Celebrities Who Quit Smoking Cold Turkey

It's no secret that smoking is bad for our health. Not only can smoking cause lung cancer and heart disease, but it also has an unexpected impact on your mental health. And while there are different ways to kick the unhealthy habit, a 2016 study in Annals of Internal Medicine found that abrupt cessation (aka quitting cold turkey) actually works best. Only 39.2% of study participants who opted to quit gradually continued to remain tobacco-free four weeks later, compared to 49% who made a clean and total break from tobacco. "Based on this we have suggested that people who reduce their smoking before quitting find the experience of cutting down difficult and this causes them discomfort, like cravings, which ultimately may put them off quitting altogether," the study's lead researcher, Dr. Nicola Lindson-Hawley, told CBS News.

Alas, quitting cold turkey is not for the faint of heart. One can expect to experience withdrawal symptoms including intense tobacco cravings, irritability and depression, increased appetite, trouble sleeping, and even trouble focusing. Fortunately, many celebs have risen to the occasion, quit smoking cold turkey, and shared their experiences with the world.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

In a 2014 appearance on Chelsea Handler's "Chelsea Lately" show, Cameron Diaz revealed that she quit smoking after a long, arduous journey that included up to 20 cigarettes a day (via Daily Express). "I gave up because my parents were upset that I was smoking so much and I was setting a bad example," she recalled about what ultimately led her to the decision (via Glamour). Unfortunately, Diaz still found herself in hot water when she opined that "one cigarette every once in a while is not going to kill you."

In 2025, during an interview with British Vogue, Gwyneth Paltrow revealed she went cold turkey on her wedding night to Brad Falchuk in 2018. The story goes that, upon learning that her entire life insurance contract would be voided if they found out she had smoked even one cigarette, she quit on the spot. "I miss it, though," she bemoaned, before revealing that she was considering resuming the bad habit when she's 85. It's a strong contender for Paltrow's most controversial health advice, for sure.

Yes, even Lady Gaga shared a bad romance with cigarettes. In a 2020 appearance on Apple Music's "New Music Daily Radio with Zane Lowe," the singer shared that she used to smoke up to a staggering 40 cigarettes a day. However, she told the host that she decided to quit cold turkey. Her advice to listeners? Never start. "It was so hard," she declared. "If you don't smoke, don't smoke! Because quitting is worse. It is so brutal," she exclaimed before vowing that she would never smoke again.

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen completely gave up cigarettes after realizing that her lifestyle was no longer sustainable. "I was starting my day with a mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream and three cigarettes, then drinking a bottle of wine every night," she recalled to British Vogue in 2022. According to Bündchen, she was able to kick all of the bad habits, including smoking, with the help of a naturopath. Still, she admitted it was not easy and that she experienced withdrawal symptoms for three months. "I think those were the worst migraines I've ever had in my life," she lamented.

Brad Pitt abruptly quit smoking during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after he realized that he just couldn't stop at one or two. "It's not in my makeup," he confessed during a candid interview with GQ in 2022, after offering the reporter a nicotine mint. Since then, however, Pitt has also given up all nicotine as well. "I think 30 years of smoking. I just figured I've had enough," he told host Dax Shepard during a 2025 appearance on "Armchair Expert" about his newfound strict "no nicotine" policy.