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Love Boat Star Reveals Addiction Struggles and Regrets

10/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Lauren Tewes, who played Julie McCoy on The Love Boat, left the show in 1984 due to addiction issues.
In a 1985 interview, she said her first cocaine use occurred after landing the role, describing the initial euphoria.
Fred Grandy, who played Burl 'Gopher' Smith, expressed regret for not supporting Tewes and noted stigma faced by women with addiction in that era.

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Story summary

Lauren Tewes, who played Julie McCoy on The Love Boat, left the show in 1984 due to addiction issues.
In a 1985 interview, she said her first cocaine use occurred after landing the role, describing the initial euphoria.
Fred Grandy, who played Burl 'Gopher' Smith, expressed regret for not supporting Tewes and noted stigma faced by women with addiction in that era.