The highs and the lows. While Bam Margera made headlines as one of the outrageous cohosts on MTV’s Jackass, he has admittedly struggled over the years.
“It just seems like everything at one point came crashing down,” Margera — real name Brandon Cole Margera — said during an April 2016 appearance on Family Therapy With Dr. Jenn, revealing his struggles with substance abuse. “That’s when it wasn’t even drinking for the fun or for the social part of it. It was just drinking because [of] total depression, kinda.”
At the time, the Pennsylvania native noted that the death of his late MTV costar, Ryan Dunn, was a contributing factor.
“[It was] just the fact of [me] just being completely lost,” Margera added. “Like, ‘Everything sucks, and the only thing that doesn’t suck is this bottle of Johnnie Walker.’”
Since then, the former skateboarder has been candid about how his challenges have affected his family, including his wife, Nicole Boyd, and their son, Phoenix.
“Dr. Phil, I need your help in a big, big way,” Margera wrote via Instagram in August 2021, referring to TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw. “My family is in shambles. It’s worse than it’s ever been. #dr.phil bam margera needs you to save family from falling apart for good.”
In the since-deleted post, the Viva La Bam alum told the talk show host he “can’t stand” his wife, whom he married in 2013.
“[Our son is] the best and I love him to death, and Nicki knows that. And if we separate, I know she’s gonna use him as bait. I ain’t playing that f–king game, so you can have him,” Margera alleged at the time. “The only person I believe is you, [Dr. Phil]. When I watch you, I’m like, ‘That’s what I would have said! That’s what I would have said!’ The only person that I will believe on the planet is Dr. Phil.”
After completing several treatment programs, Margera celebrated one year of sobriety in May 2022.
“ONE YEAR of treatment!🤘💜,” he wrote via Instagram at the time,💜” adding “F—k Year,” “Bam’s Back” and “Bam’s Free” hashtags to his post.
However, the Gnarkill musician’s struggles made headlines one month later after it was reported that Margera fled an in-patient treatment program in Florida, where he has since been missing. According to a police report, obtained by TMZ, he was unhappy with the facility’s services after arriving under a court order.
“Addiction treatment is often a bumpy road. Nikki Margera and their son Phoenix hope he will turn up quickly and re-dedicate himself to sober living — for himself and for his family,” Boyd’s attorney, David Glass, told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “Nikki remains dedicated to supporting Bam in his recovery.”
Scroll below to relive Margera’s highs and lows through the years:
Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock
‘Jackass’ Alum Bam Margera’s Ups and Downs Through the Years: Addiction Struggles, Custody Cases, More
The highs and the lows. While Bam Margera made headlines as one of the outrageous cohosts on MTV’s Jackass, he has admittedly struggled over the years.
“It just seems like everything at one point came crashing down,” Margera — real name Brandon Cole Margera — said during an April 2016 appearance on Family Therapy With Dr. Jenn, revealing his struggles with substance abuse. “That’s when it wasn’t even drinking for the fun or for the social part of it. It was just drinking because [of] total depression, kinda.”
At the time, the Pennsylvania native noted that the death of his late MTV costar, Ryan Dunn, was a contributing factor.
“[It was] just the fact of [me] just being completely lost,” Margera added. “Like, ‘Everything sucks, and the only thing that doesn’t suck is this bottle of Johnnie Walker.’”
Since then, the former skateboarder has been candid about how his challenges have affected his family, including his wife, Nicole Boyd, and their son, Phoenix.
“Dr. Phil, I need your help in a big, big way,” Margera wrote via Instagram in August 2021, referring to TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw. “My family is in shambles. It’s worse than it’s ever been. #dr.phil bam margera needs you to save family from falling apart for good.”
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In the since-deleted post, the Viva La Bam alum told the talk show host he “can’t stand” his wife, whom he married in 2013.
“[Our son is] the best and I love him to death, and Nicki knows that. And if we separate, I know she’s gonna use him as bait. I ain’t playing that f–king game, so you can have him,” Margera alleged at the time. “The only person I believe is you, [Dr. Phil]. When I watch you, I’m like, ‘That’s what I would have said! That’s what I would have said!’ The only person that I will believe on the planet is Dr. Phil.”
After completing several treatment programs, Margera celebrated one year of sobriety in May 2022.
“ONE YEAR of treatment!🤘💜,” he wrote via Instagram at the time,💜” adding “F—k Year,” “Bam’s Back” and “Bam’s Free” hashtags to his post.
However, the Gnarkill musician’s struggles made headlines one month later after it was reported that Margera fled an in-patient treatment program in Florida, where he has since been missing. According to a police report, obtained by TMZ, he was unhappy with the facility’s services after arriving under a court order.
“Addiction treatment is often a bumpy road. Nikki Margera and their son Phoenix hope he will turn up quickly and re-dedicate himself to sober living — for himself and for his family,” Boyd’s attorney, David Glass, told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “Nikki remains dedicated to supporting Bam in his recovery.”
Scroll below to relive Margera’s highs and lows through the years:
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Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock
October 2000
Margera joined MTV’s Jackass — and its various spinoffs — upon its series premiere alongside the likes of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Dunn, Chris Pontius and Jason “Wee Man” Acuña. On camera, the group performed a variety of outrageous stunts and pranks on one another.
Credit: Charles Sykes/Shutterstock
January 2019
Margera, who completed several rehab stays through the years, left a facility after just 10 days when he claimed to be sober following his July 2018 relapse.
“By day number 5 in rehab, I realized when I’m bored is when I drink,” he wrote via Instagram. “Well in rehab I am bored 50 percent of the time so I figured out that when boredom sets in and alcohol is off limits, that’s when I get creative as f*ck. So now I am excited with ideas and energy and creation which makes me have no temptation to drink because I am so busy NOT BEING BORED.”
He added: “I left rehab to begin doing all the things I have put aside. To the people who say, ‘You can’t do it ALONE, trust me!’ Well, guess what a–holes … I am not alone! I might not be in rehab with YOU, but I am surrounded by so many sober family and friends, spiritual healers, therapists, sober coaches and my sponsor JJ Diana that I am not alone.”
Credit: Courtesy of Bam Margera/Instagram
March 2021
The stunt performer added to his tattoo collection with a statement piece on his leg, however, he had been hospitalized for a staph infection shortly after debuting his ink. He since received treatment.
Credit: Paul A Hebert/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
September 2021
Us confirmed that Boyd filed custody paperwork asking for primary legal and physical custody of Phoenix. She asked that Margera have only supervised visitation with their son.
Credit: Courtesy of Bam Margera/Instagram
May 2022
The reality TV alum celebrated his one-year sobriety milestone via Instagram, adding a “Bam’s Back” hashtag to his social media upload.
Credit: Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock
June 2022
Margera has been reported missing after fleeing an in-patient rehab facility in Del Ray Beach, Florida.
Credit: Todd Williamson/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
June 2022
Following his escape from one treatment center, Margera’s team told TMZ he will continue rehab at another location. He was found at a hotel in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where police reportedly showed up with a crisis intervention team.
Credit: Courtesy of Bam Margera/Instagram
December 2022
Margera’s family announced via the TV personality’s Instagram account that he had been “recently hospitalized.”
The statement noted: “Fortunately, he is now testing negative for COVID and receiving care for pneumonia. Bam is on the road to recovery and thankfully will be discharged soon. We ask and thank you for your positive prayers.”
