Jimmy Fallon is a world-renowned actor, comedian, writer and television host. He skyrocketed to fame with his role as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. After years on the show, he became a late-night talk show host. In 2025, headlines started circulating about Jimmy Fallon’s mental health. The TV host opened up about a dark time in his life and how his career ambitions took a toll on him.
Jimmy Fallon’s Mental Health: What He’s Shared, Straight From the Source
In June 2025, Jimmy Fallon appeared on The Diary of a CEO podcast. During the episode, he discussed how he moved from New York to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy in his early 20s. Fallon was young and eager but hadn’t yet found fame and success. Reflecting on this period, he remembered just how much his mental health was impacted.
“It wasn’t the greatest, and I’m a pretty positive guy in general, but I think that was probably my lowest [moment],” he said. “I remember like, you know, trying to see what therapy was or if I could afford a therapist.”
Fallon even shared his struggles with friends, saying, “I think I wrote a letter to my best friend, like, ‘I’m losing it dude.’ I think it was something to the point, like, ‘I’m losing it, and I don’t know if I can make it.'”
Without immediate success in his career, his mental health continued to plummet. Unfortunately, he didn’t ease up on himself. Instead, he became hyper-focused on his goals and set extreme internal deadlines.
“I remember saying to myself, ‘If I don’t make it on Saturday Night Live before I’m 25, I’m going to kill myself.’… It’s crazy. I had no other plan. I didn’t have friends, I didn’t have a girlfriend, I didn’t have anything going on. I had my career; that was it.”
Podcast host Steven Bartlett stopped and asked Fallon if he truly felt that way at that time. Would he really have taken things that far? Fallon responded, “Yeah, I did [feel that way], but again, I knew that I was gonna be on Saturday Night Live.”
Luckily, Fallon’s dreams came true. After auditioning twice for SNL, he became a cast member and stayed on the show for 6 years.
A Troubled Past: Alcoholism and Denial?
If you’re a long-time fan of this actor-turned-late-night-host, you likely know about his past. Some say Jimmy Fallon’s drinking is an open secret in Hollywood. While Fallon has never publicly admitted to having a drinking problem or an addiction, many have commented on it.
In 2016, the New York Post published a story stating that NBC executives were concerned about Fallon’s drinking. In 2017, Fallon responded to these allegations, denying them entirely. He stated, “I could never do a day-to-day job if I was drinking every night. That’s just kicking you when you’re down.”
However, that wasn’t the end of the drinking rumors. In 2023, a Rolling Stones exposé came out about current and former staff of Fallon’s sharing concerns about his drinking.
The report stated that two employees recall seeing Fallon drunk at work in 2017. In 2019 and 2020, two more employees said they smelled alcohol on the host’s breath when they used an elevator with him at work. Lastly, eight employees said that Fallon’s behavior and mood at work depended entirely on whether he was hungover or not.
Fallon responded to these criticisms and stories with public apologies. He never admitted to his drinking at work or having an alcohol use disorder, but he promised to instill positive change and improve the culture at his show for his employees. Since then, no new reports have come out about Fallon’s drinking at work.
Why Celebrity Openness Matters in Reducing Stigma
Though Fallon hasn’t spoken about potential drinking, his decision to share his previous mental health issues is commendable. Fallon chose a high-stress career. Acting, comedy and other entertainment careers can be incredibly volatile. Few make it big, and people can spend years trying to catch their break.
In his podcast interview, Fallon has captured just how all-consuming your dreams and success can feel. He highlighted how he tried to seek therapy and reached out to friends during this difficult time. For anyone struggling with mental health issues, these are essential steps to take.
Common Mental Health Challenges in High-Stress Careers
In hearing Fallon’s story, it can be concluded that he likely struggled with anxiety and depression as he tried to develop his career.
He’s not alone in this battle. Some of the most common mental health challenges in high-stress careers are:
- Anxiety. Job-related pressure can cause constant worrying and fears.
- Burnout. A high-stress career often causes individuals to devote excessive time and effort to their jobs, which can lead to burnout — a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion.
- Depression. Dealing with excessive work pressures can lead to depression, causing the person to become extremely sad and disinterested in life.
- PTSD. Individuals in specific jobs where witnessing traumatic incidents is common, such as first responders or soldiers, can develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Substance abuse disorder. Some people cope with their high-stress careers by turning to substances to self-medicate. This is a slippery slope that can lead to addiction, health problems and even overdose.
What We Can Learn From Fallon’s Story
It’s never easy to discuss the difficult times in your life. Jimmy Fallon already has to deal with constant scrutiny as a public figure, so it took courage for him to open up about mental health challenges from his past.
But doing so serves a greater purpose. By opening up, Fallon is helping end some of the stigma that surrounds mental health. When people hear celebrities discuss these critical issues, they feel more encouraged to have conversations about mental health and recovery as well.
More than 1 in 5 American adults lives with a mental health disorder. In 2022, of those who reported having a mental health condition, 50.6% also reported receiving treatment. But that number needs to increase. The stigma around mental health needs to be broken down so people feel comfortable seeking professional help.
Mental Health Treatment at Restore
Don’t spend another day dealing with mental health symptoms overtaking your life. Professional intervention is critical for managing and de-escalating symptoms.
At Restore Mental Health, our compassionate, experienced staff will help you find relief. Contact us today to learn more about our programs.
