Mackenzie Phillips shared insights into the abrupt end of her tenure on the sitcom One Day at a Time during an appearance at Fanboy Expo Knoxville in Tennessee. Known for her role as Julie Cooper alongside Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli, Phillips discussed the specific ‘morals clause’ in her contract. This clause contributed significantly to her departure from the popular series.
Phillips, now 66, explained that her struggles with addiction led to additional contract provisions. These provisions included the right for producers to request a urinalysis if they suspected her of substance abuse. She revealed that this clause came into effect during a lunch break when she was found asleep on a couch by co-executive producer Patricia Fass Palmer.
“We all had a morals contract, but mine was a little more specific,” Phillips said during the event.
Palmer insisted on taking Phillips to a doctor for testing, swiftly dismissing the actress’s request for more time. Phillips recounted Palmer’s final words: ‘Grab your stuff and get it together. Get all your stuff. And leave.’ This marked Phillips’s permanent exit from the show in 1983, although she had been initially written off in 1980.
Phillips continued discussing her experiences in recent interviews, sharing candid memories of substance use during breaks, notably with Bertinelli. Phillips noted their shared practice of drinking wine and using cocaine during lunch breaks. Despite these admissions, Phillips pointed out that Bertinelli’s experiences with addiction differed from her own.
Reflecting on past events, Phillips emphasized resilience and faith as central elements that keep her grounded today. While some express pity for her life experiences, she feels they have shaped her positively.
“Someone was just saying, ‘Oh my God, I feel so sorry for everything you went through,’” Phillips recalled. “And I was like, ‘Don’t feel sorry for me because everything I went through, even though it was horrible and difficult, made me the woman I am today.’”
Phillips expressed appreciation for her journey, stating it taught her resilience. Her life story, including challenges faced as the daughter of John Phillips, co-founder of The Mamas & the Papas, is chronicled in her memoirs. In addition to her acting career, Phillips has worked in addiction recovery, serving as a counselor and manager.