Dean McDermott credits his ex Tori Spelling and girlfriend Lily Calo for supporting him on his journey to sobriety.
The Canadian actor — who has battled alcohol and drug abuse for nearly three decades — recently spoke to Page Six about his ongoing recovery.
“I’m clean and sober… I got to a place where I finally gave in and admitted that I needed help,” the 57-year-old told the paper, sharing that he “went to treatment and put [his] the return of life together.”
McDermott explained that Calo, who he was first spotted with in October 2023, has been there for him since he began his recovery, which “hasn’t been easy.”
“She is a big support to me… we check in with each other every day and hold each other accountable,” he said. “She’s a really big — big help to me.”
The Straight south The alum also praised Spelling for her continued help in his sobriety, despite the couple divorcing in June 2023.
“Tori has always been my biggest supporter, my biggest fan,” he told the newspaper. “She just wants me to be happy, bottom line, and she’s such an amazing woman.” McDermott – who shares children Beau, 7, Finn, 11, Hattie, 12, Stella, 15, and Liam, 17, with Spelling – added that she is “one of the most generous people” he knows.
“She wants the best for everyone,” he admitted. “Sometimes at the expense of her happiness, which, as we know, is not good. But that’s the kind of person she is.”
Dean McDermott says he ‘drank a fifth of tequila every night’ and ‘wanted to die’ before addiction treatment
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Dean McDermott 2019.
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
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Back in November 2023, McDermott spoke with Daily mail about spending the summer in rehabilitation. At the time, he revealed that after 40 days in rehab, he was staying at a sober living home in Los Angeles, called Harmony Place, with eight other recovering alcoholics. He said he hopes his time there will allow him to be reunited with his family, including Spelling, soon.
“Everything she’s ever done to date has wanted me to be happy and healthy,” he said. “I caused a lot of damage and pain to that woman.”
Dean McDermott says his ex Tori Spelling and new girlfriend ‘get along great’: ‘It’s a beautiful thing’
“I take responsibility for it today and it’s the biggest compensation I’ll ever have to make,” Chopped Canada the host told the paper, explaining how his addiction has affected his family.
“It ended up that I was drinking a fifth of tequila and a handful of narcotics every night, seven days a week. [narcotics] alone with, you know, a beautiful family in the other room.” (“A fifth” refers to a standard 750-milliliter bottle of alcohol — or about 16 glasses.)
McDermott said, “I’m going to live the rest of my life repairing the damage because I took something that was really beautiful and I just demolished it year after year, day after day.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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Source: HIS Education