Tracy Morgan showcases remarkable resilience: An analysis of his journey
Tracy Morgan, the comedian with a tumultuous past, found himself in a tricky situation during a NBA game. Last Monday, the actor seemed to fall unwell during the third quarter of the contest between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. Social media footage captured Morgan being wheeled away from the game in a wheelchair. CNN has reached out to Morgan's representatives for comment.
The limelight hasn't always been kind to Morgan, who's no stranger to health issues and difficult times.
From the Projects to the Stage
Life was far from rosy for Morgan, who, according to him, grew up right across from The Marcy Projects in New York City. Back then, drugs, crime, and poverty were rampant. During a podcast last year, Morgan spoke about dealing with "survivor's guilt" because of his success compared to those he knew growing up.
"You know why I don't really listen to hip hop like that? Or deal with the streets like that," Morgan admitted. "That's where the trauma happened. My friends went to jail forever. Some of them died. I was traumatized. It's hard."
He credited his father and his uncle Mike for his comedic skills. His father, who served in Vietnam, entertained the family with stand-up comedy, while Uncle Mike served as a source of humor despite his stinky feet and penchant for making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at 2 a.m.
The High School Dropout
Morgan openly discussed leaving high school a few credits shy of graduating to help support his family. In a 2010 Q&A with the New York Post, when asked about regretting any gigs, he responded, "Yeah, college. Because if I went, I might have ended up at some crappy job. I'm glad I dropped out of high school, man. I wouldn't be where I'm at."
Health Woes and Alcohol Addiction
The same year, the comedian underwent a kidney transplant due to diabetes complications. He has been open about his battles with alcohol, which contributed to his health problems. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine in 2010, he discussed his alter ego, "Chico Divine," who loved drinking and jiggling his belly for the ladies.
"I love Chico," Morgan said at the time. "He is the coolest dude, he would never hurt anybody. Chico never shot at the cops. Chico never fought. The most Chico ever did was throw up in Club Suede."
However, Chico could also cause trouble, earning Morgan multiple DUIs by 2007. The ankle bracelet he was forced to wear to monitor his alcohol intake embarrassed him, especially in the eyes of his oldest son. The bracelet even caused a wound that refused to heal, nearly leading to Morgan having his foot amputated.
Despite his battles, Morgan claims to have been sober for decades.
The Crash of 2014
One of the most high-profile tragedies in Morgan's life was a 2014 multi-vehicle crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. A limousine bus he was traveling in collided with a Walmart truck, resulting in the death of his dear friend and mentor, James "Jimmy Mac" McNair, who was 62. Morgan himself spent weeks in a coma and needed months to learn to walk again.
During rehabilitation, he simultaneously watched his then 14-month-old daughter learn to walk, an experience he turned into comedy in his 2017 Netflix special "Staying Alive."
"That's magic," he said of sharing that experience with his toddler.
Morgan has mastered transforming the worst into something worth laughing about.
[1] https://www.espn.com/entertainment/story/_/id/34791351/tracy-morgan-affectionately-called-knicks-mascot-spike-lee-shares-photo-falling-out-seat-nba-playoffs[2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/28/entertainment/tracy-morgan-illness-knicks-game/index.html[3] https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/04/tracy-morgan-says-food-poisoning-led-to-wheelchair-medical-scare-during-knicks-game
- Despite his ongoing health issues and the trauma of his past, Tracy Morgan continues to find humor and entertainment in the toughest situations, as depicted in his 2017 Netflix special, "Staying Alive."
- Morgan's battles with alcohol and its impact on his health have been well-documented, leading to multiple DUIs and a near-amputation, but he claims to have been sober for decades now.
- Morgan's journey from the crime-ridden projects of New York City to becoming a successful comedian, despite dropping out of high school, is a testament to his resilience and the power of entertainment to uplift, even in the face of adversity.
