Tim Allen is reflecting on his troubled past with drugs and alcohol.
The “Last Man Standing” star, who is now almost 23 years sober, served nearly two and a half years in federal prison after being caught in 1978 with more than a pound of cocaine at Michigan’s Kalamazoo / Battle Creek International Airport. The 67-year-old actor pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
“I just shut up and did what I was told,” Allen, who was 23 at the time, recalled his time in prison on Monday’s episode of the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast. “It was the first time that I did what I was told and played… I literally learned to live day to day. And I learned to shut up. You definitely want to learn to shut up. “
After about eight months behind bars, Allen “got used” to being stuck and even had “good times”.
Allen’s problems started after his father was killed by a drunk driver when the star of “Home Improvement” was just 11 years old.
“After my old man died, I really just played with people and told the adults what they wanted to hear and then I stole their drinks,” he shared.
Looking back, Allen said he feels “ashamed” of his actions, due to the way his father died.
“I look back on these things, this is a sober thing, I was so ashamed of the things I did … especially taking people around,” he said. “Coming from a father who was killed that way, it’s hard to get over it.”
He added: “I love my life. I am no longer mentally stable, I have the same problems that I had. Now, I can’t hide from them. “