Actor David Dastmalchian Discusses Addiction at Recovery Rally

David Dastmalchian, know for his acting roles in The Dark Knight and Ant-Man, tells the story of his drug addiction to a crowd of people during a recovery rally at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, Kan.

[@muppetmittstheOG]

I had no idea he was a recovering addict. Dude's a fucking champ.

[@Alex94949]

He’s a superhero!

[@FrenkMelk]

His and my trajectories... same

[@satoshinakamoto7253]

opium is insane though, next level addiction

[@justin9744]

chump*

[@mr.mysteriousyt6118]

@@Alex94949 dont say that, he is a normal person, the people the stay addicted are lower than normal

[@gorgeous.nightmare997]

Dude killed it in Late Night with the Devil

[@yankeeclipper28]

Amazing

[@glennmcqueen9475]

so true

[@rockstar2012r]

Now I see why polka dot man's character in The Suicide Squad felt so real.

[@Loseurillusions]

...because he's a great actor, right? The man just said how family was always there for him. You can't just come to a person open up about addiction and then goes "OH I SEE, GOOD BECAUSE YOU STRUGGLED!", not even if you come up with some freudinian bullshit. Otherwise, you may found youserlf a few hundreds of morons to corroborate you and your stupidity.

[@osmanyousif7849]

He was also in The Dark Knight playing Thomas Schiff, the paranoid schizophrenic who Joker was using.

[@michaelangeloevans2722]

@@Loseurillusions you seem to have entirely missed the point

[@tiktaco4391]

@@Loseurillusions yikes dude, really missed the point huh

[@Itskilo]

And in Prisoners

[@GoonaTVhi]

This dude is an underrated actor, he seems to own every role he gets, even though they are mostly minor roles.

[@brucesnow7125]

@Sam Zano you only need a good face to be a leading actor? Says a lot about Hollywood.

[@lp712]

@@brucesnow7125 it’s also about the viewers. There’s a reason they don’t cast people like him as leads. They are trying to appeal to the masses which means people won’t receive him as a lead as well as someone else with a “Hollywood” face. Its not just Hollywood’s fault…

[@lp712]

@@brucesnow7125 Many people are type casted. Can’t really picture Brad Pitt being a minor role in every film.. he has the look of a lead. It makes sense. It is what it is 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@oof5021]

@@brucesnow7125 It says a lot more about the consumers than the purveyors.

[@bluecollarmenproductions]

@@lp712 steve buscemi changed that narrative

[@barelyprotestant5365]

I'm not struggling with drugs, but I am struggling with depression. This really inspired me.

[@kriswinters4225]

David Dastmalchian is one of the most unique artists out there successfully and bravely advocating for an honest yet humane view of addiction and just as importantly for a humane approach to addressing addiction.

[@kareneastman2071]

Crystal Leticia Canales it is very true.I want to meet David someday. G y

[@scottgraf312]

Not are only is he best "bad guy" on Macgiver, but his story and his life is an inspiration Your friend in recovery one day at a time fro m 1/18/78 to today

[@vitradesk]

Idk why but almost cried reading this comment… I agree

[@vinnievega9843]

@@scottgraf312 you have been clean since I was born…..inspiring

[@kalmykdude]

Ur junkies. U looked at heroin and was like yes please. How u solve the problem, get rid of all you weaklings.

[@elr6212]

What a life story, struggled with addiction and overcame it, then for years he played minor roles in TV and film. Now, he's a leading man in a major superhero movie, and is writing his own comic series, which has always been his dream. Plus, he's got Dune and loads of other movies upcoming.

[@thewalterandryanshow]

He was great in Batman The Long Halloween as calendar man (voice acting). I don’t care if he’s typecasted as the weirdo, he plays the shit out of it.

[@17thknight]

@@thewalterandryanshow I'm excited to see him in Dune, he's going to be playing a very calculating, cunning, dangerous character.

[@wordyballoons]

@@thewalterandryanshow Most actors never make it, they dream of even being typecasted. It means a good and steady paycheck. This guy did that despite his history.

