Jerry O’Connell is opening up about the ultimatum that finally forced him to kick a decades-long smoking habit—and it came straight from his wife.
During a recent appearance on the Work In Progress podcast with Sophia Bush, the 51-year-old actor revealed that Rebecca Romijn made it crystal clear she wasn’t sticking around the habit. According to O’Connell, Romijn told him she would not “touch” him if he continued smoking—and she meant it.
At first, he admitted he thought she was joking. But when weeks went by with “no physical contact,” reality hit. “After about three and a half weeks, I was like, I gotta do something,” he shared, recalling the moment he realized the situation was serious.
O’Connell said he had struggled with nicotine for years and initially tried to quit on his own, without success. Eventually, he turned to hypnosis after a friend recommended a hypnotist who had helped them quit. He brought a photo of Romijn and their children to the appointment and, somewhat skeptically, gave it a shot.
The Stand By Me actor said he remembers sitting in a recliner, listening to calming music through headphones as the hypnotist guided him to relax. He ended up falling asleep during the session—and remarkably, he says he hasn’t had a cigarette in about 14 years since.
O’Connell also reflected on another crossroads moment in his life. During a career slowdown in 2009, he briefly enrolled in Southwestern Law School, unsure if acting would continue to sustain him. Ultimately, Hollywood came calling again, and he returned to the industry—this time smoke-free and with a renewed perspective.
