Carrot Top, the 61-year-old prop comedian who holds the longest-running comedy residency in Las Vegas history, was hospitalized on Friday, September 18, 2026, at a Las Vegas hospital.
TMZ first reported the news, stating that Thompson was rushed to the hospital following a suicide attempt. His representative, Jami Schlicher, confirmed the hospitalization but did not publicly detail the circumstances that led to it, asking instead for privacy.
As of Sunday, September 20, Schlicher provided an updated statement to Page Six and TMZ: “Scott remains hospitalized and under close medical care. He is now awake, breathing on his own and continuing to improve, surrounded by his family and those closest to him.”
His Friday, Saturday, and Monday performances at the Luxor Hotel and Casino’s Atrium Showroom were canceled. As of Sunday night, his next scheduled performance was Wednesday, September 23, but MGM Resorts, which operates the Luxor, stated it had no further updates on the comedian’s plans to return to the stage. The Carrot Top Las Vegas return timeline remains unclear.
What Has Been Confirmed About Carrot Top’s Condition
Carrot Top’s representative has offered two official statements since the hospitalization. The first, released Friday evening, confirmed that Thompson was recovering and receiving care. The second, released Sunday afternoon, added that he was awake, breathing independently, and improving.
Carrot Top Is Now Awake, Breathing On His Own https://t.co/BMd6UhPCvU
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 20, 2026
Schlicher also shared that humor has remained part of Thompson’s recovery, noting that he has been sharing light moments with the medical staff caring for him. She said messages from fans have been read to the comedian during his hospital stay, including stories from people who described how his comedy helped them through difficult periods.
An MGM Resorts spokesperson released a separate statement calling Thompson a “beloved member of the Luxor and MGM Resorts family” and expressing relief that he is recovering. The company wished him continued strength during his treatment.
No official medical details beyond his breathing status and state of consciousness have been disclosed. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was reported to have responded to Thompson’s Las Vegas home on Friday afternoon before his hospitalization.
Luxor Residency Show Cancellations and Schedule Uncertainty
Thompson’s residency at the Luxor typically runs Monday through Saturday, with Sunday as a dark night. Following his hospitalization, all scheduled shows through Monday, September 21, were pulled from the calendar.
As of this writing, tickets for his Wednesday, September 23, performance remain listed for sale, but neither Thompson’s team nor MGM Resorts has confirmed whether that show will take place. The lack of a definitive return date has left ticket holders and fans in a state of uncertainty.
The Carrot Top Las Vegas return is particularly significant because of how central his residency is to the Luxor’s entertainment identity. Unlike touring acts that rotate through venues, Thompson’s show has been a permanent fixture in the Atrium Showroom for more than two decades. Any extended absence would represent a notable gap in one of the Strip’s most consistent entertainment offerings.
A Career Spanning Four Decades in Comedy
Born Scott Christopher Thompson on February 25, 1965, in Rockledge, Florida, Carrot Top grew up in the nearby town of Cocoa. His father, Larry Thompson, worked as an engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. He earned his nickname from a swimming coach who commented on his bright red hair.
Thompson discovered comedy while attending Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. He began performing at open mic nights and college events in the mid-1980s, quickly realizing that visual and prop-based humor generated the strongest audience responses. He built his first trunk of homemade props during this period.
His breakthrough came in 1991 when he appeared on Rodney Dangerfield’s Young Comedians Special on HBO. The performance earned him a standing ovation and launched a national touring career that would span colleges, comedy clubs, casinos, and theaters across the country.
By the mid-1990s, Thompson was performing in Las Vegas, initially at Bally’s and later at the MGM Grand. In November 2005, he moved into the Atrium Showroom at the Luxor Hotel and Casino, beginning what would become the longest-running comedy residency in Las Vegas. He celebrated his 20th anniversary at the venue in November 2025 with a commemorative show and a special $40 ticket promotion.
In 2023, Thompson signed a contract extension that secured his Luxor residency through 2030. At the time, multiple outlets reported he had become the longest-running comedy headliner in MGM Resorts history. During peak periods, he has performed as many as six nights a week and close to 300 shows per year.
His show, titled Carrot Top Live, typically incorporates more than 2,000 props, along with stand-up material, video segments, musical montages, and audience interaction. Because he continuously creates new material tied to current events and pop culture, regular attendees have noted that no two shows are exactly alike.
Also Read: Tay Keith Cause of Death Revealed, Kratom and Ketamine Toxicity at 29
Film, Television, and Beyond the Luxor Stage
While live performance has always been the foundation of Thompson’s career, he has maintained a presence in film and television as well.
His film credits include “Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!” (1998), “Chairman of the Board” (1998), “Pauly Shore Is Dead” (2003), “The Aristocrats” (2005), and “Sharknado: The 4th Awakens” (2016). “Chairman of the Board” was widely panned and earned him a Razzie Award, though the negative reception did little to slow his live performance career.
He has made cameo appearances in films including “Charlie’s Angels” (2000) and “The Hangover” (2009). On television, his guest appearances include spots on “Glee,” “Family Guy,” and an episode of “Hacks” in 2024. He has appeared on talk shows including “The Tonight Show,” “The Daily Show,” and “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
In May and September 2025, he appeared on the live comedy podcast “Kill Tony,” further connecting with a younger generation of comedy fans.
