‘American Pie’ actor Chris Klein says he had such a terrible problem with alcohol ... it nearly killed him.

TMZ broke the story ... Klein was arrested in 2010 for driving on an L.A. freeway with an EXTREMELY high blood-alcohol level ... and checked into rehab shortly after the bust.

Now, Klein is telling People.com ... if he didn't get help, "I would have died, and I think about that every single day.”

Klein says his drinking "got to the point where I was a fragile shadow of the young man that came into this business. Today, I'm the luckiest guy alive”

Chris Klein just pled no contest to one count of DUI and was sentenced to 96 hours in jail ... after apologizing for what he did.


We got this pic of Klein at the courthouse this AM in connection with his June bust on an L.A. freeway where he was driving with a .24 -- three times over the legal limit.  He was driving at 3:00 AM with his dog in the vehicle.

Klein was sentenced to the minimum for a second DUI offender -- 96 hours in jail ... time he has already served. He could have received up to 1 year in jail, but the judge recognized he had taken steps to get better by checking into a rehab clinic where he stayed for two months.

Klein, who was in court with Blair Berk -- who seems to handle 90% of celebrity cases.  The judge also imposed 4 years probation and required Klein to drive a car with an alcohol interlock device.  And he must attend an alcohol ed program.

Klein said to the judge, "I apologize for my wrongdoing and I really appreciate the court giving me the opportunity to prove how seriously I took all of this."

The L.A. City Attorney has just charged "American Pie" actor Chris Klein with two misdemeanor counts of DUI stemming from his June 16 arrest ... and TMZ has learned his blood alcohol level was THREE TIMES the legal limit.



Officials tell us Klein was charged with one count of DUI with a prior ... and one count of driving with a .08 blood alcohol level or higher. And boy was he higher ...

Law enforcement sources tell us Klein took two breathalyzer tests on the morning he was arrested ... registering a .22 and a .24. The latter is THREE TIMES the legal limit.

If convicted, Klein faces a mandatory minimum of 96 hours in county jail -- but could be sentenced to serve up to one year behind bars.  He could also be ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus some serious penalties.

As we first reported, Klein was arrested on June 16 when a CHP officer noticed his car swerving on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles at 3:13 AM ... with his dog in the car.

Klein has since checked into a rehab clinic in Utah.

TMZ has confirmed actor Chris Klein has checked into rehab ... less than a week after his DUI arrest.

As TMZ first reported, Klein was busted on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles ... with a blood alcohol level of more than .20, nearly three times the legal limit.

According to the Celebrity DUI Defense Handbook, Klein had to check into rehab within one week of his arrest in order to qualify for Really Focused on Getting Help status.

Klein has yet to be charged, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Klein's rep just released a statement saying, "After recent events, Chris was forced to take a clear look at a problem he has been trying to deal with himself for years."

The rep adds, "He understands now that he can not beat this disease alone. He thanks everyone for their support as he takes all the necessary steps to deal with his addiction and asks for privacy while doing so."

Klein was spotted at the airport this morning, flying from LA to Utah, heading to a rehab facility.

Chris Klein has just walked out of the LAPD jail in Van Nuys where he was held following a DUI arrest early this morning.



We're told Klein was released on his own recognizance, but the guy walking with him is bail bondsman David Perez -- who ante'd up Lindsay Lohan's bail last week.

As TMZ first reported, Klein was popped around 3 AM. Law enforcement sources tell us his B.A.C. was three times the legal limit ... and that his dog was in the vehicle.

An animal rights group is unleashing on Chris Klein over his DUI arrest this morning -- claiming nobody should ever drive around wasted ... especially when a pet is on board.



TMZ spoke with a rep for the group "In Defense of Animals" -- who tells us, "By choosing to drive under the influence with his dog in the car, Chris not only put innocent drivers in danger, but broke a promise to be a protector and guardian to his pet."

As we previously reported, Klein was arrested in L.A. this morning -- law enforcement sources tell us his blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.

Chris Klein wasn't just drunk when he was popped for DUI early this morning, according to law enforcement sources ... his blood alcohol level was almost THREE TIMES the legal limit.



We're told Klein blew well over a .20 when he was arrested on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles this morning -- his second DUI bust in the last 6 years.  The legal limit in California is .08.

As we previously reported, Klein wasn't the only passenger in his car -- cops found a dog inside the vehicle.  The dog was later retrieved by a friend of Klein's.

Klein's reps have not returned our calls.

UPDATE: Klein's bail has been set at $25,000

Chris Klein could be headed to the slammer in the wake of this morning's DUI arrest -- all because the "American Pie" star has a history of driving drunk.



Klein was arrested and convicted of DUI back in 2004 -- and because of that prior arrest, California law requires that he serve a minimum 4 days in jail if he's convicted of DUI again.

But that's not all -- there's a new law going into effect in July -- which would apply to Klein if he's found guilty after that date  -- that requires multiple DUI offenders to have an "ignition interlock system" installed in their vehicle if they wish to drive.

The system is essentially a breathalyzer test that's synced up to the car -- and if he ain't sober, the car won't start.

TMZ has also learned Klein wasn't alone when he was popped early this morning -- there was a dog in his car that a friend retrieved after he was busted.

TMZ has learned Chris Klein -- who played Oz in "American Pie" -- was arrested early this morning on suspicion of DUI.



Law enforcement sources tell us a CHP officer stopped Klein on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles at 3:13AM.

31-year-old Klein was arrested after failing a field sobriety test, we're told.  

According to the police report, Klein was "observed weaving from the #3 lane into the #2 and #4 lane westbound US 101 at Woodman Ave."

The report notes that Klein did not resist the arrest. 

UPDATE: Sources tell us Klein's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of .08.