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Alec Baldwin Opens Up About Health Struggles Following “Rust” Shooting Incident
Actor Alec Baldwin has candidly discussed the profound impact the fatal shooting on the set of his film “Rust” has had on his health, stating he feels the tragedy has “taken 10 years off my life.” Baldwin shared these personal reflections during an appearance on the “Dopey” podcast on Friday, December 19th.
The 67-year-old actor confessed that the incident, which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, took a significant toll on his “mind, body, and soul.”
“I don’t want to dwell on this,” Baldwin told host David Manheim, “I just want to say that this was very painful for my wife and my family, my sisters and brothers and so forth, my colleagues. And I can tell you, it broke every nerve in my body, spiritually, financially, work-wise, my career, my wife, my kids, my friends, my health.”
He elaborated on the physical toll, stating, “I mean what it’s done to my health. I mean, if I told you what my health conditions have been since October 21st of 2021 – it’s taken 10 years off my life. It’s taken at least 10 years off my life.”
The incident occurred on October 21, 2021, when a live round was discharged from a prop gun Baldwin was holding during a rehearsal. The gunfire struck and killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin has consistently maintained that he did not pull the trigger and was informed the gun was a prop.
In the aftermath, Baldwin faced legal challenges. He was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, though these charges were dropped in April 2023.
A new involuntary manslaughter charge was filed in January 2024, to which Baldwin pleaded not guilty. His involuntary manslaughter trial began in July 2024 but was dismissed with prejudice after a few days due to prosecutorial misconduct, specifically the failure to disclose key evidence to the defense team.
Reflecting on this tumultuous period, Baldwin admitted to being in a very dark place. While he has stated he does not feel personal guilt over the shooting, he experienced survivor’s guilt, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD related to the tragedy’s aftermath.
The father of eight shared, “It’s really kind of unappealing to me because to talk about killing yourself and to actually kill yourself are two so profoundly distinctive things. I think a lot of people – I think countless people think about killing themselves and ending their life, and then very few do.”
He continued, “And for me, I remember, I used to lay there in bed and go, ‘Oh God, I can’t wake up another day and have it be the same. It’s the same every day.
And I can’t do it.’ But somehow I found the faith in God to, you know, not kill myself tomorrow.
Let’s wait one more day.”