Darrell Hammond Reveals He Drank Heavily, Used Crack While At SNL

by Alex Alvarez | 9:32 am, October 24th, 2011

» 15 comments

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Darrell Hammond (perhaps best known for his portrayals of Bill Clinton, Chris Matthews, Donald Trump and a particularly devious version of Sean Connery) reveals in his new memoir that he drank heavily and smoked crack while at the show.

In God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m F*cked, Hammond writes that he kept “a pint of Remy” at his desk at the show, and reveals that “when drinking didn’t work, I cut myself.” The actor says he has trying to cope with a traumatic childhood.

In 1998, he was taken from the show “in a straitjacket” after being sent to the NBC infirmary. In 2002, he added cocaine to the mix, admitting that “I’d started adding an obscene amount of cocaine to my binges … I had to be creative about how I did it without other people catching on or letting it interfere with the work. At least too much.” Given this is probably something of an impossible goal, Hammond kept using, eventually ending up at a crack house.

Back in 1997, the actor provided some idea of the magnitude of his problems during an interview with Loveline when he shared that, during his time entertaining cruise ship travelers in the 80s, he consumed about 16 shots of rum during a stop on the Bahamas. Then, according to Wikipedia, he “claimed that a man repeatedly pestered him throughout the evening to take a dollar bill with trace amounts of cocaine on it. When the comedian left the bar to use the restroom, the man followed him into the stall and told him, ‘I think you should take this with you.’” Hammond says he took the bill, fearing he’d be mugged if he didn’t, and was later arrested in what turned out to be a routine setup performed by local authorities on tourists.

Hammond shares that he is now clean, continuing to work and says he doesn’t have “anything bad to say” about anyone at the show.

h/t NY Post

crack, Darrell Hammond, drugs, memoir, SNL

Anonymous

That’s his problem, he should deal with it, with his family. Don’t understand the need to share it with everyone.
Rick Patel

No surprise there. The whole SNL gang always appear to be a bunch of drunk, drugged-out stumble-bums.
Anonymous

Shocker!
Mia

oh my god.. no waaaayyyy. Why is what this guy did ages ago news today?
http://www.facebook.com/tony.westover Tony Westover

Considering how and why Chris Farley died, I don’t find this the least bit surprising and I think it’s pretty well known that SNL back then was one big fucked-up drug den. But I’m glad that Darrell Hammond was able to come out of it alive and clean himself up.
ROTZ

Must be why he was so good at imitating Chris Matthews – you have got to be wasted to do that slobbering
nut case.
Reasonable

The reason why Mr. Hammond shares his story, is to give his experience, strength, and hope to others who are struggling with addiction (whether they know it or not). The only way he can keep what he has (sobriety), is by giving it back. I respect his courage, and wish him well in his continued recovery.
http://www.facebook.com/TheStilettoBlog Victoria Knox

Who is San Connery?
Indigo710

Do wish Rush Limbaugh well too?
Anonymous

Could be a prooff ediotor at meiaite.
lazzzlo

Is it that hard to be creative?

Seriously.
Anonymous

Do you think we didn’t notice your addictions, you idiot? That is what is so exasperating about addicts. Their ego tells them no one ever noticed their behavior was pretty stupid and probably due to drugs and alcohol.
Stephen Pyle

in what ways did you notice this?
Stephen Pyle

Hammond’s Clinton and Gore impersonations are two of my all time favorites!
Pappy Odaniels

You guys are idiots. He had drug abuse and cutting problems because his mother subjected him to systematic and lengthy torture abuse. Stabbings, electrocutions, beatings, etc. Have some sympathy you clowns.