Jerry O’Connell credits $800 hypnosis session for quitting smoking after 14 years

Jerry O’Connell has revealed he quit smoking 14 years ago following a memorable $800 hypnosis session.

The 52-year-old actor shared the story on a recent episode of the Work in Progress podcast with host Sophia Bush, explaining that nicotine had been a decades-long struggle.

“I struggled with nicotine for decades, had to get hypnotised. I haven’t had a ciggy in like 14 years,” O’Connell said.

His wife, actress Rebecca Romijn, also played a key role in motivating him to quit. “My wife said, ‘I’m not touching you anymore until you quit smoking.’ And I thought it was a joke. Then after two weeks, there was no physical contact. After about three-and-a-half weeks, I realized this was serious. Game on. I had to do something,” he recalled.

The Jerry Maguire star explained that he sought out a hypnotist after a friend recommended one. “I went to see her, and I had to bring a photo of my children and my wife. She put headphones on me, spa music, counted down from ten… and I fell asleep,” he said.

Initially, O’Connell thought he had wasted his money. “I had to pay her $800 cash. I woke up and was like, ‘That was baloney. What a joke. I can’t believe I just gave some old lady $800. What a waste of money,’” he admitted.

But the hypnosis ultimately worked. “I walked to my car, got in it, had a pack of Marlboro Mediums, put a ciggy in my mouth, brought up the lighter—I wanted it so bad. I couldn’t light it. I swear to you. I’ve never been hypnotised for anything else.”