Dwayne Johnson Reflects on Losing 15 Friends to Addiction and Suicide Over 20 Years

Dwayne Johnson during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Dwayne Johnson’s latest film, The Smashing Machine, is dedicated to friends who have battled addiction and depression.
• “Over the past two decades, I lost exactly 15 friends to addiction and suicide who just couldn’t handle the pressure,” he shared with Variety.
• The former wrestler has openly discussed his own struggles with depression and his mother’s attempted suicide.

Dwayne Johnson has announced that his new film, The Smashing Machine, carries a significant message dedicated to friends affected by addiction and depression.

In an interview with Variety on December 18, Johnson, 53, elaborated on the film’s inspiration. The story centers around UFC icon Mark Kerr (played by Johnson) and his then-wife, Dawn Staples (portrayed by Emily Blunt), as he navigates a tumultuous personal life while achieving success in the wrestling and mixed martial arts worlds.

“Over the past two decades, I lost exactly 15 friends to addiction and suicide who just couldn’t handle the pressure,” Johnson told Variety.

He described the film as a “love letter” to both those who have triumphed and those who have not. “In a way, The Smashing Machine is a love letter to the men and women who struggle,” he explained. “So Smashing Machine became more of a film, so that’s the thing.”

Johnson has been candid about his personal experiences with mental health issues, which have included the trauma of witnessing his mother, Ata Johnson, attempt suicide when he was 15. She walked into oncoming traffic on a Nashville highway. He has also spoken about his own struggles with depression.

In a 2018 social media post, he advised people to “help ‘em through it, get ‘em talking about the struggle and remind ‘em that they’re not alone,” reflecting on the importance of support during tough times.

Johnson previously recounted the traumatic experience of his mother’s suicide attempt during an appearance on OWN’s Oprah’s Master Class in 2015. He also detailed his own battle with depression following setbacks in his athletic career after failing to make it into the NFL and being cut from the Canadian Football League.

At that time, he remarked, “I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.” He noted the critical role of having someone to provide support, especially during difficult moments.

Dwayne Johnson in January 2025.
Credit: John Nacion/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty

In a video shared on Instagram on World Mental Health Day 2024, Johnson emphasized the importance of checking in with friends who may be struggling with mental health issues.

“Everybody is fighting demons and a lot of people keep it in,” he noted. “So when I check in with my friends, I don’t ask, ‘Hey what’s wrong?’ I say, ‘How’s your heart? How are you feeling?’ You’d be surprised what that means to people.”

He concluded with a reminder reflecting on his own experiences: “I know what it’s like to struggle with mental health. I’ve been there.” He referred to those difficult times as bouts of “mental hellness” and urged everyone to remain vigilant in supporting loved ones.