who used to be one of the stars of Two And a Half Men, was fired from the show due to his heavy drug use. Sheen states that he was never drunk or high while on the set, but he did have to hold onto furniture during scenes due to exhaustion. This is a good indication that Sheen was also hung over while at work, or coming down from a high. Charlie Sheen definitely did drugs when he wasn’t at work. We’re sure you recall his many interviews that clearly indicated that something wasn’t quite right. Sheen has since been vocal about getting his life on track.

1. Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen has made it very clear that he gets high pretty often. He often turns to marijuana for the inspiration to write his movies. When Rogen starred in the movie Zack and Miri Make a Porno, he smoked a considerable amount of weed. To be fair, you kind of have to be high in order to be comfortable enough to make a movie about p**n. Kevin Smith, the director of the movie was even “inspired” to start smoking as a result of watching Seth work. Rogen is also known for movies like Neighbors, Knocked Up, Pineapple Express and Superbad. If you’ve seen any of these movies, it’s not hard to tell that Rogen definitely looks to marijuana for creative insight.

Sources: my.xfinity.com, cheatsheet.com, businessinsider.com, ew.com, elitedaily.com