[@ioanbardan5150]

You have no idea what "leading man" means in the context of a movie, do you?

[@elr6212]

@@ioanbardan5150 He's the the lead actor, sure, but I would argue that Polka Dot Man was one of the most heavily advertised characters, who was given a lot of screen time and attention. Probably one of the leading men in the film.

[@elli_x7051]

He's so underrated

[@ooo00OOQ]

Don't worry, he's going up, he's a very good actor (Ant Man, The Dark Knight), I loved him as Polka-Dot Man.

[@PanfluteExpedition_]

@@ooo00OOQ wdym don’t worry

[@richarddiaz1241]

@@PanfluteExpedition_ His status as underrated is changing. With good reason. What a story!

[@reduXstereo]

There is room in the MCU for him maybe he could be The Beyonder.

[@twistycheesestrings9560]

Hes in the mcu mate

[@davidpowers746]

Steve-O needs to get this man on his podcast.

[@EvanSaltare]

That's so perfect that it wasn't obvious to me.

[@THEJoeDub22]

So true! This NEEDS to happen!

[@chrisvalenzuela798]

"So living in Chicago was a real strugg..." "Oh shit Chicago, yo man there was a time Knoxville and I were in Chicago filming some b-roll..."

[@TvirusProduction]

@@chrisvalenzuela798 my thoughts exactly. Bring him on just to talk over him the whole time.

[@GotoMaki4Micah]

i missed him a lot since the dark knight. years later, i saw prisoners and was like hey there's that super cute and handsome guy again.

[@gamepoy5056]

"Is it a crime to shop there? I can't afford suits from Brooks Brothers 😅😅" such a great performance

[@8JFJK8]

Lol referring to him as “cute” in Prisoners made me laugh hahaha. Yeah he is a great actor, ive seen him in a few films but his role in Prisoners is what i mainly recall him from.

[@thewalterandryanshow]

Super cute and handsome 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂OKAY

[@Nathan-zd8ew]

Same, he was the best thing about Dark Knight

[@YggdrasilAudio]

He was also in Blade Runner 2049 as well as the first Ant-Man.

[@ac.slat3r]

He really is a superhero

[@thedukeofchutney468]

Best comment!

[@amhaludke4395]

He's climbing ladders Dark knight:- extra Antman:- background Suicide squad:- supporting I'm sure he's gonna suprise us all one day!

[@ArnoldKeyes]

He got a really major role in Dune

[@chrisvalenzuela798]

Don't demean his roles man! He had speaking roles in Dark Knight and Ant-Man which is what many consider a hard get in Hollywood nowadays.

[@amhaludke4395]

@@chrisvalenzuela798 yes, suicide squad alone is a big big role, he was one of the leads actually

[@highstrangetv]

@@chrisvalenzuela798 always have been a hard get.

[@mrdonutswildride7808]

Fantastic Four - Doctor Doom

[@michaeldejesus56]

his line in Suicide Squad hits different now when he says “I’m a super hero!” 🤧

[@gengarvenom1180]

*Dies*

[@griffinh21]

This is such a power story, serious balls on this dude for sharing all that

[@firstlast542]

And now he's in Dune and was the most memorable likeable character in Suicide Squad. My respect for this man just skyrocketed.

[@archive6094]

He truly is a superhero.

[@geekhero7841]

Cool pfp

[@DarthDimmadome]

I always remember this dude as joker’s henchmen from the Dark Knight. This guy is so much more, what a legend.

[@Hoganply]

You wouldn't even know his story without hearing him tell it. He seems so confident.

[@Plathismo]

Extraordinary. And now look at him--can't wait to see him in 'Dune.' If only Philip Seymour Hoffman had been able to give this kind of talk.

[@chadmarx7718]

woah he's in dune? acting as who?

[@philanthropicnightmare1206]

@@chadmarx7718 Piter De Vries. That film has a fricken golden cast.

