Jeff Garlin discusses mental health crisis and suicide attempt

Actor Jeff Garlin has revealed that he experienced a severe mental health crisis and planned to take his own life following his departure from the ABC sitcom ‘The Goldbergs’ in 2021. Speaking on SiriusXM’s ‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name,’ Garlin described a nervous breakdown tied to his struggles with bipolar disorder and tensions on set.

Garlin explained that his exit from the show was precipitated by a dispute over an unannounced product placement for Pizza Hut. Although he eventually returned to the series under a negotiated arrangement involving a significant raise and a reduced one-day-a-week schedule, he noted that the deal caused resentment among his castmates.

During the crisis, Garlin sent a message to his ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ co-star Susie Essman, stating his intention to die by noon that day. Essman alerted Garlin’s ex-wife, Marla, and his girlfriend, Sari Tracht, who worked with his friend Brad Morris to secure him placement in a treatment facility.