Comedian and actor Andy Dick has officially concluded his six-week rehabilitation programme, having reluctantly entered the Harlow Gardens residential treatment centre in Palm Springs, California, on December 12. The 60-year-old performer, who experienced a public overdose on December 9, was able to attend the facility thanks to a full-ride scholarship arranged through his long-term sober friend, Jennifer Gimenez, and her husband, Tim Ryan.
Transition to Sober Living
According to reports from TMZ, Dick has now moved to a sober living facility located near Beverly Hills. This marks another chapter in his extensive history with rehabilitation, having reportedly attended over 20 treatment programmes and faced arrest on 10 separate occasions throughout his career.
Reunion with Sober Companions
Over the weekend, the actor, best known for his role in The Ben Stiller Show, was spotted reuniting with his IRL streaming friend Alexander Bailey, also known as Billy John Oh. Bailey proudly announced that he and their mutual friend, Keats Burnett, are now sober bros, indicating a supportive network for Dick. The group, which included Australian IRL streamer Tazo, was seen smiling and socialising outside a Whole Foods grocery store.
Sources close to the situation have revealed that the Second City alumnus is currently taking things one day at a time and maintaining a strong focus on his sobriety journey. This cautious approach follows a highly publicised incident nearly seven weeks ago, when Bailey filmed Dick slumped over on a curb in Hollywood during broad daylight. The comedian was unresponsive after reportedly smoking crack cocaine with a male stranger.
The Overdose Incident
In the aftermath of the overdose, Dick explained to TMZ that his curiosity led him to try the substance, stating, I wanted to see what he was doing. And also, I don't mind doing a little crack every now and then. Paramedics and the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the scene, administering multiple doses of Narcan nasal spray, which suggested the possible involvement of an opiate. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Dick was neither arrested nor hospitalised.
Family Hopes and Personal History
There is hope within Dick's family that he can remain clean and sober until May, when his daughter, Meg Dick, is scheduled to welcome her first child—a daughter—with her boyfriend, Branden Donovan. Dick is a grandfather of two and fathered three children during his four-year marriage to Ivone Kowalczyk, which ended in 1990. He also reportedly has stepchildren from a previous relationship with ex-girlfriend Lena Sved.
Career and Future Projects
Andy Dick's career breakthrough came through his friendship with Ben Stiller, who cast him in numerous projects, including Fox sketch show The Ben Stiller Show, Reality Bites, The Cable Guy, Permanent Midnight, Zoolander and Zoolander 2. His extensive filmography also features roles in Fox's Get Smart (1995), NBC's NewsRadio (1995–1999), Inspector Gadget (1999), MTV's The Andy Dick Show (2001), Old School (2003), ABC's Less than Perfect (2002-2006), MTV's The Assistant (2004) and Employee of the Month (2006).
Looking ahead, Dick is set to portray an unscrupulous therapist named Dr. Yohannson in the upcoming addiction film A Comedy Of Errors, directed by Noel Leon and Mickey Gooch Jr. Additionally, a documentary about his life, titled The Sad Little Angel Clown (Who That Cries), is currently in production under the direction of his friend Adam Carbone, also known as Snaff Zubberano.
As Andy Dick continues his path towards recovery, the entertainment industry and his supporters watch closely, hoping for a sustained period of health and stability for the troubled comedian.
