Before & After Photos Of Male Stars Who Ditched Smoking

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Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of death, disease, and disability in the United States, according to the CDC. It is not only the cause of 480,000 deaths in America yearly, but also the trigger for diseases faced by at least 16 million Americans. 

Most people know that cigarette smoking can greatly increase the risk of serious lung ailments like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer. However, smoking affects just about every organ in the body. As a result, it can also increase the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and reproductive health impacts. 

In contrast, quitting smoking can bring on immediate benefits. As the American Cancer Society notes, it only takes a few minutes for the heart rate to drop after you stop smoking; 24 hours after the last smoke, the carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal levels. In a year or less, the coughing and shortness of breath brought on by smoking cease to exist. And, as the years go by, the risk of coronary diseases and cancers of the throat, lung, cervix, bladder, esophagus, and kidney greatly reduces. 

Additionally, a person's appearance might change after they quit smoking. Even people who have smoked for quite some time and decided to quit can experience these potential benefits and reduce the damage done 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, several male celebrities have opened up about where they started and the challenges they faced before they successfully quit to help make other people's journeys a bit 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 their daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, in the eye and tell them that he did not smoke. 

Meanwhile, in Obama's 2020 book "A Promised Land," he confirmed that he had leaned on cigarettes to curb the stresses of his job. However, he had ultimately decided to break his habit after noticing that his eldest daughter looked displeased upon detecting the smell and realizing that he had smoked. After that moment, he switched to nicotine gum.

Speaking to GQ in June 2022, Brad Pitt shared that he had initially tried to cut back on his cigarettes instead of quitting them completely. However, during the pandemic, he realized that he couldn't effectively practice restraint, as he said, "It's not in my makeup. I'm all in. And I'm going to drive into the ground. I've lost my privileges." Instead, he began chewing nicotine gum. 

During an April 2026 appearance on the "Armchair Expert" podcast, Pitt said that he had decided to quit smoking after realizing that he simply "had enough" after three decades. At the time, he was consuming no nicotine whatsoever.

During a November 2004 chat with the Irish Examiner, Matt Damon shared that he had smoked one pack a day for 15 years straight. However, he stressed that those days were far behind him and he wouldn't even smoke if a role required it. 

Although "The Martian" star had previously attempted to quit numerous times, he had high hopes for his current try because he had enlisted the help of a hypnotist. During an appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," Damon confirmed that the hypnotism had worked its wonders and labeled it "the greatest decision I ever made in my life" (via YouTube).

During a 2006 appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Ashton Kutcher revealed that he had quit smoking about a year and a half prior by using Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking." The "Two and a Half Men" alum joked that he particularly enjoyed the book because it encouraged the reader to take smoke breaks throughout. 

The book had even ended with a message telling the readers to smoke their very last cigarette and thoroughly enjoy it. Among many other things, the highly popular self-help book encouraged readers to understand that they weren't addicted to nicotine but its perceived benefits, which apparently weren't what they seemed.

During a March 2022 appearance on "CBS' Sunday Morning," Keith Richards revealed that he had broken his 55-year-long smoking habit about two years prior. The Rolling Stones guitarist explained that he had started his cessation journey by switching to nicotine patches, but ultimately decided to give those up after a few weeks. 

Meanwhile, when Richards appeared on the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast in 2022, he said that giving up smoking had improved his performance, explaining that it had given him "a lot more air in the lungs and in the voice, more stamina." The rock legend also said that giving up smoking was "better than the alternative."

In Anthony Hopkins' 2025 memoir "We Did Ok, Kid," he recalled how his doctor hadn't minced his words while giving him a health update at the age of 37. After saying that his test results matched those of someone in their 60s, his doctor had urged him to quit smoking by saying, "Smoking is deadlier than alcohol. It causes stasis in the arteries and veins." 

In a 2010 article written for Allen Carr's website, Hopkins shared that his book, "The Easy Way To Quit Smoking," had greatly aided him in breaking his habit. All in all, Hopkins felt "healthier and happier" after quitting.

Speaking to Men's Health Magazine in June 2008, Aaron Eckhart shared that he had given up smoking five years prior. "The Dark Knight" actor further revealed that he had come to the all-important decision after randomly waking up one day and deciding enough was enough. 

In an August 2007 interview with The Guardian, Eckhart said that hypnosis had helped him quit smoking. After recalling how his days had previously started and ended with a cigarette, Eckhart said, "Now I have a cup of coffee in the mornings. I feel better, cleaner, and I think I'm a friendlier person."

During a September 2005 appearance on "The Ellen Show," Charlie Sheen shared that he had initially intended to quit smoking when he turned 40. Although his plans hadn't come to fruition at the time, he was still determined to give up the habit soon so that he could stick around longer for his children. 

Then, in an X post shared in July 2020, Sheen revealed that he had quit smoking about a year prior by writing a poem to his lungs. "If i could go / back in time and / have NEVER STARTED / i would absolutely do so !" Sheen wrote. Considering what really happens to your lungs when you stop smoking, it was a fitting ode. 

During an interview with Jiminy Glick, Jon Stewart opened up about his reasons for smoking, saying, "I used cigarettes to fill a hole in me — an emotional void," he continued. "It was an activity that I did to make myself feel better." 

However, by 2000, the talk show host realized that smoking was a temporary solution and not a permanent fix. During a 2001 appearance on "60 Minutes," Stewart shared that he had relied on nicotine gum to wean himself off cigarettes (via Everyday Health). Notably, chewing nicotine gum is not exactly bad for you, but it can cause some minor side effects if not consumed properly.

Speaking to The Irish Times in May 2021, Ewan McGregor opened up about why he was an avid smoker in the '90s, saying, "At the time, I thought it was cool and made me cool and makes you feel tough and hard. Actually, who I am isn't that. That's just not who I was." 

In a 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 "effortless" experience.