Chet Hanks praises parents Tom and Rita for supporting him ‘through thick and thin’ in sobriety journey
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Chet Hanks who has been open about his journey to sobriety, expressed deep gratitude for his parents, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for being his rock.
During the Tuesday, March 18 episode of 'The Drew Barrymore Show', the 34-year-old actor and musician revealed how family support played a crucial role in helping him stay clean.
Chet Hanks praises Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for their support
Chet Hanks shared how his parents have stood by him through difficult times and helped him on his path to sobriety.
"I don't take it for granted. I'm really, really grateful for both my parents," Chet said. "I'm at the age where I'm just really grateful for them. I really cherish the time that I have spent with them."
He said, "They have stuck with me in every thick and thin. I really am so grateful just for where I'm at, where we're all at."
He continued, "The things I got going in my life, all the beautiful people in my life, my relationships, my loved ones..."
He added, "I have got ot the point where I fully understand that those are the most important things by far and everything else is like a bonus."
Drew Barrymore, who also does not drink alcohol, shared her experience of receiving "massive support from my family and friends" during her alcohol-free journey.
She noted, "What I've learned along the way is that family, whether it's blood or found, do make you feel shy and embarrassed when you're not doing the right things and the most proud when you are."
Chet Hanks' struggles with addiction to being 'one hundrend percent sober'
Chet Hanks has been open about his past drug use, rehab experiences, and the challenges of maintaining sobriety.
In an August 2024 episode of 'The Surreal Life', he recalled hitting "rock bottom."
"I just knew, man, if I don’t change my life in a drastic way, either I’m not even going to be around or something bad, so bad, is going to happen that my life might as well be over," Chet said at the time, per People.
This experience led him to return to rehab and seek the help he needed. Now, he has been "one hundred percent sober" for more than three years he revealed on the show on Tuesday.
Chet Hanks credits sobriety for his career success
Despite coming from a Hollywood family, Chet believes that his sobriety is the key to his success.
He shared with the publication last year that staying clean has made life much easier and more manageable.
"It's not difficult at all," he said. "What's difficult is when you're trying to manage your life and you're not sober, that's what's difficult."
"When you just commit and decide and you stick to it, it's not even something that you negotiate with. It's just a non-negotiable. And life becomes extremely easy," he said.
