Artie Lange can be heard daily on the nationally syndicated The Howard Stern Radio Show. He joined the cast in 2001, bringing impressions and an average guy prospective to the radio and E network shows. Arthur Steven Lange grew up a child of a middle class family in Union, New Jersey. At Union High School, Lange excelled in baseball, becoming an All County third baseman. Working long afternoons with his loving contractor father, Artie developed a comical view of social classes, and his place in life as a barrel chested Italian boy. After Artie completed high school, his father fell off a roof and became a quadriplegic. Artie changed his college plans to be near his family, taking up odd jobs as a clerk, labourer and cab driver. After his fathers' death four years later, Artie gave up his Port of Newark longshoreman's' job to play his first gig at New York's Improv in Hell's Kitchen. Gaining steadying success Artie pursued sketch comedy, helping to create the popular improvisation group, "Live On Tape". Doing improvisation landed Artie his major break. He was cast as an original member of Fox's Mad TV in 1995. Hollywood success would bring down the comic with substance abuse and a possession for cocaine arrest. Mad TV fired him in 1997. After rehab, depression and a 40-pound weight gain, Lange found himself out of work until SNL 25 comedian Norm MacDonald remembered him. Lange played MacDonald's sidekick in both Dirty Work and ABC's Norm. As a guest during a promotional tour with MacDonald, Howard Stern first heard and liked Lange. Years before, Artie and his father listened daily to the Howard Stern Show.
Joined The Howard Stern Radio Show in 2001, replacing Jackie Martling. Avid fan of the New York Yankees. Was an All-County baseball player, as a third baseman for Union High School in Union, New Jersey Has become one of the favorite members of The Howard Stern Show during his now two-year stint as Jackie Martling's replacement. His indulgences in food and alcohol provide almost daily comic fodder for the rest of the Howard Stern cast. There are few foods high in calories, fat, carbohydrates, salt or sugar that Artie doesn't eat in excess and his drunken exploits are legendary. Mr. Lange maintains a good sense of humour about his shortcomings, and enjoys his role as comic foil on the show. [August 21, 2003] The results of a DNA test taken on the Howard Stern Show, show that Lange is 1/4 American Indian. He is Neapolitan Italian on his mother's side, but his father's full heritage has always been a "grey area". He had only previously known of his German ancestry on that side of his family. At Howard Stern's official bulletin board, there are more members with user names created in his honour than any other regular on the show, including Stern himself. Among those named after the comedian are Artie Lange dead at 37, Artie Lange's Liver, Artie's Dead Dad and Filthy Drunk Artie. Is of Italian, German and American Indian descent. Had a small role in Jerry Maguire but his scene was deleted. Claims he has seen The Godfather so many times that he can recite lines from the movie. Favorite drink is Jack Daniels and water. Likes to drink beverages using a straw, even when taking shots of liquor.