The Mighty Ducks child star Shaun Weiss says he was given ‘a second chance at life’ after overcoming a crippling drug addiction – as he reveals what caused his downward spiral
The Mighty Ducks actor Shaun Weiss has spoken about his struggles in a rare TV interview, two years after overcoming a serious drug addiction.
The former child star, who shot to fame in 1992 playing Greg Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks and as Josh Birnbaum in the 1995 film Heavyweights, was hooked on methamphetamine and heroin for three years before finally getting sober in 2020.
Appearing on Today Extra on Thursday, the 44-year-old said he was grateful to have his life back, and thanked his former castmates for helping him through dark times.
The Mighty Ducks actor Shaun Weiss has spoken about his struggles in a rare TV interview, two years after overcoming a serious drug addiction. (Pictured left on Channel Nine’s Today Extra on Thursday, and right in 1992’s The Mighty Ducks)
‘I’m feeling better than I have in years and being able to get back and do movies again is, like, just a dream come true,’ he told co-hosts Sylvia Jeffreys and David Campbell.
‘I’ll be honest, when all that stuff was going on, I really never thought that I’d be at a spot where I could look back at all that in my rear-view mirror. So to be able to be here now, I feel like I got a second chance,’ he added.
Weiss insisted that, unlike other child stars who fell on hard times, Hollywood wasn’t to blame for his downward spiral into drugs.
Appearing on Today Extra on Thursday, the 44-year-old said he was grateful to have his life back, and thanked his former castmates for helping him through dark times
‘I’m feeling better than I have in years and being able to get back and do movies again is, like, just a dream come true,’ he told co-hosts Sylvia Jeffreys (centre) and David Campbell (left)
‘I think [my addiction] had less to do with Hollywood and a lot to do with other things,’ he said.
‘My depression is what led to my drug addiction, and I figured that out over a thousand hours of therapy.’
Weiss also praised the cast and crew of The Mighty Ducks and Heavyweights for inspiring him to reach sobriety, referring to them as his ‘real-life family’.
‘That support has really meant everything to me, because I just got to a spot where I really didn’t care about myself as much. But I really didn’t want to let all these people down that were pulling for me,’ he said.
Weiss praised the cast and crew of The Mighty Ducks for inspiring him to reach sobriety, referring to them as his ‘real-life family’. Pictured: the cast of D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
He paid special tribute to fellow Mighty Ducks and Heavyweights star Aaron Swartz for putting together a video of both films’ cast and crew wishing him well.
‘That video really was overwhelming and really blew me away. I really needed that at that time, so those guys were there when I needed them,’ he added.
Fans were left shocked in 2017 when Weiss’ haggard and unrecognisable mug shot went viral after his arrest for petty theft.
Weiss (pictured in 2015) paid special tribute to fellow Mighty Ducks and Heavyweights star Aaron Swartz for putting together a video of both films’ cast and crew wishing him well
At the time, he was living on the streets due to his drug addiction and had turned to a life of crime.
He spent 12 days in jail before being released due to overcrowding, but just five days later was arrested again and sentenced to 90 days in jail for meth possession.
Weiss was arrested again in January 2020, this time for residential burglary and being under the influence of methamphetamine.
Fans were left shocked in 2017 when Weiss’ haggard and unrecognisable mug shot went viral after his arrest for petty theft. At the time, he was living on the streets due to his drug addiction
Weiss was last seen on the big screen in the 2008 motion picture Drillbit Taylor.
He is now set to return in the upcoming biopic Jesus Revolution, playing the role of a Vietnam veteran who is recovering from drug addiction.
If you or anyone you know struggles with drug addiction, call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for confidential advice or Lifeline on 13 11 14 for substance abuse support
Weiss was last seen on the big screen in the 2008 motion picture Drillbit Taylor. He is now set to return in the upcoming biopic Jesus Revolution, playing the role of a Vietnam veteran who is recovering from drug addiction (pictured on set)
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