Michael O’Keefe, now 71, opened up about the behind‑the‑scenes culture of the classic 1980 comedy Caddyshack. In a recent interview with Page Six, the actor disclosed that cocaine was not only present on set but was also listed as a “miscellaneous item” in the film’s budget.

Drug use treated as commonplace

O’Keefe described the era, saying, “It was the 70s. People were just treating it like it was toothpaste, and you had to do it twice a day to stay healthy.” He recalled using cocaine before shooting certain scenes and admitted that watching those scenes now is “not my favorite memory.”

Turning point after the film

The actor said the experience on Caddyshack was the last time he used cocaine. “I realized that it was a terrible thing to get involved with, and like so many things in the drug world, it looked like fun, but in reality, it wasn’t,” he explained.

O’Keefe also cited the death of co‑writer and producer Doug Kenney as a major wake‑up call. Kenney died in 1980 after falling from a cliff in Hawaii, an event O’Keefe described as “a huge wake‑up call” that reinforced his decision to step away from drugs.

Career highlights

Before his role as Danny Noonan in Caddyshack, O’Keefe earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Great Santini. He later appeared in films such as Ironweed and Frozen River, and most recently starred in the Apple TV series Your Friends & Neighbors as Ron Cooper, the father of Jon Hamm’s character.

Reflecting on his legacy, O’Keefe said, “[He was] one of the most affable, intelligent, funny people in the world… was strung out on cocaine, got depressed, and committed suicide. It was truly a result of drug addiction, and that was a huge wake‑up call.”

O’Keefe also shared a personal anecdote about a wardrobe designer whose family would watch Caddyshack together during a loved one’s illness, underscoring how the film continues to touch audiences.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.