Shia Labeouf is one of the main stars connected with the Transformers franchise, one of which can be seen on Channel 4 this afternoon (Sunday, August 28). Away from the big screen, LaBeouf has publicly battled alcohol and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How is the star’s health now?

Having started out his career in Disney’s Even Stevens, LaBeouf reportedly struggled through a tough childhood which later caused problems in his adulthood. “We didn’t have nothing. So I would steal Pokemon video games and Tamagotchis,” the actor shared, talking about his childhood.

Along with stealing, LaBeouf’s father reportedly gave him drugs at an extremely young age. He said: “[My dad] gave me my first joint when I was probably 11 or 12.” Continuing to star in numerous films as a young actor, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it was not long before LaBeouf also turned to alcohol.

Speaking publicly about his rocky relationship with alcohol, the actor said: “Part of it was posturing. I never knew how to drink. I never liked to drink, but I knew you had to drink. It was a weird postmodern fascination with the f***-ups.

“I got a Napoleonic complex. I start drinking and I feel smaller than I am, and I get louder than I should. It’s just not for me, dude.”

In addition to drinking, the actor was also involved in numerous run-ins with the law. One of the most notable was in 2008 when LaBeouf was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles.

The actor’s hand was crushed by a car that ran a red light and when police at the scene smelled alcohol on LaBeouf’s breath, they asked him to take a breathalyser test; the actor refused.

After the incident he was arrested for misdemeanour drunk driving and his driver’s licence was suspended for one year.

There were another three separate incidents where LaBeouf was arrested for being drunk and disorderly in public and after the third, in 2017, LaBeouf’s lawyer insisted that he is not an alcoholic because he doesn’t have an urge to drink, but cannot stop when he does choose to drink.

It was after this that the star was recommended to get professional help.

Having attended regular Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, LaBeouf managed to get his career back on track. In a throwback interview LaBeouf said: “Alcohol, or any of that, will send you haywire. I can’t f*** with none of it. I’ve got to keep my head low.”

The star also managed to continue making movies, despite battling his personal demons. Acknowledging his past antics, which has led him to his current career, the star said: “I don’t think I’d be working with the directors I’ve been working with if I had not f***ed up a bit.

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