1 hr 1 min
Butch Patrick | From Alcoholic & Partying Child Star of The Munsters to Motivational Speaker & Recovery Advocate Knockin‘ Doorz Down
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- Mental Health
Beginning his professional acting career at the age of seven, Butch Patrick is perhaps best known for his role as child werewolf Eddie Munster on the CBS comedy television series The Munsters from 1964 to 1966. His uncle John was a horse supplier to Hollywood Studios, and his cousin was Zorro's stunt double. This was his connection to getting started in the industry. His mother & father were warm & loving, social drinkers. Typical 50's entertaining family, with light weekend partying at the house. This atmosphere would eventually spark the partying lifestyle that would take over his adolescent years.
Eventually, his parents divorced and didn't have the father figure he needed for the discipline and structure in his life. He wanted to act temporarily to raise money for what he thought he really wanted to do in life, which was race cars. He didn't consider himself an actor, but acting just as a way of making side money. He felt he was one of the rare young Hollywood actors that actually had a pretty regular life with regular friends, and the Hollywood stuff was just a job to him.
When he turned 16, he got his driver's license, and he was swept up in the 60's counter-culture & drug exploration. He hosted huge lavish parties that had the elite of Hollywood in attendance practically every week. He explained that no one ever told the Hollywood stars, child stars & musicians "NO!" when they were drinking and partying in excess.
There was a point where it all came crashing down, around the age of 40 he realized that he was not only hurting himself but hurting others. He thought about the fact that he was drinking himself to death, thinking of an exit plan, which could have led to suicide. Eventually, he went into treatment at 57 years old. One week in Southern California, he found himself at Oasis Treatment Center. He was convinced by one of the senior counselors to get completely sober and to use his celebrity to reach a wider audience, to tell his story, and change other lives for the better. He liked the fraternity atmosphere of his recovery group, he never went into the military, and this was the structure and camaraderie that he craved.
He found out during his recovery that he had Prostate Cancer. To which he said at first, "Well, at least I'll die sober". Eventually, he was able to treat & beat it, and now is a motivational speaker & recovery counselor for Oasis Treatment Center in Southern California. He credits their "90" day program" which included meditation, informational meetings, yoga, and more... which he found much more informative and effective instead of the typical "30" day program. Currently, He works with his local Boys & Girls Club to keep kids informed and inspire them. He is a public motivational speaker, speaking to all types of crowds, telling his story & sharing what worked for him. Now he wants to spread the word about taking the first initial step successfully, which he says is the hardest part of the recovery process. He hopes he can bring as much attention as he can with his celebrity status to reach more people to start their roads to recovery.
This is Butch Patrick in his own words, on Knockin’ Doorz Down.
For 51FIFTY use the discount code KDD20 for 20% off!
https://51fiftyltm.com/
For Carlos Vieira's autobiography Knockin' Doorz Down
https://www.kddmediacompany.com/
For more on the Knockin' Doorz Down podcast, YouTube Channel and to follow us on social media https://www.kddmediacompany.com/podcast
For more information on the Carlos Vieira Foundation and the Race 2B Drug-Free, Race to End, the Stigma, and Race For Autism programs visit
https://www.carlosvieirafoundation.org/
For more on Butch Patrick
https://www.instagram.com/the_real_butch_patrick_/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Beginning his professional acting career at the age of seven, Butch Patrick is perhaps best known for his role as child werewolf Eddie Munster on the CBS comedy television series The Munsters from 1964 to 1966. His uncle John was a horse supplier to Hollywood Studios, and his cousin was Zorro's stunt double. This was his connection to getting started in the industry. His mother & father were warm & loving, social drinkers. Typical 50's entertaining family, with light weekend partying at the house. This atmosphere would eventually spark the partying lifestyle that would take over his adolescent years.
Eventually, his parents divorced and didn't have the father figure he needed for the discipline and structure in his life. He wanted to act temporarily to raise money for what he thought he really wanted to do in life, which was race cars. He didn't consider himself an actor, but acting just as a way of making side money. He felt he was one of the rare young Hollywood actors that actually had a pretty regular life with regular friends, and the Hollywood stuff was just a job to him.
When he turned 16, he got his driver's license, and he was swept up in the 60's counter-culture & drug exploration. He hosted huge lavish parties that had the elite of Hollywood in attendance practically every week. He explained that no one ever told the Hollywood stars, child stars & musicians "NO!" when they were drinking and partying in excess.
There was a point where it all came crashing down, around the age of 40 he realized that he was not only hurting himself but hurting others. He thought about the fact that he was drinking himself to death, thinking of an exit plan, which could have led to suicide. Eventually, he went into treatment at 57 years old. One week in Southern California, he found himself at Oasis Treatment Center. He was convinced by one of the senior counselors to get completely sober and to use his celebrity to reach a wider audience, to tell his story, and change other lives for the better. He liked the fraternity atmosphere of his recovery group, he never went into the military, and this was the structure and camaraderie that he craved.
He found out during his recovery that he had Prostate Cancer. To which he said at first, "Well, at least I'll die sober". Eventually, he was able to treat & beat it, and now is a motivational speaker & recovery counselor for Oasis Treatment Center in Southern California. He credits their "90" day program" which included meditation, informational meetings, yoga, and more... which he found much more informative and effective instead of the typical "30" day program. Currently, He works with his local Boys & Girls Club to keep kids informed and inspire them. He is a public motivational speaker, speaking to all types of crowds, telling his story & sharing what worked for him. Now he wants to spread the word about taking the first initial step successfully, which he says is the hardest part of the recovery process. He hopes he can bring as much attention as he can with his celebrity status to reach more people to start their roads to recovery.
This is Butch Patrick in his own words, on Knockin’ Doorz Down.
For 51FIFTY use the discount code KDD20 for 20% off!
https://51fiftyltm.com/
For Carlos Vieira's autobiography Knockin' Doorz Down
https://www.kddmediacompany.com/
For more on the Knockin' Doorz Down podcast, YouTube Channel and to follow us on social media https://www.kddmediacompany.com/podcast
For more information on the Carlos Vieira Foundation and the Race 2B Drug-Free, Race to End, the Stigma, and Race For Autism programs visit
https://www.carlosvieirafoundation.org/
For more on Butch Patrick
https://www.instagram.com/the_real_butch_patrick_/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 1 min