15 Celebrities Who Were Heavy Smokers But Managed to Quit (16 Photos)

Given the fast-paced lifestyle of public figures, it's no surprise that many turn to cigarettes for a quick way to blow off steam. However, it has long been proven that nicotine takes a heavy toll on overall health.

Fortunately, many stars caught themselves in time, realized the danger, and successfully kicked the habit. Now, they're sharing their quit-smoking stories—and a few tips that might just help you do the same.





Jennifer Aniston



The

Friends

star was a heavy smoker for years. She was also a self-confessed coffee addict and even tried using yoga to overcome both habits. But it took a major wake-up call for Jen to finally quit: after her split from Brad Pitt, she began suffering from panic attacks, which cigarettes and caffeine only made worse.

Brad Pitt





Brad Pitt has had an on-again, off-again relationship with smoking for years. At one point, he gave it up for his ex-wife Angelina Jolie, who put her foot down and banned smoking in their home to set a good example for their children.

That was a smart move, especially given their parenting style. We've previously reported on the chaotic dynamic in the couple's household, where the kids reportedly grew up with virtually no rules—a hands-off approach actively encouraged by the actress.

Sharon Stone



At age 46, Sharon Stone suffered a stroke—a terrifying health scare that forced her to completely rethink her habits and lifestyle. After leaving the hospital, the actress quit smoking for good, cut back on caffeine, and almost entirely gave up alcohol, save for the occasional glass of wine.

Ewan McGregor



Ewan McGregor tried quitting on his own multiple times, only to fall back into the habit. During a long-distance motorcycle trip around the world, he caved again and picked up a cigarette. After returning home, McGregor turned to a specialist for hypnotherapy, which finally helped him kick the habit once and for all.

Gisele Bündchen



The iconic supermodel quit smoking for the sake of her children, Benjamin and Vivian, stating that they deserved to breathe clean air. Bündchen has never looked back. In an interview, she revealed that after quitting, her senses of taste and smell improved dramatically.

"Before, everything tasted like it was covered in ash," she confessed.

Sylvester Stallone



Sylvester Stallone picked up his first cigarette at just 12 years old. To his credit, he eventually managed to ditch cigarettes during the filming of

Rocky

, when he found himself gasping for air in the ring and realized he had no choice but to quit.

That said, Stallone later developed a penchant for cigars, though he tries not to overindulge.

Penélope Cruz



The exact reason Penélope Cruz decided to quit remains a mystery. Some rumors suggest she gave up cigarettes for a boyfriend, while others credit her turn to Buddhism. Another story claims she quit at the insistence of her director on the musical

Nine

, who was worried smoking would ruin her singing voice.

Matt Damon



Matt Damon remembers the exact day he decided to give up smoking for good: August 5, 2004.

"I remember my brother quit smoking when he decided to have kids. He said, 'I'm going to cleanse my system for six months or a year before, you know...'"

Damon thought it was a brilliant idea. When he met the woman who would become the mother of his children, he decided to cut out nicotine too. It wasn't easy, though—it ultimately took a few hypnotherapy sessions to beat the addiction for good.

Ben Affleck



Ben Affleck and Matt Damon both started smoking in high school, carried the habit into adulthood, and quit around the same time. But while Damon relied on hypnosis, Affleck's cure was... cigarettes themselves. While filming

Smokin' Aces

, he had to chain-smoke up to five packs a day for certain scenes, leaving him so disgusted that he couldn't even stand the sight of them afterward.

Julia Roberts



Julia Roberts beat her nicotine addiction just a few years ago, crediting yoga with helping her get through it. She once admitted that smoking severely impacted her ability to conceive. Fortunately, quitting turned things around, and she is now a proud mother of three.

Al Pacino



The legendary actor managed to quit smoking after a whopping 30-year habit. Pacino was 54 when he finally stopped, driven by fear of losing his iconic voice after noticing troubling changes in his pitch and tone.

Gwyneth Paltrow



Like several of her Hollywood peers, Gwyneth Paltrow tried to quit using yoga, but to no avail. In the end, it was finding out she was pregnant that prompted her to smoke her very last cigarette.

Ashton Kutcher



Ashton Kutcher credits Allen Carr's famous book with helping him quit almost instantly. His motivation came from a genuine scare for his health: while doing his own stunts on a movie set, he worried that combining heavy physical exertion with heavy smoking would wreck his heart and lungs.

Barack Obama



It's not just movie stars—even world leaders struggle with bad habits. Former US President Barack Obama managed to kick his smoking habit with the help of nicotine gum, which he chewed for two weeks straight. He has now been smoke-free for over a decade.

Prince Harry



Royalty isn't exempt either! Prince Harry gave up smoking after learning his wife was pregnant, wanting to support her through her pregnancy and adopt a healthier lifestyle for their growing family.