‘Animal House’ star Tim Matheson says he’s ‘lucky’ not to be a cocaine addict

Tim Matheson, the iconic actor known for his role in Animal House, recently opened up about his past relationship with cocaine, revealing that he feels fortunate to have avoided the addiction that affected many of his contemporaries. Speaking with Page Six about his new memoir Damn Glad to Meet You, a nod to his famous line in the classic college comedy, Matheson shared how his career kept him from falling too deep into drug use. Despite playing hard during the height of his acting career, Matheson was conscious of how cocaine might impact his work. He explained that, as a working actor who lived paycheck to paycheck, he couldnt afford to lose his income by overindulging in drugs. While he wasnt entirely abstinent, he kept his cocaine use in check, aware that addiction could jeopardize his career. Matheson reflected on the culture of his generation, where many, including his Animal House co-stars, downplayed the dangers of drugs like cocaine. He pointed to John Belushi, who tragically died of a cocaine and heroin overdose in 1982 at the age of 33, as a cautionary tale. Matheson credits his continued success to avoiding the pitfalls of drug addiction, which likely would have limited his career. Since Animal House, Matheson has enjoyed a diverse and successful career, with notable roles in The West Wing, Hart of Dixie, Fletch, Black Sheep, and Virgin River, among others. As he reflects on his career, Matheson expresses gratitude for never falling victim to addiction, which he believes could have derailed his achievements.The post ‘Animal House’ star Tim Matheson says he’s ‘lucky’ not to be a cocaine addict appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.