Emotional Danny Dyer reveals moment he thought he'd DIE from drink and drugs & EastEnders co-star who stepped in to help
Dyer Need Emotional Danny Dyer reveals moment he thought he'd DIE from drink and drugs & EastEnders co-star who stepped in to help
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DANNY Dyer has opened up about the harrowing moment he feared he would die from drink and drugs.
The former Mick Carter actor, 47, admitted his life spiralled out of control before a close pal on the soap staged an intervention that helped save him.
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Danny opened up about the moment he realised he had an addiction problem
Credit: The Mega Agency
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He was candid about the effect his addiction to booze and drugs had on his family
Credit: BBC Studios Productions Limited.
Danny has revealed he had a major wake-up call after getting so 'off his nut' on drink and drugs he couldn't even put his trousers on.
The EastEnders legend opened up on Louis Theroux's podcast about the wild night that left him in a state - and sparked a moment of clarity that changed his life.
Danny, who has always been honest about his battles with booze and drugs, told Louis it all came to a head after the 2017 National Television Awards.
He recalled: 'I had been on it all night after the NTAs... I couldn't get my trousers on. That was the moment I knew something had to change.'
"I was just sitting on my en suite toilet trying to work out what leg goes in what, and I don't why.
"I've sort of had many of them moments over the years of me being completely off my head.
"But that one really resonated with me. It was more because I looked up, my wife was just watching me and she looked shattered and she looked ill.
"And of course, you know, the drug taking and the madness that comes with it, you're destroying yourself and your body and you're slowly killing yourself, but you also, you're really upsetting the people around you.
"I just looked at her, even through this moment, I was off my head. But everything seemed to just sort of go, what the f*ck are you doing to people around you that love you?
"So I had a car picking me up to take me to work and it was just this moment I thought, "s**t, you're going to die.
Danny Dyer reveals he was 'off his nut' on drugs during 'f***ing dark' EastEnders filming and slams 's**t' soap scripts
"You're going to kill yourself. You're not happy. You're spanking all your money on drugs. You're destroying everything around you."
He continued: "It's weird, that moment, because I went straight to work that day and I was a bit off my head and I did say, 'Listen, I need help. I can't do this anymore,
"'I need help. I don't know what it is, but this is a crossroads in my life where I need a gear change and I need it now and I don't think I'm going to survive this year."
He went on to credit his EastEnders co-star Luisa Bradshaw-White for stepping in when he needed it most – and telling him straight that he had a problem.
Danny Dyer's career so far
By Conor O'Brien
Danny Dyer has played several film and TV roles across a three-decade acting career.
Here's a look back at some of his most memorable performances. Prime Suspect (1993): Danny made his screen debut in an episode of the long-running ITV police procedural. He appeared as a character named "Martin Fletcher".
Danny made his screen debut in an episode of the long-running ITV police procedural. He appeared as a character named "Martin Fletcher". Human Traffic (1999): Danny's debut film saw him portray "Moff", a dealer. Directed by Justin Kerrigan, the coming-of-age comedy drama also featured John Simm, Andrew Lincoln and Richard Coyle.
Danny's debut film saw him portray "Moff", a dealer. Directed by Justin Kerrigan, the coming-of-age comedy drama also featured John Simm, Andrew Lincoln and Richard Coyle. Mean Machine (2001): An adaptation of The Longest Yard, this sports comedy also featured Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham. Danny played "Billy the Limpet".
An adaptation of The Longest Yard, this sports comedy also featured Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham. Danny played "Billy the Limpet". The Football Factory (2004): Loosely based on the novel of the same name by John King. Danny led the cast of this sports drama, directed by Nick Love. He portrayed "Tommy Johnson".
Loosely based on the novel of the same name by John King. Danny led the cast of this sports drama, directed by Nick Love. He portrayed "Tommy Johnson". EastEnders (2013-2022): Danny appeared in the London-set BBC soap opera for almost a decade. He played Queen Vic landlord "Mick Carter", opposite Kellie Bright as his on-screen wife Linda.
Danny appeared in the London-set BBC soap opera for almost a decade. He played Queen Vic landlord "Mick Carter", opposite Kellie Bright as his on-screen wife Linda. Rivals (2024): The actor was among an all-star ensemble cast in this Disney+ series based on Jilly Cooper's novel. Danny played the role of "Freddie Jones".
Danny added: "And so, you know, I want give a shout out to Louisa Bradshaw-White, who played my sister Tina, who really came to the front for me, more than anybody else.
"She'd always said that she thinks I've got an issue and problem. No one else would say that to me… I don't know, people don't want to busy themselves in your life either.
"She would always say, 'whenever you're ready' you know, that was her vibe with me and then I was ready."
Louis wondered if Louisa had been through something similar.
Danny said: "She's had her issues like a lot of people have really, and a lot of people in my life."
Danny first opened up about his struggles back in 2019, admitting he'd hit rock bottom after binging on crack cocaine and feeling like he was 'slowly committing suicide'.
Speaking to the i newspaper at the time, the actor said: 'I was in such a dark place. I hated myself, couldn't look in the mirror for more than five seconds. I had no hope.'
One of his lowest moments came in 2001 while starring in mentor Harold Pinter's play Celebration at New York's Lincoln Center - where he'd been up all night smoking crack before taking to the stage.
'I was abusing myself so much, my brain wasn't ready and I didn't have a clue what to say.
'The blood rushed from my feet to my head and I was petrified. I felt so vulnerable.'
The Louis Theroux Podcast is now on Spotify and all major platforms.
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Danny recalled the NTAs in 2017 where he hit rock bottom
Credit: PA
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He credited his on-screen sister who helped him
Credit: BBC / Jack Barnes
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