Home / Arts and Entertainment / Bill & Ted Star Alex Winter Overcomes Childhood Abuse, Finds Redemption in Directing
Bill & Ted Star Alex Winter Overcomes Childhood Abuse, Finds Redemption in Directing
8 Nov
Summary
- Alex Winter left Hollywood in his 20s to escape public eye after abuse, burnout
- Suffered sexual abuse as a child actor, struggled with PTSD for years
- Now focuses on directing work, says his career is where he wants it to be
In a recent interview, Bill & Ted star Alex Winter, now 60 years old, has revealed how his decision to temporarily leave Hollywood in his 20s helped him overcome the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and burnout from his acting career.
Winter started his career on Broadway at the age of 10, starring in plays like The King and I and Peter Pan. However, during this time, he also suffered sexual abuse from an unnamed adult, which he says had a "hellish" impact on him for many years. By his mid-20s, Winter felt he was "holding those different selves together with duct tape" and needed to escape the public eye.
He left Los Angeles for New York and then London, opting to focus on work behind the camera instead of in front of it. "I just wanted to get the hell out of the public eye, and just be on the tube, going to my office in Soho and start a family," he told The Guardian. Now, Winter says his career is where he wants it to be, and he would not have been okay had he not made that decision to split from the spotlight.
Winter has been open about the abuse he suffered as a child, stating that he didn't feel safe or comfortable with the constant attention on him. He has also spoken candidly about the PTSD and fractured sense of self he experienced as a result. By stepping away from Hollywood, Winter was able to rebuild his life and find fulfillment in his work as a director.
