Key Highlights
- Howard Stern’s former co-host Artie Lange has been spotted for the first time in five years with a brand-new nose after completely disappearing from the spotlight.
- Lange, who struggled with drug abuse, shared his recovery journey and the impact of drugs on his health, including his broken, collapsed nose.
- Artie Lange performed at The Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Jersey and posed alongside fellow comedians Jeff Ross, Dave Juskow, Rachel Feinstein, Amanda Gail, and Stacey Lange.
Rising from the Ashes: Artie Lange Returns to the Limelight
Artie Lange, Howard Stern’s former co-host, has made a stunning comeback after five years in obscurity. Lange, who had admitted to struggling with drug abuse for years, is now sober and has been spotted enjoying the spotlight once again.
A Year of Sobriety
In January 2020, Artie shared on his podcast NSFW that he was clean for an entire year. “I’m one year clean today. No deep thoughts to share. Just #gratitude,” Lange proudly stated. However, it wasn’t long before he stopped posting new episodes of his podcast and dropped off social media entirely.
From the Shadows: A New Look
During his time away from the public eye, Artie underwent significant changes. He fixed his broken, collapsed nose, a condition he attributed to years of drug abuse. In an interview on NSFW in January 2019, Lange opened up about his deformed nose and blamed it on his addiction: “The reason I have this nose is, of course, the abuse. I have no septum.” He also mentioned an alleged kidnapping that occurred 11 months prior to the interview, which he believed was a result of his drug use.
A Long Road to Recovery
Lange’s journey to sobriety has been long and challenging. After hosting on The Howard Stern Show from 2001 until 2009, he suffered numerous setbacks. In March 2017, he was arrested for having heroin, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia both in his vehicle and on his person.
In July of the same year, Artie was rushed to the hospital for emergency chest surgery after collapsing during a stand-up performance in Chicago.
After leaving rehab in September 2019, where he had been sober for seven months, Lange continued his recovery journey. His long-time manager Tommy Nicchi praised his accomplishment: “Artie deserves one-hundred percent of the credit. I’m proud of him.” Artie credited a jail sentence with helping him finally get clean: “The best thing about jail for a drug addict is, it actually locks you away from the drugs for a little while.”
A Return to Comedy
Artie Lange’s return was marked by a performance at The Stress Factory Comedy Club in New Jersey on November 21, 2018. He posed alongside several other famous faces, including Jeff Ross, Dave Juskow, Rachel Feinstein, Amanda Gail, and his sister Stacey Lange. This event symbolized not only his physical transformation but also a renewed passion for comedy.
“I’m one year clean today,” Artie shared on social media in 2020. “No deep thoughts to share.
Just #gratitude.” His comeback is a testament to the power of sobriety and the resilience of the human spirit. Lange’s story serves as an inspiration for those struggling with addiction and highlights the importance of support systems and recovery.
Artie Lange’s return to the spotlight after five years is a remarkable turnaround, showcasing his journey from drug abuse to sobriety and a new lease on life. His appearance at The Stress Factory Comedy Club was not just a performance but a powerful statement of hope and determination.
