Shia LaBeouf is opening up about the key figures who helped him turn his life around. In a new interview published on Thursday, May 8, the 38-year-old actor spoke with The Hollywood Reporter alongside director David Mamet, revealing that actors Mel Gibson, Sean Penn, and Josh Brolin played vital roles in his journey to sobriety.
LaBeouf said his bond with Gibson began in 2022 while researching for the film Padre Pio. During that time, Gibson introduced him to the traditional Latin Mass. The experience left a lasting impression and led to LaBeouf converting to Catholicism, according to IndieWire. The connection between the two actors remains strong. “Big respect, big love. He’s always been very lovely to me,” LaBeouf said. “He held my hand when I was really s—ing on myself. Dude really stepped up for me in big ways.”
He credited Gibson, Penn, and Brolin for helping him get clean. “Him, Sean Penn, James Brolin — these guys got me to sobriety,” LaBeouf shared. “They got around me and kept me alive.”
A Circle of Support For Shia LeBeouf
LaBeouf said that Penn, in particular, motivated him to take on his latest project. “Sean also showed up and motivated me to do this as a play,” he explained. “I was scared as f— when this thing started,” LaBeouf added. He also noted that both Penn and actor Sam Rockwell were present to support him during the first week of the production. “There was a bunch of guys that I looked up to that just started popping up. I had never, ever felt that kind of love — not like that.”
Gibson has had his own public struggles with substance abuse. He was arrested for drunk driving in 2006 and entered recovery by 2010. Like LaBeouf, Gibson also found grounding in Catholicism after getting sober.
Shia LaBeouf Reveals He Used to Live in Central Park, Sleeping Where Horses Are Kept: I Wasn't 'in a Good Way' https://t.co/anAf3Y0Ajn
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Brolin, now 57, also faced his own challenges with alcohol. He chose to pursue sobriety in 2013 at age 45. That came three years after he worked with LaBeouf on Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Brolin has since been open about his journey and growth.
Sean Penn, although never in a film with LaBeouf, has long served as a role model to him. LaBeouf once shared in a 2024 interview that Penn’s acting career was “far more appealing” to him than others. Penn also supported his son Hopper through his own struggles with crystal meth addiction. Despite personal setbacks and past controversies, LaBeouf continues to rebuild his life, crediting his sobriety and stability to the men who stood by him.
