With an Addiction, Happy Hollywood Endings Difficult

This has been a busy time, even by Hollywood standards, for celebrities in trouble with the law.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. lost his job on “Ally McBeal” after being arrested again recently on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, yet another probation no-no.

There’s a lot of hand-wringing and head-shaking going on, to be sure. In general, though, people in Hollywood get very quiet when one of their own becomes involved in a high-profile jam.

That’s because many feel, or know, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Downey, a talented actor who was in the midst of a career high, winning critical kudos and a Golden Globe for his “Ally McBeal” work, would seem to have had no reason to risk it all. But let’s be real. An addict is just as likely to relapse on a good day as on a bad one.

Take Aaron Sorkin, the Emmy-laden creator of NBC’s White House drama “The West Wing,” who was arrested April 15 at Burbank Airport on drug charges that started with the alleged discovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms and crack cocaine in his carry-on bag. Sorkin has acknowledged in the past that he had a substance-abuse problem with cocaine. But why would he feel the urge now?

Probably because, as he has been quoted as saying, “I’m the same as any other addict. I’m only a phone call away from getting loaded again.”

Although it would be difficult to gather precise statistics, it’s fair to say that Hollywood is an industry where excess is not only the norm, it is endemic, even encouraged.

This is in no way to excuse or defend self-destructive, illegal and in some cases just plain stupid behavior of the rich and famous. This is more a matter of perspective and a reminder of the pervasiveness of excess.

Celebrities, it seems, are just six degrees of separation from actor Charlie Sheen. After years of pushing it to the limit--including court dates, an overdose and a very public downfall--the hard-partying young Sheen turned it around, taking over the lead in ABC’s “Spin City” from squeaky-clean Michael J. Fox. So far so good, it appears.

But few would be surprised, and indeed tabloid writers are waiting to see, if Sheen slips. There’s nothing like a fall from grace to make good copy. And celebrity doesn’t allow actors to right their wrongs in private.

Furthermore, the truth is that the public to some degree expects its stars to live life in the extreme. The rich and famous are photographed and interviewed at premieres and parties where they are fawned over and feted, and where some of them lose their heads.

Indeed, celebrity itself might be the most intoxicating drug of all, the gateway to a host of so many other addictions. Amid all the adulation and affirmations, celebrities must feel, if not untouchable, certainly less of a blight on humanity than on themselves. Their problems might as well occur in a vacuum.

Depending, that is, on the number of offenses and the level of contrition. (Hugh Grant comes to mind.)

There can’t be a deep well of support, for example, for Shannen Doherty, who pleaded no contest last week to misdemeanor drunken-driving charges. Doherty built a reputation for getting into trouble when she got her big break with “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Now that she’s older and, one assumes, more mature, the public’s patience must be diminished.

The best approach in a bad situation might be exemplified by Matthew Perry, who put NBC’s production of “Friends” in a temporary bind when he headed as quietly as he could into rehab. He checked into rehab in February for undisclosed addictions, returning after a few weeks to finish the season’s final episodes, where the story lines are focused on his character Chandler and Monica’s wedding.

Now, there’s no reason that Perry’s story, like Sorkin’s and even Downey’s, can’t end happily.

Kelsey Grammer had an addiction problem, and wore one of those special home-arrest ankle bracelets when he was working on “Cheers.” He has moved on to a successful life and career with “Frasier.”

Succeeding has got to be a lot harder than failing when you’re a star. When you’re on the top of the world, it’s a long way down.