Jason Biggs Learned How to Start Over After Addiction & ‘American Pie’

Every millennial remembers the “yikes, he did that!” moment in American Pie—and the iconic face behind it all. Twenty-five years later, Jason Biggs is opening up about how that overnight rocket ride to teen-comedy stardom affected his mental health, marriage, and his sobriety on Well with Arielle Lorre. 

Biggs went from overnight icon to overwhelmed 20-something

“There was nothing bigger than American Pie when that came out,” host Arielle Lorre reminds listeners, adding that Biggs “became a household name overnight” at just 21.

Fame sounds fabulous—until you’re living it. Biggs admits the glare was blinding: “Everything was at an 11.” With cameras flashing and offers piling up, he says he quickly learned that “most people don’t say no” when a newly minted star walks in the room—and, as is often the case when the fast life meets the bright lights, the finest of drugs are offered for proffer without a second thought. 

Addiction crept in when the cameras stopped rolling

Biggs had already dipped his toes into partying, but his success poured rocket fuel on the occasional habit. What started as celebratory drinks quickly escalated into something much darker.
“It was incredible the first time I got buzzed for sure,” he recalls. But alcohol soon needed an entourage: Everclear, Red Label, late-night white lines—anything to turn down the noise. “The first time I got drunk, I remember the snakes in my head chilled out,” he says, explaining why the cycle felt soothing, even as it escalated behind closed doors.

Rock bottom came wrapped in wedding vows and baby news

Biggs tried every limit-setting trick in the book—only weekends, only one glass, complete sobriety before major meetings—but each new rule crumbled. 

The tipping point arrived after he married actress-author Jenny Mollen. “I woke up next to my wife and rolled over and looked at her and said good morning and figured out what I did the night before based on her response back to me,” he confesses.

When the couple discovered they were expecting their first child, the stakes snapped into focus. A three-day Memorial Day bender ended with Biggs admitting, “I just found out my wife is pregnant—and what was my reaction? I did every drug I could find.” That wake-up call—plus a coast-to-coast move from the Los Angeles hills to New York City—set the stage for a lasting sobriety date seven-plus years strong.

Sobriety taught Jason Biggs real freedom, minus the fear

Early recovery wasn’t a confetti cannon, as Jason Biggs worried sobriety would dull his edge—a common fear for performers and artists. “I was so afraid I wasn’t gonna be funny anymore,” he reveals, admitting he quickly discovered the opposite. “There is a freedom that comes with not having to do those things anymore,” he explains, noting that his acting and confidence improved once the hangovers stopped.

The biggest shift? Presence and his relationship with discomfort. “Life is not without pain. Let’s deal with it,” he says, underlining that feeling all the big feelings—the good, the bad, and the ugly—isn’t a punishment; it’s proof you’re alive. These days, gratitude anchors his mornings: “Now my gratitude is different.”

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol or drug use, or finding it tough to stay sober, help is out there right now:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): 24/7 meeting finder and support line at 212-870-3400 or visit aa.org to locate in-person, online, or phone meetings worldwide.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA): Find meetings or speak with a volunteer at na.org or call 800-777-1515 (U.S. hotline; international numbers listed online).
• SAMHSA National Helpline: For confidential treatment referrals and information, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) anytime, day or night.