Dark Side of Comedy

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

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.

Norm MacDonald becomes known for his fearless comedy, but his controversial persona conceals a gambling problem and a secret that he takes to his grave.

Ellen DeGeneres revolutionized TV with her own brand of positive humor, but behind the scenes, controversy was brewing, one that would tarnish her image.

``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.

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.

Phil Hartman is a beloved ``SNL`` and ``Simpsons`` cast member, but his squeaky clean image is at odds with a toxic marriage that descends into a murder-suicide.

Carlos Mencia was a big comic in America until accusations of joke theft led to his downfall.

Joan Rivers' insults make her a comedy icon, but the pressures of a male-dominated industry leads to eating disorders, self-loathing, and an addiction to plastic surgery.

Sam Kinison revolutionizes comedy with a vulgar, sexist act, but his appetite for cocaine and chaos leads to a downfall at the height of his success.

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

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

A working class Puerto Rican kid, Freddie Prinze explodes onto the comedy scene, but his overnight fame comes to an abrupt end.

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

How comedian Greg Giraldo's career, and life, is sabotaged by a toxic mix of addiction and self-loathing.

Dustin Diamond found fame but when it ended, Dustin was lost, descending into one tragic chapter after another.

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.

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

Roseanne Barr makes a name speaking her mind, but her impulse may cost her her career.

Andrew Dice Clay's controversial brand of comedy found a huge base with white men in America.

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

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

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.

Ellen DeGeneres revolutionized TV with her own brand of positive humor, but behind the scenes, controversy was brewing, one that would tarnish her image.

Joan Rivers' insults make her a comedy icon, but the pressures of a male-dominated industry leads to eating disorders, self-loathing, and an addiction to plastic surgery.

Norm MacDonald becomes known for his fearless comedy, but his controversial persona conceals a gambling problem and a secret that he takes to his grave.

Phil Hartman is a beloved "SNL" and "Simpsons" cast member, but his squeaky clean image is at odds with a toxic marriage that descends into a murder-suicide.

Sam Kinison revolutionizes comedy with a vulgar, sexist act, but his appetite for cocaine and chaos leads to a downfall at the height of his success.

Andrew Dice Clay's controversial brand of comedy found a huge base with white men in America.

Carlos Mencia was a big comic in America until accusations of joke theft led to his downfall.

Dustin Diamond found fame but when it ended, Dustin was lost, descending into one tragic chapter after another.

Roseanne Barr makes a name speaking her mind, but her impulse may cost her her career.

A working class Puerto Rican kid, Freddie Prinze explodes onto the comedy scene, but his overnight fame comes to an abrupt end.

How comedian Greg Giraldo's career, and life, is sabotaged by a toxic mix of addiction and self-loathing.