[@Palaecro]

He reminds me a lot of PSH, I suppose they both had their demons

[@Plathismo]

@@philanthropicnightmare1206 True dat. You don't see all-star casts much in movies anymore (outside of Marvel ensemble films). I'm just praying part 1 is successful enough to allow part 2 to go forward.

[@Psyfi85]

And River

[@bonulver]

Just rewatched Animals and had no idea David Dastmalchian is in recovery. I hope whoever needs to see this does at the right time for them.

[@redeyepeyton]

I respect this dude more and more every time I see him

[@hawktalon7890]

I had no idea David Dastmalchian also had a tragic backstory. All the more power to him for making it through the hard parts.

[@ragingcanadian8987]

knowing this completely makes the "I hope so" line hit even harder

[@TheEnderBand]

I never knew he had a past of opiate addiction I have a lot more respect for him now

[@j0nnyism]

So many actors have this problem but they choose to hide it because of shame

[@countrybootsgirl]

David is a true hero been following him for a decade. He's a true Hollywood legend! 🖤

[@juliotaraz7922]

By the grace of God, this man gets to tell us his story to warn us and inform us. Thank you David Dastmalchian. Your speech has touched my heart.

[@henrysmiley5878]

I appreciate David's honesty, courage, and strength. I'm so glad he's still with us and being the brilliant actor he is today.

[@rocko.ambition4342]

I'm glad to see that David was able to pick himself up and persevere through his hardships. I lost my dad to addiction and those years were tough. The first step to recovery is being able to admit that you have a problem which seems like the easiest but is hard for many to admit/self reflect. Thank you to David for his bravery to share his personal journey from addiction to hopefully help others lead their way into recovery.

[@j0nnyism]

Yea it must be hard for families of addicted people. Addicts need to hit rock bottom to recover and that can take years

[@eddieb1995]

Never in my life have I actually watched through a whole video of someone speaking on KZbin.

[@richardyasushiii3848]

Dastmalchian is one of the best character actors working today - incredibly eloquent about something that's really difficult to admit and live with.

[@kdbrown777]

Please give this guy more roles - super talented and underrated actor. I feel like he's about to blow up.

[@devinmichaelroberts9954]

Before I became a professional artist i had the same story. Heroin addict by 19 years old.. and my lowest was the same low. Walking in Seattle while homeless and coming so close to ripping a womans purse off. I didnt actually do it but just the fact the thought went through my mind was the bottom i needed to hit for me to start the road to getting clean. Fast forward 18 years later and I have over 12 years off drugs and during that time built a succesful career in the arts.

[@atomiclena128]

I'm so glad you built yourself up again! Super inspiring!!

[@crisfilms8165]

He's a superhero

[@JCody-pt3th]

My respect for David just shot through the roof. This is what using your influence for good looks like.

[@carmenalexandradelcoro2566]

I'm so proud of him! I'm so so happy he's getting his own film!

[@WaldoBagelTopper]

It’s good to see him breaking out of that “guy from that one movie” pattern. I used to remember him as “that one psycho dude from batman”. He was great in antman too. I liked him as Abra Kadabra in The Flash.

[@tetsuoshima7385]

He’s great in new suicide squad film too.

[@Daniwasinvented]

He was in Gotham also. The leader of the Joker supporters

[@THEJoeDub22]

He played an even creepier character in Prisoners. If you haven't seen him in that yet, just wait til you do... unreal.

[@GotoMaki4Micah]

he's also in csi cyber, the ep family secrets, also in almost human, ep simons says. i really love him in the hulu series reprisal

[@lamborgini86]

hes been on everything ! truly amazing actor

[@Frikcha]

The level of humility it takes to get up and say this in front of a crowd is already unbelievable but to do so working in a profession where popularity and "the people's choice" often take first consideration.... wow.

