Former Child Star Shaun Weiss Struggled With Addiction Before Recovering & Becoming Sober

Sep 22, 2023

Becoming an actor or an actress is something that many children dream about, but only a lucky few actually get to live out their dreams. Some children are fortunate enough to go on and find fame and success early in their lives and give themselves a great starting point for a long-lasting career ahead. However, for some, the pressure becomes too much, and these once-doe-eyed innocent children sadly turn to substances or controversial measures.

Shaun Weiss, best known for his role as a child actor, was born on Aug. 27, 1978, and received his education in Montclair, New Jersey. Weiss was most active in the acting industry from 1986 until 2008, first starting out on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” He is most famous for his role as Greg Goldberg in the “The Mighty Ducks” movies and has also appeared in a variety of television shows, including “Freaks and Geeks” and “Boy Meets World. 

Weiss was one of those kids fortunate enough to have a great start to a career full of potential. However, outside temptations and pressures became too much for the young actor, and he ended up going down a troubled path filled with consequences. Weiss struggled with addiction and was arrested multiple times for being in possession of drugs and for stealing. 

Fortunately, he had good people by his side, supporting him on his path toward recovery. Nowadays, Weiss looks better than ever and is celebrating a huge milestone in his sobriety journey. On Sept. 15, 2023, Weiss talked about his recovery journey as he now considers his new phase in life his greatest accomplishment yet. 

Once a child star, Weiss seemed to have it all. He first rose to fame with his breakout role as Greg Goldberg in “The Mighty Ducks” franchise. He was originally supposed to play a character with only one line, but his role ended up being expanded, allowing the striving star to prove his talents. Afterward, he went on to appear in the Disney film “Heavyweights,” followed by a stream of appearances on different TV shows. Weiss also appeared in commercials for Verizon Communications and Mobile ESPN.

Unfortunately, Weiss went through some hardships throughout his life. Back in August 2018, Weiss was arrested for public intoxication, according to Page Six. His mugshot shocked people all over the world. A year prior, Weiss was sentenced to 90 days in county jail for possession of suspected methamphetamine and another 150 days in jail for stealing $151 worth of merchandise from an electronics store. He was also arrested in January 2020 for breaking into a man’s home while on drugs.

At the time, it seemed like all hope was lost for the former child star. “He has hit his bottom,” Weiss’ representative said at the time. “Hopefully, he will stay clean and sober when he gets out.” Fortunately for Weiss, he had people in his life who cared for him and wanted to be by his side to help him get better, including his friend Drew Gallagher.

Through the good times and bad times, Gallagher stayed by Weiss’ side. 

“He’s sick, he’s mentally ill…Everybody gives up on him,” Gallagher told People Magazine in 2020. “He’s like a brother to me. I won’t abandon him.”

In January 2022, “The Mighty Ducks” star celebrated a huge milestone in his sobriety journey, as he was officially two years sober in his battle against his drug addiction, according to Page Six. Weiss’ longtime friend Gallagher proudly shared side-by-side photographs of Weiss on his Instagram, showing just how far he’s come in his journey.

One picture showed a gaunt Weiss from 2020, while the other depicted him healthy, happy, and sober.

“What a triumph!” Gallagher wrote, commending his friend for working so hard. “Congrats @shaunweiss on two years sober!!! So proud of you brotha – look at you now.”

Weiss shared the same photos on his Instagram with an important and inspiring message: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with 12 amazing steps.” According to Page Six, this was in reference to the standard 12-step recovery program most people struggling with addiction go through on their path toward recovery and sobriety. Many people left positive comments, calling Weiss an inspiration and commending him for staying strong.

TMZ reported that the former child star celebrated by getting takeout from Brent’s Deli in Los Angeles – the same restaurant he visited after being released from jail in 2017. Gallagher was originally set to join Weiss at the restaurant, but Weiss was feeling sick at the time and opted for takeout instead. According to Page Six, Weiss celebrated his first year of sobriety in 2021 by receiving a full dental treatment for free, as his addiction had destroyed his once bright smile. Fortunately, Weiss’ beaming smile has since returned.

On Sept. 15, 2023, Weiss spoke to News Nation about his resilient path to recovery.

According to the actor, he’s “getting a second chance” at life as he embarks on his recovery. Aware of this new lease in life, he affirmed that he was aware of it, and he tried to “never take that for granted.”

Hitting “rock bottom” has shaken Weiss into perspective. Apparently, Weiss started becoming addicted to drugs after a mental health crisis prompted by his father’s death. 

“Things just got too heavy for me, and I kind of lost my mind, really,” he recalled to the outlet. 

On Jan. 25, 2023, Weiss achieved a new milestone in life as it marked his three years of sobriety. He is also working as a sobriety coach for other people who are going through the same thing as him. 

“That’s really the thing I’m proudest of,” Weiss reflected. “I’ve had a lot of accomplishments, but this recovery thing is really my proudest accomplishment.” Weiss also added. “Being able to look at the trauma, I went through the lens of trying to be creative, and to do comedy has just been a game changer. And people find my story inspiring so I just kind of tell my story, and I try to do that — in a funny way, though. It’s fulfilling for me.”

Weiss also explained how people like him used to think, elaborating on his thought process. 

“As drug addicts, we tend to burn our bridges and burn people that are close to us in our life. But really, as a result of not really having family and things like that to pull me back — that’s how I became untethered and ended up on the street,” he explained. 

What can you say about Shaun Weiss’ journey toward sobriety and recovery? Do you know someone else who has suffered like him and is going through recovery? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones!