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Jeff Garlin opens up about a painful chapter behind his retirement from “The Goldbergs,” and the years it took him to feel like himself again. The 64-year-old comedian revealed that he experienced suicidal thoughts during the uproar surrounding his departure from the ABC sitcom in 2021. Speaking to Ted Danson on Wednesday’s episode of “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” Garlin recalled reaching out to his “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-star Susie Essman during the crisis. His loved ones then helped him find treatment. Now, nearly five years later, the actor says that therapy, support, physical activity and creative work have helped him reach a more meaningful place.
Jeff Garlin reveals he had a ‘nervous breakdown’
Garlin’s conversation with Danson went far beyond his comedy career. During the podcast interview, the actor described a serious mental health crisis around the end of his time playing Murray Goldberg. “I had a nervous breakdown,” the actor told Danson.
Garlin said he was considering taking his own life and called Essman to tell her what was happening. She reached out to people close to him, including his former wife, Marla, and his girlfriend, Sari. His friend Brad Morris also became part of the effort to get help. “He’s one of my best friends,” Garlin said of Morris, explaining that he “looked after me while they were looking for a place to go.”
Garlin sought treatment away from Hollywood
Garlin eventually went to a treatment facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. “I went to Cincinnati because I was bad. I’m not going to rehab in Beverly Hills. F-ck that, man.”
While there, he underwent dialectical behavior therapy, commonly known as DBT, and received treatment for bipolar disorder, which he said went undiagnosed during his time on “The Goldbergs.” The treatment marked the beginning of a longer healing process. Garlin explained that feeling better didn’t happen immediately after leaving the facility.
Garlin later publicly revealed his bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2022, sharing an honest Instagram message about the difficulty of managing it. “Bipolar is a mother-cker. Sometimes it’s too much to deal with. I’m doing the best I can,” he wrote at the time.
He described that post as “the first time I opened up about” his diagnosis.
Departure of ‘The Goldbergs’ after HR Research
Garlin left “The Goldbergs” in December 2021 after playing the family’s patriarch since the series began in 2013. He left after a three-year human resources investigation that reported allegations of his verbal and physical behavior on set. The decision for him to leave was described as mutual between Garlin and Sony Pictures Television.
In an interview with Vanity Fair published before the departure announcement, Garlin acknowledged the repeated HR inquiries. “I have been researched by HR for the past three years. HR has approached me three years in a row to bring me on set.” He also denied that he was shot at that time. “No, I wasn’t fired from ‘The Goldbergs.’ I haven’t been fired since ‘The Goldbergs’.”
Garlin disputed allegations of physical behavior, telling the outlet, “I’ve never gotten physical with anyone, for any reason, until I’m really upset and confused…”
His former co-star Wendi McLendon-Covey later said it was “a long time coming.”
Jeff Garlin says it took years to feel better
For Garlin, recovery involved building a routine with multiple sources of support. “So it took me a while and I started doing AA, dialectical behavior therapy, continued my regular therapy, started boxing, getting myself physically fit, doing creative things that I found interesting, from the book.”
That creative outlet became “Best Seat in the House: Moments No One Asked Me to Capture…But I Did Anyway,” released on September 15.
Even with these changes, Garlin stressed how recently he started feeling really good. “I just now feel really good. Right now. Maybe the book is coming out, but around now, really. It was a dark thing,” he said.
Garlin explains why he is sharing his story now
Garlin said he has reached a point of “content” in his life and wants people to understand that a public image built around humor does not reflect everything someone is getting at. “The point is…for people who do what we do, we become just as dark as you. We have bad days just like you.”
He also thanked family and friends who “have been so supportive.”
Since leaving “The Goldbergs,” Garlin has been busy, including appearances in “Babylon” and “Never Have I Ever,” along with his latest creative projects.
