Carrot Top has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home with family after a suicide attempt that left the longtime Las Vegas headliner in critical condition for nearly a week.
The 61-year-old comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, is “doing well” after spending several days under medical care following the Sept. 18 incident at his Las Vegas home, Page Six reported. People first carried the hospital-release update.
Thompson was found unconscious near the pool in his backyard after his manager called police for a welfare check. The manager had spoken with him by phone shortly before, when Thompson voiced concern about an article set to be published, then received a one-word text and got no further response.
He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. By Sept. 20, his rep said he was awake, breathing on his own, and continuing to improve while surrounded by family.
Jami Schlicher told Page Six on Sept. 20 that Thompson remained hospitalized at that point under close medical care but was sharing moments of humor with staff.
“Scott remains hospitalized and under close medical care. He is now awake, breathing on his own and continuing to improve, surrounded by his family and those closest to him,” Schlicher said.
She added that fan messages had been shared with him, including stories from people who said his comedy helped them through hard stretches in their own lives. “Hearing those stories and feeling that support has meant a great deal to him during his recovery,” Schlicher said. Thompson and his family were earlier described as deeply grateful for the kindness shown and asked for privacy.
Stories of people in crisis who needed help before tragedy struck have drawn national attention in other cases, including when a mother was described as begging for help before a fatal breakdown.
The hospitalization came amid a contentious legal battle with musician Brian Evans, who previously opened for Thompson’s Luxor show. In a Sept. 3 court filing, Thompson’s attorney Ronnie Bitman alleged Evans threatened to publicly file a sexually explicit video of the comedian unless he was paid $500,000.
Evans denied the claim to Page Six. He said he “never threatened, ever, to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement,” and said the video had been “deleted a long time ago” under a previous settlement. Thompson’s attorneys later referenced the suicide attempt in court filings while seeking protective relief. No final outcome of that dispute is detailed in the available reporting.
When mental health crises collide with the legal system, courts sometimes shift cases into treatment tracks rather than standard criminal tracks, as when a California judge sent an armed man to mental health court after a high-profile arrest.
Thompson has headlined at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas since 2005. That residency has been on hiatus since the hospitalization. TMZ reported Friday that he canceled shows for the next three weeks.
Page Six previously obtained a police report summarizing the welfare check and the discovery near the pool. The method of the attempt is not detailed in the main account beyond the fact he was found unconscious and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
High-profile mental health emergencies keep forcing hard questions about how systems respond when someone is in danger, a theme also running through coverage of mental health system failures laid bare in court.
For anyone in crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-TALK (8255), and the Crisis Text Line is 741741.
A famous stage act can look airtight from the seats. The private pressure behind it is often anything but.