Ex-Model Opens Up About Addiction and Homelessness: ‘I’m in a Lot of Pain’

Loni Willison, once a sought-after fitness model gracing the covers of numerous magazines, now finds herself living on the streets, often seen rummaging through dumpsters in California.

The 40-year-old, whose life took a drastic turn after her divorce from Baywatch star Jeremy Jackson, recently spoke candidly about her struggles. According to Loni, her downward spiral began after her tumultuous marriage ended in 2014.

In an interview with X17 Online in May 2023, Loni pointed to her ex-husband as a major factor in her collapse, accusing him of abuse. “My ex-husband. Getting married. At least I got divorced,” she remarked when asked about the cause of her homelessness. “He set everything up to do this to me.”

Loni and Jeremy married in 2012, but their relationship ended two years later, which left Loni grappling with mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety. Her struggles were compounded by addiction to alcohol and crystal meth, ultimately causing her to lose both her career and her home.

Despite receiving offers of help, Loni has turned them down, preferring to maintain her independence. She has been quoted saying, “I don’t need help. I have everything I need.”

Speaking to X17 Online, Loni revealed she is in constant pain, adding that she can’t live indoors due to a strange and intense physical reaction to electricity. “I was electrocuted every day for nearly a year, and now I can’t be near appliances or anything with electricity,” she explained. “I think because I pick up on electricity, I also pick up on chemicals, metals, and other materials. My body filters that stuff.”

She also mentioned the possibility of needing a detailed medical examination to understand the full extent of the issue. “It’s pretty intense,” she said.

In addition to her physical pain, Loni’s appearance has drastically changed. She has lost some of her upper front teeth and often wears worn, dirty clothes as she navigates life on the streets.

Loni’s ex-husband, Jeremy, has faced his own struggles. In 2017, he was sentenced to 270 days in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a stabbing incident in Los Angeles. He has also battled addiction.

As for Loni, life remains a daily challenge. She struggles to make ends meet, relying on a shopping cart to carry the few belongings she still has, including food. The once-beautiful blonde model is now a far cry from her former self, barely recognizable amidst the hardship she endures.

You Won’t Believe How Much Nick Nolte Has Changed Since His Heartthrob Days!

Nick Nolte is now famous for playing tough characters, but back in the 1970s, he was a major sex symbol. At 82 years old today, he looks very different from his heartthrob days.

Nick Nolte on the set of The Deep on November 5,1976 in Hamilton, Bermuda. (Photo by Santi Visalli/Getty Images)

I have a lot of respect for Nick Nolte—he’s truly one of the greatest actors in American cinema history.

I love how his strong facial features, like his square jaw and wild hair, make him look like a powerful character from a Shakespeare play.

His acting is so compelling because of his versatility and the intensity you can see in his eyes. Nick always delivers raw and honest performances, and many people appreciate his skills.

In 1991, Nolte won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama and was also nominated for an Academy Award for his role in *The Prince of Tides*.

Nick Nolte, circa 1978. (Photo by Getty Images)

Nick Nolte’s powerful roles in films like *Affliction* and *Warrior* also earned him Academy Award nominations. However, today, he looks very different from his Golden Globe-winning days.

His reputation took a big hit after his famous messy mug shot in 2002, and his legal troubles and personal scandals didn’t help.

For younger people, it might be hard to believe that Nolte was once seen as the ultimate all-American hero in the 1970s and was even named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.

So how did Nick Nolte become so famous?

Back in high school, Nolte wasn’t much of an actor, according to his football coach. He was a talented football player but was also described as a “skinny, awkward kid with a crew cut.” Nolte himself has said he was very shy and struggled at school. He was later diagnosed with dyslexia.

Nick Nolte, born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 8, 1941, got his big break with the TV miniseries *Rich Man, Poor Man* in 1976. Soon after, he became a famous name and a heartthrob in America.