[@Premiumjack_]

Most underrated actor. I hope I start to see him in bigger roles, he definitely has the acting ability. I have more respect for him knowing he overcame a heroin addiction

[@MonkeyDBatman]

He's literally poka dot man that's a pretty big role

[@Premiumjack_]

@@MonkeyDBatman Sorry dickhead. Meant to say I hope I see him in more big roles. That’s like his first one

[@suspencefool4548]

@@Premiumjack_ every role he is in is big to me honestly

[@MonkeyDBatman]

@@Premiumjack_ Lmao why you so mad

[@kennypowers1945]

@@MonkeyDBatman for real lol he too mad

[@blahblahhbrook]

This is one of those rare videos that hitting a Like button just doesn't cut it. I loved every second of this. The sheer amount of honesty displayed here is nothing short of inspiring. I always found him to be quite likeable in interviews. And I always had an admiration for this guy's talent. But now I admire the man himself.

[@TheeJasonReyes]

To believe this man was not only in The Dark Knight and Antman,but is also POLKA DOT MAN in THE SUICIDE SQUAD???This man deserve every award!

[@THEJoeDub22]

Check out Prisoners with Hugh Jackman if you haven't seen it because while his part is small, he does an absolutely incredible job with what he's given.

[@Chewychaca]

You could type cast him in your mind, but remember a lot of your favorite actors have suffered from substance abuse, but dont talk about it as publicly as he does. Good for him for being an advocate.

[@Svgarcanna]

God, I just adore him. He's so incredibly intelligent and articulate.

[@haazeMAX]

No idea why this was in my recommendeds. Maybe the most powerful testimony about abuse I've ever heard.

[@Nomadnetic3]

Powerful, and surprisingly honest. That takes a lot of bravery to talk about your low points like that.

[@Anonymous18531]

What a story of pain, vulnerability, compassion, and sympathy! These are important to hear. Polka Dot Man. He’s a superhero 🥲

[@TheDeconstructivist]

This was pretty powerful. So much respect for people who are willing to be vulnerable so that others can draw strength from them.

[@sierraking4312]

He his not only a great actor he needs to play in more movies and shows. And he is such a brave guy. I amire him so much.

[@brookwhiteman9810]

i dont think people realise how unbelievably hard it is to recover from that level of low and then going on to being a successful actor is something that really is amazing and lets put acting aside and this person in particular and realise that anyone who has full recovered after being so low has amazing heart

[@mikekasabion]

Made me love David even more than I already did! So happy when he pops up in Villeneuve’s films, and Suicide Squad was awesome. I’m happy that movie put him on a lot more peoples radar!

[@j0nnyism]

Wow. A terrifying story. He’s lucky he’s alive to tell it.

[@DistantEarlyWarning]

I can't wait to see him as Piter de Vries in Dune. He's such a wonderful actor and human being.

[@mohammedhanif6780]

yeah it's going to be tough seeing him pull off a truly evil character

[@GotoMaki4Micah]

@@mohammedhanif6780 it will be so much fun too see. in macgyver as murdoc, he played the psychopath well but no one was afraid of him and because it was only a cbs show, they didn't deep dive into his head wasn't part of the plot. they alluded to it a lot but never showed it. kinda wish dune had an r rating so he could swing for the fences.

[@nonovalentine2437]

he's such an amazing person, i'm proud to be a fan of this guy.

[@lukisnootis5708]

a brilliant character actor

[@thurst4bludgaming529]

Man...I really felt that

[@cashfortin]

what an underrated actor. hope he gets more roles. love him and what he stands. didn't know he was an addict tell now. and Im happy for him and his recovery

[@jimbeam2299]

One of my new favorite actors. I love this guy. Such a good actor and real human.

[@333puggles333]

He's a really good speaker holy shit.

[@N.E.U.R.O]

He can play almost any type of character it's cool, very underrated actor, interesting face that should be in more movies. NEVER GIVE UP!

[@uncomfortablesunsets4532]

happy this was reccomend to me, didn’t know bro was a recovering addict

[@bcm-n7244]

Respect .... this man is like a Phoenix !

[@isaaclopez-eb6yg]

Thank you for posting this I'm in a struggle of my own relapsing constantly and it makes me feel like shit cause of all the opportunities to do better and I keep doing the wrong thing. Hearing his story and understanding that the rode to recovery for many is truly not a upward moving line but a zig zag line with inevitable stumbles. I also get afraid of being alone and becoming independent because my fear of fucking up again. This has demonstrated to me that the fear is real but with time put in I can make things work for me like they used to do before the drugs, but with effort and time.

