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9 Former Hollywood Trainwrecks!

Cate

May 20, 2014

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Some stars have been to hell and back. Even though they were headed for catastrophe – or, in some instances, were already there – these stars found the strength to get their lives back on track, which is no easy feat! Many stars are never able to do it (Lindsay Lohan) while other stars just wind up dead (Corey Haim). These stars are great examples because they persevered. Here are 9 former Hollywood trainwrecks who defied the odds!

9. Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore quickly shot to fame at the age of seven as Gertie in “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.” Soon after, she became a regular club-goer, despite still being a child. She drank alcohol by the age of nine, smoked marijuana by the age of ten and graduated to cocaine at the age of 12. After two rehab stints, however, she found herself on a very different path. She now has her own production Company, Flower Films and is a Golden Globe-winning actress.

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8. Russell Brand

Early on in his career, Russell Brand took all kinds of drugs – cannabis, speed, acid, coke, crack and heroin; however, after being told that, if he kept abusing drugs, he would be dead in six months, he got clean. He has gone on to have a fairly successful career in Hollywood as a result. He had a job as a host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth and starring roles in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.” Brand has also had voice work in “Despicable Me,” “Hop” and “Despicable Me 2.”

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7. Bijou Phillips

Bijou Phillips had herself emancipated at the age of 14 and spent her adolescent years frequenting the New York City party scene. She drank and took drugs and became known for her wild antics, which included losing her virginity at the age of 15 to Evan Dando of The Lemonheads and nearly slicing on a man’s figure with a cigar cutter at a New York nightclub. Phillips ended up in rehab before she was 20, but these days she is more known for her work as an actress and singer.

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6. Matthew Perry

Before he landed the coveted role of Chandler on “Friends,” Matthew Perry had already been struggling with alcoholism; however, once be became famous, his struggles with alcohol worsened and he began using opiates. In 1997, he tried to kick the habit through a 28-day program for a Vicodin addiction; however, he ended up in rehab again in 2001 for an addiction to Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines and alcohol. Now sober, the “Friends” star has opened a sober living house to help men transition from rehab to the real world.

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5. Robert Downey Jr.

Even while struggling with drug and alcohol addictions, Robert Downey Jr. was a critically acclaimed actor with an Oscar nomination under his belt. Unfortunately, he just couldn’t stay sober, which kept landing him in prison and then rehab. After getting clean in 2002, the “Chaplin” star made a comeback in “The Singing Detective” and “Gothika.” Downey has since landed another Oscar nomination for his role in “Tropic Thunder” and starred in the blockbuster franchise “Iron Man.”

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4. Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes became famous thanks to the Nickelodeon series “All That” and “The Amanda Show;” however, at the height of her fame, she announced that she had decided to retire. She followed this announcement with a couple of DUI arrests; a couple of hit-and-run related incidents; and charges of marijuana possession and tampering with evidence. After she was put on a psychiatric hold, Bynes’ mother gained legal control over her. The “Hairspray” star is doing well now. She is currently studying at the Fashion institute of Design and Merchandising.

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3. Britney Spears

Britney Spears – who gained international fame when she topped the charts with her debut album …Baby One More Time – went through a rather dark period in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She was hitting the L.A. party scene, shaved her head, attacked a paparazzo’s car with an umbrella, gave a lackluster performance at the 2007 MTV VMAs and was put under lockdown at a mental institution. The Grammy-winning singer has her career back on track after a much needed conservatorship and she currently has a two-year residency Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

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2. Fergie

Around the time she belonged to the all girl group Wild Orchid, Fergie became heavily addicted to crystal meth. After shrinking to 90 pounds, she came clean about her addiction to her friends and family and finally got help. She now has a successful career in music. Fergie joined the Black Eyed Peas and released a solo album The Duchess. She is currently working on her second studio album and is married to Josh Duhamel. The two recently welcomed a son together, Axl.

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1. Nicole Richie

Before she became famous for her antics on “The Simple Life,” Nicole Richie couldn’t stay out of trouble. At age 14, she was using fake IDs to sneak into clubs and the by the age of 21 she was busted with heroin and for driving with a revoked license. Richie cleaned up in rehab and went on to make a name for herself on “The Simple Life.” She has since had two children with Joel Madden, debuted a jewelry line House of Harlow 1960 and started her own fashion line Winter Kate.

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Cate

Cate has a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature and has been the Managing Editor of Fame10 for more than 6 years. Despite having a love for the works of Thomas Hardy, Leo Tolstoy and Lord Byron, she also has an intense fascination with pop culture. When she isn’t writing for Fame10, she’s planning her next big adventure in Southeast Asia.