Artie Lange's Most Outrageous Moments
Feb. 6 2020, Updated 5:47 p.m. ET
Artie Lange’s drug fueled escapades have defined his career. So much so that it begs the question: how is he still alive? The comedian has made more headlines for his outrageous behavior than his actual comedy. While he’s had moments of sobriety, Lange has continued his outlandish behavior. His life is a series of outrageous moments, but which have stood out the most?
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The former Howard Stern sidekick has not been shy about his drug use. He once described his heroin addiction as being cheaper than a divorce. Despite the jokes, Lange’s career has taken a serious hit. From jail to rehab, Lange’s career has been a series of near death experiences and drug binges. Check out the list of his 12 most outrageous moments!
1. Suicide Attempt
In 2010, Artie was rushed to a New Jersey hospital after he was found with nine self inflicted stab wounds. The comedian was found by his mother who called 911. Sadly, this was not his first suicide attempt as he detailed another in his book, Too Fat to Fish.
2. Busted
The comedian’s drug use made headlines in 2017 when he was arrested for possession of heroin and cocaine in his Hoboken home. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Lange was hit with a bench warrant soon after he missed his date in court for his arrest. Unfortunately, things would only get worse from there!
3. A Brush With Death
As if his brush with the law wasn’t scary enough, Lange soon found himself knocking on death’s door in 2017. The comedian was rushed to the hospital when he collapsed after a performance in Chicago. Surprisingly, he survived what he described in graphic detail as a drug induced ordeal in which a “sludge” of cocaine and heroin was removed from his chest.
4. Possible Relapse
Months after his near death experience, Lange shocked fans when he appeared to be bleeding from his nose during an episode of his podcast, The Artie and Anthony Podcast. The comedian joked that he had “snorted glass,” but he later revealed that he had in fact been using drugs as a means to stave off withdrawal.
5. Is That Artie Lange?
Lange’s downward spiral was at its peak in late 2017 when he tweeted a shocking photo of his unrecognizable face. While he found humor in his severely swollen nose, the Hoboken Police did not find it funny as they visited his home after being called by a concerned fan.
6. Back In The Slammer
Lange was already in trouble when he failed to appear in court after his arrest, but his second failure to appear landed him in jail. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he required medical attention as soon as he entered jail. The comedian entered a drug rehab facility in Florida upon his release.
7. Kicked Out Of Rehab
Lange may have avoided jail time, but his troubles would continue. He was kicked out of a Connecticut rehab center after he was caught hiding painkillers. He couldn’t even complete a month in rehab.
8. Twitter Rant
Fans were disturbed by Lange’s behavior during one especially odd Twitter rant in 2018. The former Howard Stern sidekick randomly tweeted obscene messages to President Obama including suggesting that the former president engage in sexual acts with members of the Jenner family. The bizarre rant led fans to believe he may have relapsed.
9. Taken!
Lange’s peculiar nose shocked everyone when it was first seen by the public. The disfigured nose was presumably due to his years of drug abuse, but the comedian revealed that it was all the result of a punch to the nose … after he was kidnapped! He was allegedly kidnapped in 2018 after failing to pay a $62,000 debt to a bookie.
10. Arrested … Again!
11. Dirty Work
Lange avoided jail time yet again, but he didn’t get off so easy. After being sent to an intense court ordered drug program, the comedian was found working as a garbage man in New Jersey as part of the program.
12. Mugshot
Lange’s legal woes continued as he was arrested in May of 2019. A terrifying mugshot of the comedian followed. His already busted nose now looked completely flat, making the comedian virtually unrecognizable.