Thompson has also been recognized locally with multiple Best of Las Vegas reader awards from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, reflecting his consistent audience draw over two decades.
Personal Losses and Difficult Years Leading Up to 2026
Behind the high-energy stage persona, Thompson has experienced a series of personal setbacks in recent years that he has spoken about publicly.
In 2016, his father, Larry Thompson, passed away. 2019, Thompson suffered a serious snowboarding injury that required recovery time.
In January 2022, he lost his close friend and fellow comedian Bob Saget, who died from the effects of head trauma at age 65. Less than two weeks later, comedian Louie Anderson died of blood cancer at age 68. Thompson spoke openly about both losses in separate interviews.
Of Anderson, Thompson said to QRO magazine: “Louie Anderson was like my brother. We had a very close relationship. I went to the hospital, and I was holding his hand the last day he was there, and it was rough.”
Of Saget, he told Metal Magazine that Bob had always been supportive and friendly toward him, even in what Thompson described as a relatively small professional circle.
These losses, stacked across a relatively short period, formed part of the personal backdrop that Thompson carried while continuing to perform hundreds of shows annually at the Luxor.
Ongoing Civil Litigation: What Is Known
Thompson’s hospitalization arrived during a period in which he was also contending with unrelated civil lawsuits.
In August 2026, singer Brian Evans, a former opening act for Thompson’s Luxor show, filed a federal lawsuit in Broward County, Florida, alleging that Thompson had sent him an unsolicited sexually explicit video. The initial federal case was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice and later refiled in Florida state court.
Thompson’s legal team has pushed back against Evans’ claims. His attorneys alleged in a court filing that Evans had demanded $500,000 to resolve the matter and threatened to enter the explicit material into the public court record if the payment was not made. A representative for Thompson pointed to a federal court’s characterization of Evans as a “vexatious litigant” whose filings were described as “serial” and “spurious.”
Separately, on September 14, 2026, a 25-year-old man named Zachary Defazio filed a sworn declaration in support of Evans’ case, alleging that Thompson had engaged in unwanted conduct with him in 2021 in Winter Park, Florida, when Defazio was 19. Defazio’s former attorneys had previously sent a demand letter in June 2025 seeking $7.5 million. These allegations have not been proven in court.
It is important to note that multiple outlets have stated that no connection between the lawsuits and Thompson’s hospitalization has been established or confirmed by any party. Thompson has not been charged with any crime by law enforcement.
MGM Resorts and the Luxor’s Response
MGM Resorts International has operated the Luxor since 2005, the same year Thompson began his residency there. The company’s public response to his hospitalization was measured and supportive.
A spokesperson said: “Scott is a beloved member of the Luxor and MGM Resorts family, and we are relieved to hear that he is recovering.”
The company did not provide additional details about when Thompson’s residency would resume or whether any longer-term schedule adjustments were being considered. As of this writing, dates beyond Monday’s cancellation remain listed on the Luxor’s ticketing platform, though their status could change depending on the comedian’s recovery timeline.
Thompson’s residency represents a unique asset for the Luxor. Unlike high-profile residencies that cycle through the Strip’s major venues every few years, Thompson’s presence has been constant for more than 20 years, making his show synonymous with the property itself.
Fan Reactions and Messages of Support
Since news of Thompson’s hospitalization became public, fans have posted messages of encouragement across his social media accounts and various entertainment news platforms.
His representative noted that many of these messages have been shared directly with Thompson during his hospital stay and that the comedian was particularly moved by stories from fans who credited his comedy with helping them through personal hardships.
Thompson’s decades-long presence in Las Vegas has given him a fan base that extends well beyond typical comedy audiences. Many Las Vegas visitors have attended his show as a staple of their Strip experience, and repeat attendees have formed a loyal following that has sustained his residency across two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Carrot Top hospitalized?
Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was hospitalized in Las Vegas on Friday, September 18, 2026. TMZ reported it as a suicide attempt. His representative confirmed the hospitalization and said he is receiving care and support but did not publicly address the specific circumstances.
Is Carrot Top still in the hospital?
As of Sunday, September 20, 2026, his representative confirmed that Thompson remains hospitalized and under close medical care. He is awake, breathing on his own, and continuing to improve while surrounded by family.
When will Carrot Top return to the Luxor?
The Carrot Top Las Vegas return date has not been confirmed. His Friday, Saturday, and Monday shows were canceled. As of this writing, his next scheduled performance is Wednesday, September 23, but neither his team nor MGM Resorts has confirmed whether that show will go forward.
How long has Carrot Top performed at the Luxor?
Thompson began his residency at the Luxor’s Atrium Showroom on November 22, 2005. He celebrated his 20th anniversary at the venue in November 2025, making it the longest-running comedy residency in Las Vegas history.
What is Carrot Top’s real name?
His legal name is Scott Christopher Thompson. He was born on February 25, 1965, in Rockledge, Florida. His stage name originated from a childhood nickname given by a swimming coach who noticed his red hair.
Has Carrot Top faced personal difficulties before?
Yes. Thompson has spoken publicly about losing his father in 2016, sustaining a serious snowboarding injury in 2019, and grieving the deaths of close friends Bob Saget and Louie Anderson, both of whom died in January 2022.
Also Read: Presley Gerber Final Months Revealed Through Mental Health Posts and Treatment
Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
