On Active Drinking

'I'm lucky to be alive': American Pie star Chris Klein comes clean about his struggle with alcoholism By LAURA SCHREFFLER PUBLISHED: 21:01 EST, 28 March 2012 | UPDATED: 04:54 EST, 29 March 2012 Chris Klein has finally opened up about his well-documented battle with alcoholism. The 33-year-old American Pie said that he realises he's lucky to be alive. He told People magazine: 'I would have died, and I think about that every single day.' He added: 'It got to the point where I was a fragile shadow of the young man that came into this business. His battle with alcohol addiction nearly cost him his career. Though he started off promisingly opposite Reese Witherspoon in the 1999 film Election, he soon went on a downward spiral. This was mostly due to the meteoric rise in fame he experienced after starring in two American Pie films. He was arrested for drunk driving on February 5, 2005 and again on June 16, 2010 for the same reason. Five days after his second arrest, he checked himself into the Cirque Lodge rehab facility in Utah and began a 30-day addiction programme. His publicist explained at the time: 'After recent events, Chris was forced to take a clear look at a problem he has been trying to deal with himself for years. 'He understands now that he cannot beat this disease alone.' His bitter breakup with long-time girlfriend Katie Holmes also attributed to his unhappiness. Klein is now back on track, starring in the fourth American Pie instalment, American Reunion.