Josh Brolin has opened up about the difficult experiences that shaped his childhood and adulthood in his memoir From Under the Truck. He recalls growing up with his brother Jess and describes his mother, Jane, as a strong and unconventional parent. One frightening memory involved her using nearby wild animals to scare the boys into running back to safety. Although the experiences sound terrifying, Brolin says he still deeply loved his mother.

Jane died in a car accident in 1995 at just 55 years old, and her death stayed with Brolin for years. During his struggles with addiction, he once believed that 55 was a long enough life. But after reaching that age himself, he realized how wrong he had been. His stepmother, Barbra Streisand, also offered him some blunt “tough love” when she confronted him about his drinking.

Brolin writes openly about how early his substance use began, saying he tried marijuana at nine and LSD at 13. One experience eventually forced him to reconsider his life: visiting his 99-year-old grandmother on her deathbed while hungover and smelling of alcohol. He realized he wanted to live differently and decided it would be the last time he drank.

More than a decade later, Brolin says he loves being sober and enjoys getting older. His story shows that even people who seem to have everything can face painful struggles—and that it’s never too late to change direction.