Arthur Steven Lange was born into a middle-class family in Union, New Jersey, where he spent his formative years developing a keen sense of social class and his place in the world as a barrel-chested Italian boy. His father, a contractor, was a significant influence on Artie's life, and the two spent countless hours working together, which instilled in Artie a strong work ethic and a comical perspective on the world.
After graduating from Union High School, Artie's father suffered a devastating accident, falling off a roof and becoming a quadriplegic. This life-altering event prompted Artie to put his college plans on hold and take on odd jobs to support his family, including stints as a clerk, laborer, and cab driver. Tragically, his father passed away four years later, and Artie quit his job as a longshoreman at the Port of Newark to pursue a career in comedy.
Artie's big break came when he was cast as an original member of Fox's sketch comedy show Mad TV in 1995. However, his success was short-lived, as he struggled with substance abuse and was arrested for cocaine possession. Mad TV fired him in 1997, and Artie spent the next few years struggling to find his footing, battling depression and weight gain.
It wasn't until Norm MacDonald, a comedian and actor, remembered Artie and cast him in his film Dirty Work (1998) and the TV show Norm (1999) that Artie's career began to gain momentum again. He also landed a spot on The Howard Stern Radio Show in 2001, where he brought his impressions and average-guy perspective to the airwaves. However, his troubled past continued to haunt him, and he had numerous public feuds with his colleagues and eventually left the show in 2010 after a suicide attempt.
Artie spent seven months in rehab in Florida, where he finally found sobriety. He returned to radio in 2011, teaming up with his friend Nick DiPaolo to launch a nationally syndicated show called The Nick and Artie Show on Fox Sports. Despite his struggles, Artie remains a beloved figure in the world of comedy, and his story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and redemption.
