Comedian Carrot Top is breathing on his own and sharing jokes with hospital staff days after a reported suicide attempt forced the cancellation of his long-running Las Vegas residency shows, a residency that ranks as the second longest in Vegas history.
Scott Thompson, the 61-year-old prop comic known by his stage name Carrot Top, was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital Friday after what multiple outlets described as an attempted suicide. His publicist, Jami Schlicher, confirmed to USA TODAY on Monday, September 21, that Thompson is awake, breathing independently, and continuing to improve while surrounded by family.
Schlicher did not address what led to the hospitalization. Local Las Vegas outlets reported the reason remains officially undisclosed, and no public police statement has been released. TMZ first broke the news Friday and the following day published images showing several police cars parked outside Thompson's Las Vegas home.
Thompson's Friday and Saturday performances at the Luxor Las Vegas Hotel and Casino were canceled immediately after his hospitalization, Fox News reported. His Sunday night show was also scrapped. Thompson has headlined at the Luxor since 2005, and his contract runs through 2030.
That residency is the second longest-running show in Las Vegas history, behind only Wayne Newton's, Breitbart noted. Thompson rose to fame in the 1990s with his signature red hair, prop-heavy comedy, and high-energy stage shows. For two decades, his Luxor act has been a fixture on the Strip, a run almost unheard of in an entertainment market that burns through headliners.
An MGM Resorts spokesperson acknowledged Thompson's importance to the company.
"Scott is a beloved member of the Luxor and MGM Resorts family, and we are relieved to hear that he is recovering."
Schlicher's Monday statement painted a cautiously hopeful picture. Thompson remains hospitalized and under close medical care, she said, but his personality has not dimmed. She told USA TODAY that humor remains central to who Thompson is, even from a hospital bed:
"Humor has always been such an important part of who Scott is and how he connects with people, and that remains true today as he shares moments of humor with the medical staff caring for him."
Schlicher added that fans have been sending messages, some sharing stories about how Thompson's comedy helped them through difficult stretches in their own lives. Those stories, she said, have meant a great deal to him during recovery.
The New York Post reported that Thompson was rushed to the hospital after the attempted suicide, and that his representative's initial statement asked for privacy. That request was repeated Monday, with Schlicher saying Thompson and his family "remain deeply grateful for the extraordinary kindness and continue to ask that his privacy be respected."
No official police report has been made public. The specific hospital treating Thompson has not been named. And no one close to the comedian has disclosed the circumstances that led to the incident. Whether Thompson's Luxor residency will resume, and on what timeline, remains unclear.
For now, the facts are limited to what Schlicher has shared: a 61-year-old entertainer who has made people laugh for more than three decades is awake, improving, and still cracking jokes. That is worth something, and it is enough for the moment.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
