Before and after photos of male stars who stopped smoking

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Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disease and disability in the United States, according to a report Center for Disease Control. Not only is it the cause of the death of 480,000 people in America annually, but it is also the cause of diseases faced by at least 16 million Americans.

Most people know that smoking cigarettes can significantly increase the risk of serious lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer. However, smoking affects almost every organ in the body. As a result, it can also increase the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and effects on reproductive health.

In contrast, quitting smoking can bring immediate benefits. as American Cancer Society It is noted that it only takes a few minutes for the heart rate to decrease after stopping smoking; 24 hours after the last smoking, carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal levels. Within a year or less, the cough and shortness of breath caused by smoking stop. Over the years, the risk of coronary heart disease and cancers of the throat, lung, cervix, bladder, esophagus and kidneys decreases significantly.

In addition, A person’s appearance may change after quitting smoking. Even people who have smoked for some time and decide to quit can experience these potential benefits and reduce the harm to their bodies.

However, quitting smoking is a deeply personal journey that can have its ups and downs, to say the least. Over the years, many male celebrities have spoken out about where they started and the challenges they faced before successfully quitting to help make others’ journeys a little easier.

In February 2011, Michelle Obama proudly shared that Barack Obama had gone nearly a year without smoking. The then First Lady explained that her husband wanted to be able to look into the eyes of their daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, and tell them that he did not smoke.

Meanwhile, in Obama’s 2020 book “Promised Land“, confirmed that he was relying on cigarettes to reduce the stress of his job. But he eventually decided to kick his habit after he noticed that his eldest daughter seemed upset when she detected the smell and realized that he was smoking. After that moment, he switched to nicotine gum.

talking to GQ In June 2022, Brad Pitt shared that he initially tried cutting back on his cigarettes rather than quitting them completely. However, during the pandemic, he realized that he could not effectively exercise self-control, saying: “This is not my makeup. I am fully committed to it. I will drive my car into the ground. I have lost my privileges.” Instead, he started chewing nicotine gum.

During his appearance in April 2026 on the channel “Chair expertpodcast, Pete said he decided to quit smoking after realizing he had simply “had enough” after three decades. At the time, he was not consuming nicotine at all.

During a November 2004 conversation with Irish ExaminerMatt Damon said he smoked one pack a day for 15 years in a row. However, he maintained that those days are over and he would not even smoke if the role required it.

Although the “The Martian” star had previously tried to quit smoking several times, he had high hopes for his current attempt because he sought help from a hypnotist. During an appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” Damon confirmed that hypnosis had worked its wonders and called it “the greatest decision I’ve ever made in my life” (via YouTube).

During a 2006 appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno“Ashton Kutcher revealed that he quit smoking about a year and a half ago using Allen Carr’s book.”The easy way to quit smokingThe “Two and a Half Men” alumnus joked that he particularly enjoyed the book because it encouraged the reader to take smoke breaks throughout.

The book even ends with a message asking readers to smoke their last cigarette and enjoy it fully. Among many other things, the hugely popular self-help book encouraged readers to understand that they were not addicted to nicotine but to its perceived benefits, which apparently were not what they seemed.

During a March 2022 appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning“Keith Richards has revealed that he kicked his 55-year smoking habit almost two years ago. The Rolling Stones guitarist explained that he began his quit smoking journey by switching to nicotine patches, but eventually decided to give them up after a few weeks.

Meanwhile, when Richards appeared on “WTF with Marc MaronThe rock legend said in a podcast in 2022 that quitting smoking improved his performance, explaining that it gave him “much more air in the lungs and in the voice, and more endurance.” The rock legend also said that quitting smoking is “better than the alternative.”

In Anthony Hopkins’ memoir 2025″We did alright, boy“, recalls how his doctor didn’t mince his words while giving him a health update at 37. After saying his test results matched those of someone in their 60s, his doctor urged him to quit smoking by saying, “Smoking is more deadly than alcohol. It causes stagnation in the arteries and veins.”

In an article written in 2010 for Allen Carr websiteHopkins pointed out that his book, “The Easy Way to Quit Smoking,” helped him a lot in getting rid of his habit. Overall, Hopkins felt “healthier and happier” after quitting smoking.

talking to Men’s Health Magazine In June 2008, Aaron Eckhart announced that he had quit smoking five years earlier. The Dark Knight actor also revealed that he came to the very important decision after randomly waking up one day and deciding that enough was enough.

In an August 2007 interview with guardian, Eckhart said so Hypnosis helped him quit smoking. After recalling how his days had begun and ended with a cigarette, Eckhart said: “Now I have a cup of coffee in the morning. I feel better, cleaner and I think I am a friendlier person.”

During a September 2005 appearance on “Ellen Show“, Charlie Sheen said that he initially intended to quit smoking when he turned 40. Although his plans did not come to fruition at that time, he was still determined to give up the habit soon so that he could survive longer for the sake of his children.

Then, in X In a post shared in July 2020, Sheen revealed that he quit smoking about a year ago by writing a poem to his lungs. “If I could go back / Go back in time and / I never started / I would definitely do it!” Shane wrote. By looking What actually happens to your lungs when you stop smoking?It was a fitting poem.

During an interview with Jiminy Glick“, Jon Stewart spoke about his reasons for smoking, saying: “I used cigarettes to fill a hole inside me – an emotional void.” “It was an activity I did to make myself feel better.”

However, by 2000, the talk show host realized that smoking was a temporary solution rather than a permanent solution. During a 2001 appearance on “60 Minutes,” Stewart said he was relying on nicotine gum to wean himself off cigarettes (via Daily health). It is worth noting, Chewing nicotine gum isn’t exactly bad for youBut it can cause some minor side effects if not taken properly.

talking to The Irish Times In May 2021, Ewan McGregor spoke about why he became an avid smoker in the 1990s, saying: “At the time, I thought it was cool and it made me cool and it made me feel powerful and tough. In fact, that’s not who I am. That’s not who I was.”

In July 2008 YouTube Video, the “Trainspotting” star credited Max Kirsten’s hypnosis program with helping him quit smoking for good in February 2006. According to McGregor, he thought smoking would be a lifelong habit for him, but hypnotherapy made quitting an “easy” experience.