Artie Lange
Artie Lange – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
A revealing look at Artie Lange’s life: from New Jersey beginnings to Mad TV, Howard Stern, and battles with addiction. Explore his career, struggles, wisdom, and memorable quotes.
Introduction
Artie Lange is an American comedian, actor, radio personality, and author whose life reads like a dark comedy with doses of tragic drama. Born October 11, 1967, Lange became famous through his work on Mad TV and as a sidekick and contributor on The Howard Stern Show. His raw honesty, self-deprecating humor, and unfiltered insight into addiction and resilience have made him a compelling public figure. To many, he’s more than just a comedian — he’s a voice reminding us that behind the laughter, real pain often lies, and that survival can be an act of courage.
Early Life and Family
Arthur Steven “Artie” Lange Jr. was born in Livingston, New Jersey, and grew up in Union Township, New Jersey.
“I’m very resilient. The only thing I’m missing right now are abs.”
“I got into comedy so I could stay out all night.”
“Whiskey will always be a part of my life.”
“When I was a kid, I was into The New York Jets. And then I got into girls as I got older … then I got back into the Jets because I’d realized there’s times when the girl won’t fk you, but the Jets will always fk you.”
“Of course in show business there are two ways to play it and I am not politically correct so I am not going to get endorsements or anything like that.”
“A weekend in Vegas without gambling and drinking is just like being a born-again Christian.”
These quotes reveal a man who confronts his flaws openly — sometimes with gallows humor, sometimes with quiet sadness.
Lessons from Artie Lange
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Vulnerability can be powerful. Lange’s willingness to share his darkest moments — from relapse to suicidal thoughts — gives depth to his comedy and helps audiences feel less alone.
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Talent alone is not enough. His story underscores that addiction, mental health, and discipline are as central to sustaining a career as skill or charisma.
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Recovery is ongoing. Lange’s relapses remind us that recovery is rarely linear; it demands constant vigilance and resilience.
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Humor as catharsis. Comedy offers a lens to reframe suffering — not to trivialize it, but to survive it. Lange models how laughter and truth can coexist in pain.
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Rise, fall, and rise again. His repeated comebacks show that impact isn’t just in unbroken success — sometimes it’s in return, reparation, and reinvention.
Conclusion
Artie Lange’s life is not a neat success story — it’s a raw, messy saga of talent, addiction, public exposure, collapse, and partial recovery. His work reminds us that laughter and sorrow often live side by side. His legacy is not just in his roles on Mad TV or in books, but in the honesty with which he confronted his demons.
If you want to dive deeper, read his memoirs (Too Fat to Fish, Crash and Burn, Wanna Bet?) or listen to his podcasts — they’re windows into the mind of someone still trying to piece together a life from fragments, using humor as both weapon and shield.