Dean McDermott Praises Ex Tori Spelling, Girlfriend Lily Calo for Help with His Sobriety: 'Great Support for Me'

Dean McDermott is crediting his ex Tori Spelling and girlfriend Lily Calo for supporting him amid his sobriety journey.

The Canadian actor — who has dealt with alcohol and drug abuse for nearly three decades — recently spoke to Page Six about his ongoing recovery.

“I am clean and sober … I got to a place where I finally surrendered and admitted that I needed help,” the 57-year-old told the outlet, sharing that he “went into treatment and put [his] life back together.”

McDermott explained that Calo, whom he was first spotted out with in October 2023, has been there for him since he began his recovery, which was “not easy.”

“She’s a great support for me … we check in with each other every day and keep each other accountable,” he said. “She just really is a great — great help to me.” 

The Due South alum also praised Spelling for her continued help with his sobriety, despite the couple’s split in June 2023.

“Tori has always been my biggest supporter, my biggest fan,” he told the outlet. “She just wants me to be happy, bottom line, and she’s such an incredible woman that way.” McDermott — who shares kids Beau, 7, Finn, 11, Hattie, 12, Stella, 15, and Liam, 17, with Spelling — added that she is “one of the most generous people” he knows.

“She wants the best for everybody,” he admitted. “Sometimes at the expense of her happiness, which is not good as we know. But that’s the kind of person she is.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Back in November 2023, McDermott spoke to the Daily Mail about spending his summer in rehab. At the time, he revealed that after a 40-day stint in rehab, he had been staying at a sober living home in Los Angeles, called Harmony Place, with eight other recovering alcoholics. He said he hoped his time there would allow him to soon make amends with his family, including Spelling.

"All she’s ever done to this day is want me to be happy and healthy,” he said. “I inflicted a lot of damage and pain on that woman."

“I’m taking accountability for that today and it’s the biggest amends I’m ever going to have to make,” the Chopped Canada host told the outlet, explaining how his addiction impacted his family.

“It ended up with me drinking a fifth of tequila every night, seven days a week, and a handful of narcos [narcotics] by myself with, you know, a beautiful family in the other room.” (A "fifth" refers to a standard 750-milliliter bottle of alcohol — or approximately 16 shots.)

McDermott said, "It's going to be living the rest of my life making amends because I took something that was really beautiful and I just tore it down year after year, day after day." 

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.