[@conorhale1269]

Everyone fails, quite often; most people just try and hide it really well. You have every right to go out and fail, again and again, until you succeed in a way that makes you happy and healthy. No one can truly judge you, and your worthy of being alive, as much as everyone else. Be brave; the world’s not a quarter as scary as your worst anxieties. You deserve to have a life that makes you proud, and smile, with nothing taken from you by addiction. You’re worthy of love, happiness, and your greatest dreams, not clouded by fear or worry.

[@ghettodove]

I've been there dude. Of course in a way I will always be in the struggle, but I am totaly sober for a while now. My little bit of advice, for what it's worth: Don't get too mad at yourself when you relapse, that feeling doesn't help, just get up the next day and say 'here's a new day and another great chance to do good and be good to myself'. Also, and this probably obvious, get some support, maybe AA/NA (although that wasn't for me), maybe a therapist, if only so that you can monitor what's going on, keep track, chart a path and hopefully deal with the deeper issues that lead us to addiction.

[@chadperezguitar]

Praying for you! I hope you find peace and hope everyday.

[@chrisd997]

He was the only actor apart from the protagonists in dark knight that in a few minutes he stole the saw . Criminally underrated actor . Looking forward seeing him to more complex characters in the future

[@BadBoiFilms]

He was chillingly good in Prisoners

[@e1ay3dme12]

I never drank in my life or took drugs and for a 3 month period fell into darkness, got into the most trouble I've ever gotten fueled by alcohol. It can happen.

[@TheGoodMMADog]

I really like this guy. I really enjoy his roles in film, but this right here makes me like him beyond that.

[@probablystoned]

I had somewhere to go, but sat here and watched this whole thing. I appreciate David a whole lot more now.

[@lefroy1]

The least 'celebrity' celebrity speech I've ever heard. Zero bs.

[@videovoidtv]

god bless the polkadot man. you’re a superhero. thank you for sharing this.

[@emberducati9237]

Just saw Suicide Squad and I had no idea who this actor was. I’m glad that I got to hear this speech.

[@elizabethp2395]

I just love him.

[@Palaecro]

That's wild, I always had a sense he was suffering or really know it inside and you could see it through his acting. Glad to hear he's better!

[@GotoMaki4Micah]

i know acting is acting and they pretend and express emotions all the time but with him its different, when he plays sadness or desperation is so palpable so real. he must draw from awful experiences to make his performance great. sometimes i compare it to the performances of other actors even along side him. in the flash, the flash was begging david's character abra kadabra to tell him the identity of the man who will kill his girlfriend in the future and his eyes where dry. if it where david, he wouldve really made us ache for him.

[@jaimevalencia6271]

He really is a super hero

[@GalaxyStudi0s]

This was…. Wow. I’m so glad David Dastmalchian has recovered. My heart broke listening to this. Despite not being able to experience what he felt, I can imagine how horrible that must be. While I’m glad, extremely happy, he’s grown and recovering from this addiction, this was so raw and truthful and I applaud him for his bravery to tell his story infront of a crowd. That part about the officers who took him to an alley and beat him, ouch. My stomach genuinely felt pain hearing and imagining that. I would also like to thank that one Officer who screamed out where the Drugs were infront of him. Many officers would’ve just arrested him and not really have fixed the problem, and I thank this officer for thinking outside the box and making a change that way. I could say a lot about this, and lord knows I’d really want to, but I’d just be restating everything said here with comments. I just want to thank David for this, I want to tell him we love him, he has purpose in this life, and want to congratulate him. ⚪️⚫️🔴

[@randallflagg3700]

I'm sure that second cop meant well, but he really put Mr Dastmalchian in danger for making him look like a snitch... I know, that was the point; but even if he never scored at that place again, he was still living in the streets, vulnerable, and word travels fast. Glad it turned out alright in the end.