Before acting, he worked as a model in the 1960s. One of his most famous modeling gigs was with Sigourney Weaver for Clairol’s “Summer Blonde” hair dye campaign in 1972. According to Eighties Kids, this commercial is the only time a man has ever appeared on a box of women’s hair dye.

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Nevertheless, Nolte was virtually unknown when he was cast for Rich Man, Poor Man, though he stole the series as Rudy’s brother Tom. He played the part of Jordache like only a true all-American hero could.

The series changed Nolte’s life completely – he swept ladies off their feet as the quintessential bad boy, Tom. Nolte also had to put a lot of work into his own body. When he starred as a young man in the early scenes of the project, he weighed about 150 pounds.

”I remember the different stages I went through for Rich Man, Poor Man. That was the biggest expanse in age. It went from 16 to 45. Physically, I thought of the weight I was as a sophomore in high school, which was 150 pounds. So I dropped down to that weight and got that boy body back. I ran around that Hollywood reservoir day and night,” Nolte told Insider in 2022.

Wikipedia Commons / ABC Television

After his success with *Rich Man, Poor Man*, Nick Nolte continued to prove himself as a great actor with many strong performances. In 1982, he became a huge star with the hit action-comedy *48 Hrs.*, where he starred with Eddie Murphy.

The movie was groundbreaking in several ways. Nolte said in 2011, “*48 Hrs.* was the first film where a black and a white character criticized each other.” He explained that after the Civil Rights movement, interactions between white and black people were still awkward, and they didn’t know how to communicate with each other.

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In the 1990s, Nick Nolte’s career was at its peak. He earned millions and was one of the most respected actors in the industry.

However, in the 2000s, Nolte’s image shifted. He became known as one of Hollywood’s notorious bad boys. He faced personal issues, went through three divorces, and was arrested multiple times.

The three-time Academy Award nominee went from being called “the sexiest man alive” to being famously pictured in a police mugshot.

Since 2002, Nick has been sober. He has said, “I was at a low point and got slack. I used alcohol to cope with difficult situations—relationships, failed projects—and even as a way to deal with the loneliness and isolation that come with fame.”

Dharon E. Jones and Nick Nolte are seen filming on set of the movie “Rittenhouse” on October 22, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

In recent years, Nick Nolte has mostly taken on smaller supporting roles and looks quite different from his Hollywood star days.

Today, he lives in a treehouse he built himself in Malibu, California, with his wife Clytie Lane.

Nolte enjoys spending time with his children, reading, and being outdoors. He has a son, Brawley Nolte (born 1986), and a daughter, Sophia Lane Nolte (born 2001).

Wikipedia Commons / Alain Zirah

Both of Nick Nolte’s kids have tried acting, and it seemed for a while that they might follow in their father’s footsteps.

Sophia even acted with her dad in the film *Honey in the Head*, playing his granddaughter.

Nolte joked, “She’s like a little grown-up. Sometimes she calls me Grandpa instead of Daddy because her friends’ dads are younger. I’m pushing 80, and my son Brawley is in his 30s. He did some acting but decided it wasn’t for him. He’s now studying to become a doctor,” Nolte told the Saturday Evening Post.

Nick Nolte is seen filming on set of the movie “Rittenhouse” on October 25, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)

Even though many years have passed, Nick Nolte still has that cheeky smile, gorgeous eyes, and charming personality. At 82, he looks great and continues to do what he loves most—acting.

He also has a healthy attitude about getting older. Nolte says, “I don’t regret being old at all. I’m pretty comfortable with it, knowing there’s still one big adventure ahead. It’s a bit spooky, but I accept it. You keep fighting and keep moving until the very end.”

Nick Nolte arrives at the LA Premiere Of Lionsgate’s “Angel Has Fallen” at Regency Village Theatre on August 20, 2019 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic,)

In my opinion, Nick Nolte is often overlooked when people talk about top male actors.

Thank you for all the memories over the years, Nick! You are such a great actor and an articulate, cultured gentleman!

Share this article on Facebook if you also love this man!

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