Brad Pitt Smoked for Decades After Starting in Sixth Grade

Brad Pitt's smoking habit started young—really young. The Hollywood heartthrob picked up his first cigarette in sixth grade, beginning a relationship with tobacco that would last for decades. What started as a childhood experiment became a full-blown addiction that followed him through his rise to stardom and beyond.

For years, Pitt was rarely photographed without a cigarette in hand. The habit intensified during stressful periods of his life, particularly after his 2016 divorce from Angelina Jolie, when he reportedly smoked up to two packs a day. But smoking wasn't his only vice during difficult times—he also turned to alcohol and marijuana to cope with the pressures of fame and personal struggles.

The All-or-Nothing Approach

In a candid 2022 interview with GQ magazine, Pitt revealed something crucial about his personality: he doesn't do moderation. "I don't have that ability to do just one or two a day," he admitted. "It's not in my makeup. I'm all in. And I'm going to drive into the ground."

This all-or-nothing mentality applied to all his habits. He couldn't be a casual smoker or social drinker—it was complete consumption or nothing at all. This realization became key to his eventual recovery.

Quitting Cold Turkey

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitt made a dramatic decision: he quit smoking entirely. No cutting back, no nicotine patches, no gradual reduction. True to his all-in personality, he went cold turkey.

The pandemic lockdown provided an unexpected opportunity for reflection and change. Pitt told GQ he'd "lost his privileges" when it came to cigarettes, acknowledging that his inability to moderate meant total abstinence was the only option.

A Pattern of Recovery

Pitt's journey to quit smoking was part of a larger transformation. After his divorce, he also gave up alcohol, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for over a year. He credits fellow actor Bradley Cooper with helping him through his recovery from alcohol addiction.

His story reveals a common thread among people with addictive personalities: the recognition that some people simply can't have "just one." For Pitt, decades of trying to control his smoking habit finally gave way to the understanding that quitting completely was his only path forward.

From sixth grade to his late 50s, cigarettes were a constant companion. But like many who struggle with addiction, Pitt eventually found that the all-or-nothing approach that fueled his habit also became the key to breaking free from it.