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Celebrity

17 Historic Comedian Arrest Photos That Fans and Ex-Fans Can’t Forget

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Left: A man in handcuffs is being escorted by police officers at night. Right: A man with a mustache holds a mugshot board from the Kalamazoo, Michigan Sheriff's Department.

Comedy often thrives on testing limits, but not every boundary crossed stays within the realm of punchlines. Away from the stage, plenty of famous comics have had their share of run-ins with the law. What might begin as a wild night out, a lapse in judgment, or something far more serious has, for some, ended under harsh police lights with a camera capturing the moment forever.

These arrest photos have become part of comedy history in their own way. For fans, they can be shocking reminders that even beloved entertainers carry flaws. For others, they’re cautionary tales that show how quickly a career can take a turn. Whether scandalous or simply reckless, these images remain etched in the memory of audiences who once laughed with them. Let’s dive into 17 comedian arrest photos.

1. Katt Williams

A man with short, dark hair and a thin mustache, wearing a yellow collared shirt, looks directly at the camera against a plain, light-colored background.
captwillard024/via reddit.com

Katt was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and has had other legal issues over the years as well.

2. Andy Dick being arrested outside of his trailer

Two images side by side: on the left, three law enforcement officers approach a person near an RV; on the right, officers detain someone on the ground near trees and a vehicle.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

3. Hannibal Burress

A police officer speaks closely to a man standing against a police vehicle at night. Emergency lights flash in the background, and a bench and tree are visible nearby.

Burress was arrested in Miami for disorderly intoxication after a heated argument with police.

4. Charleston White

Mugshot photo of a middle-aged man smiling, labeled as Charleston White. The image includes arrest information, charges of Driving While Intoxicated and Unlicensed Carrying Weapon, with bond amounts listed.
withdrawalsfrommusic/via reddit.com

Charleston White has a lengthy legal record with substance abuse. This mugshot quickly became a widely known meme.

5. Faizon Love

Three men in a courtroom: one in a suit and tie, one in a beige prison uniform, and one in a police officer's uniform with a badge, standing and talking to each other.
spring45/via reddit.com

Faizon Love was arrested in 2017 on a misdemeanor assault charge after a heated altercation in an airport in Ohio.

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6. Joey Diaz

A man stands in front of a height chart holding a sign that reads "ALLENVILLE PENITENTIARY COBIANCO 7566376," appearing to have his mugshot taken.
chokevic/via youtube.com

Joey Diaz was arrested for robbery and a plethora of other charges as well. He served time in prison and used the experience as material in his stand-up.

7. George Carlin

A bearded man in a denim outfit is being escorted by four uniformed police officers at night. The man is barefoot and has his hands cuffed in front of him.
feiruzz/via reddit.com

Carlin was arrested for violating Wisconsin’s obscenity laws after performing his routine “Seven words you can never say on television” in 1972.

8. Tim Allen

A man with brown hair and a mustache holds a sign reading "Sheriff's Dept. Kalamazoo, Mich." with an identification number, posing for a mugshot against a plain background.
inside_bluebird9987/via reddit.com

In 1978, Tim Allen was arrested at the Battle Creek International Airport for possession of narcotics and intent to sell.

9. Bill Cosby

An older man in a suit and patterned tie stands outdoors, flanked by uniformed police officers. The background is blurred, drawing focus to the man and officers.
princessbananas85/via reddit.com

Cosby was arrested and charged in 2015 in the Andrea Constand case, and was booked and photographed during the criminal proceedings.

10. Artie Lange

A middle-aged man with messy, graying hair and a scruffy beard looks at the camera with a neutral expression. He is wearing a dark hoodie and the background is a plain, neutral-colored wall.
don_majik_juan/via reddit.com

Lange was arrested in 2017 on drug possession charges and later arrested on related probation violations.

11. Hugh Grant

A man with tousled dark hair wearing a striped shirt stands behind a booking board displaying numbers and "Los Angeles Police" with a date of 06-27-95. He looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
imagesofnetword/via reddit.com

Hugh Grant was arrested and charged in 1995 for lewd conduct.

12. Pee Wee Herman

Mugshot of a man with long brown hair and a goatee, wearing a white shirt, shown from the front and side. The sign reads "Sarasota County Sheriff's Department.
sh1fty3yedd0g/via reddit.com

Paul Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure at a movie theater in 1991.

13. Steve-O

A young man with short dark hair and a serious expression wears a red shirt and holds a METRO DADE CORRECTIONS sign with numbers, standing for a mugshot as someone gloved holds the sign in front of him.
based_maku/via reddit.com

Steve-O was arrested for multiple publicized arrests for stunts, disorderly conduct, and drug-related incidents over the years.

14. Woody Harrelson

A young man with short blond hair wears a striped polo shirt and holds a police booking sign reading "Columbus Ohio PD, Franklin County SO," with numbers and dates below. He stands against a plain white background.
act1989/via reddit.com

Woody Harrelson was arrested in 1982 for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after being found dancing in the street. In other words, he was arrested for dancing in the street.

15. Robert Downey Jr.

A man in a red shirt stands in front of a height chart, smiling and holding a black sign with letters and numbers on it, including the name "DOWNEY" and the date "8 25 99".
str33twise84/via reddit.com

Robert Downey Jr. was arrested for possession of illegal substances multiple times between 1996 and 2001.

16. Vince Vaughn

A black-and-white mugshot showing a man with curly hair. The left image is a front-facing view, while the right image shows his side profile. He is wearing a dark shirt over a white t-shirt.
userdeleted/via reddit.com

Vince Vaughn was arrested for driving under the influence, but was only charged for reckless driving after pleading no contest.

17. Shia LaBeouf

A man with a beard
userdeleted/via reddit.com

Shia was arrested in 2015 for public intoxication in Austin, Texas.

Want to see more celebrity content?

Check out 20 Awkward Celebrity Yearbook Photos From Before They Were Famous, or take a look at 20 Photobooth Pictures of Celebrities from the Early ’90s. Finally, if you want to see photos of celebrities’ driver’s licenses, check out 20 Vintage Photos of Celebrities’ Driver’s Licenses.

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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