[@destine1547]

God I love this guy. There’s something I really connect with him on; which I assume that to be his raw humanity❤️

[@bperry573]

I never knew that his actor was In Recovery… I am just starting to appreciate his work. I too am in recovery This makes it even more official… I’m a fan🤷‍♂️

[@Merlinthehappypig]

i remember when i first saw this guy on the dark knight many years ago. I thought he was brilliant. its rare i admire an actor so much so quickly, especially when its only a minor character that only has a few minutes of screen time. I thought he was so talented i sent David a tweet saying how much i admired his performance. He replied with a really pleasant thank you tweet.

[@ScrumPMC]

I remember when he was in The Dark Knight. He did great. We all have our vices and he really hit close to home with his story.

[@professorpyg505]

You are a Motherfucking Superhero!

[@romanumeralz]

I am compelled to check out this guy’s filmography, after this. Respect ✊🏽

[@loki-of-asgard7877]

Something about his face and the way he speaks reminds me of a young Jim Caviezel

[@jonathancrass1253]

Wow. Incredible. As a person in recovery with three beautiful children, it is a baffling and crafty disease. Higher Power willing, I’ll have three years in November. Sometimes it does feel like a struggle and I’m spinning my tires (or going backwards, even), most of the time I feel like I have no clue what the fuck I am doing. But, I can honestly say that my worst days in sobriety seem pretty inconsequential by comparison to the literal hell I had put myself in daily during my active addiction. I could really relate to the part he said about feeling like it would be better for everyone else if he just killed himself. I used to think of that often. I feared that I couldn’t change and was convinced it would be best for those who cared about me if they didn’t have to worry about me anymore. Of course, it would hurt in the short term, but I likened it to removing a band-aid in my head. I wish the world were a kinder place.

[@Nevouti.x]

As someone who is a recovered addict from molly, I can definitely relate and also really appreciate him talking about it, there is still tons of stigma and it’s nice seeing someone using their platform to connect and help others, much love to him

[@MarvinMonroe]

I'm sorry but MDMA has zero withdrawal except for maybe little boredom

[@sceanlyonz4571]

Thanks for sharing David!! and on continued success and sobriety!

[@michaelbonhomme3219]

CRAZY how often Hollywood's artists have a history of addiction, dyslexia, and other distinct/overlapping difficulties. Its almost alien to go through the industry unscathed

[@soldierflex5841]

He’s a fucking super hero

[@heyiaintcheap9950]

“IM A FUCKIN SUPERHERO!!” Yes, yes you are

[@nectarineuroticism]

Love David so much.

[@kiriakoz]

There’s probably thousands of people who have stories like this but kudos to this guy for using his fame to promote it effectively.

[@jawoody9745]

An amazing man, as well as an amazing actor in some incredible films.

[@ndhickson3599]

My respect for this man just got cranked to 11

[@kevinwhelan2339]

Major respect for this guy

[@RealBono]

While his role in The Dark Knight was minor it was always one of my favorites because of how well he did in a movie no one was sure was gonna work. Always loved the scene when he gets grabbed by Harvey at the shooting

[@johnjacobespiritu3681]

This dude is in The Dark Knight 2008

[@Jamesadamiak]

Protect this man!

[@TheBeag]

People who think you can just stop doing drugs by choice have never been through it

[@WilliamJames48]

Love this guy. Thank you

[@zuka3250]

Idk why this is in my recommendation but I can’t get the joker scene outta my head seeing him on a stand like that

[@themoviecritic1092]

He's a superhero...

[@RumbleFish69]

I like this guy very much! When I saw him in the Dark Knight many years ago, I had a feeling he was going to grow into a great and well-known character actor. His performance in the Dark Knight, though a small and a short-played part, was very powerful. It was clear back then that this man had superior acting chops! Hopefully, we'll see him in far bigger, and non-comic book, roles. I'm also happy to see that he has conquered his demons!

[@JustDonny]

He's such a fantastic actor but I never knew he had dealt with this. Just makes him even better.