Dark Side of Comedy

Artie Lange enjoys mainstream success as a comedian, but his addiction to heroin, coupled with childhood traumas, threatens to thwart his ambition and life.

Brett Butler had money, success and respect; how the fiercely original stand-up and sitcom star gained everything only to lose it all.

Struggling with addiction and a low self-image, Chris Farley's friends at ``Saturday Night Live`` conspired to help save him.

``Family Matters`` is a wholesome sitcom of the 90s, but the success of the show led to issues for many cast members who still deal with trauma and addiction.

Gilda Radner was ``SNL``'s first female star; but her pioneering success was plagued by trauma, eating disorders, heartbreak and cancer, all of which she turned into comedy material.

How Maria Bamford channels her mental illness into comedy, and encourages others to do the same.

Richard Pryor confronts America with brutal honesty, but while he fights for a voice on stage, he is losing his own battle to drugs and family trauma.

Robin Williams' suicide shocked the world; while he was a successful comedian, he struggled privately with crushing health and psychological issues.

Tracy Morgan survived drug-dealing, hyper-competitive ``SNL,`` and substance abuse, but a brutal car accident and two-week coma made him finally confront his childhood demons.