Gary Busey is a legendary actor and personality, known as much for his talent as his bizarre
antics.
But did you know that he’s not only faced health issues and addiction, but he also has
nearly died several times?
And that he had to declare bankruptcy in 2012?
Join us as Facts Verse presents: Gary Busey is 78, Look at Him Now After He Lost All His
Money!
Gary Busey has led quite a tumultuous and legendary life.
In fact, you could argue that he’s lived 2 or 3 of them already.
Busey’s reputation as an eccentric oddball with talent, charisma, and dynamism is well
known.
He’s used all of these attributes to not only succeed in the world of entertainment
but also cultivate an aura of mystery and fascination around himself.
But his eccentricities and penchant for going his own way have also come back to haunt him
several times in his life.
Sex Crime Charges Gary Busey may be 78 years old at this point,
but that doesn’t mean he’s immune from potential allegations of bad behavior.
In August of 2022, Gary was charged with three counts of sex crimes in New Jersey.
Allegedly, while Busey was attending Monster-Mania Con in Cherry Hill, New Jersey a few weeks
prior, he groped at least two people.
While Gary lives in Malibu, California, he was charged in New Jersey and will have to
potentially stand trial there.
Reportedly several people came forward and said that the actor had touched them inappropriately.
This led to local police bringing several charges against him.
There were two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, as well as one charge of attempted
criminal sexual contact.
He’s been charged additionally with harassment.
Police stated that they received multiple accusations from an assortment of people,
after Busey participation in the convention.
The event took place at a Doubletree Hotel, and, like most conventions of its type, is
a place for fans to meet their acting and creative heroes in person.
Sadly, it seems that some Gary Busey fans got a lot more than they wanted from the actor.
The case is still pending, so we’ll have to see if it goes to trial, or if it’s settled
out of court.
Bankruptcy This is far from the first kerfuffle that
Busey has been involved in over the course of his life.
Some of his issues have been financial.
In 2012, Busey declared bankruptcy, and it was reported that he had only $50,000 in assets
and over $500,000 in debts.
The bankruptcy was the result of several factors, including failed business ventures, legal
disputes, and medical bills.
Busey had started a production company in the early 2000s, but it failed to make a profit,
leading to significant debt.
He also had a legal dispute with a former business partner, which resulted in a $1.5
million judgment against him.
Busey's bankruptcy was also related to his health problems.
In 1988, he suffered a severe motorcycle accident that caused a traumatic brain injury.
He later developed a crippling addiction to cocaine and underwent multiple rehab stints.
In 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer, which led to significant medical bills.
We’ll touch on these various medical issues in a minute.
Gary’s Take on Bankruptcy In typical Busey fashion, Gary made the most
out of the situation, and used one of his famous acronyms, sometimes referred to as
“Busey-isms” He had previously been quoted as saying that the word ‘failure’ is an
acronym, standing for: “Finding An Important Lesson Inviting Needed Growth.”
But after his declaration of Bankruptcy, Gary announced that the word bankruptcy is an acronym
for “Banks Ask Nothing Knowing Recompense Under Profits Today Cannot Yield."
You’ve got to give it to him, he’s pretty creative with these acronyms.
After declaring bankruptcy, Busey was required to liquidate his assets, which included his
home in Malibu.
He was also forced to pay back a portion of his debt through a payment plan.
It was also interesting for fans to find out about his assets, which he was forced to state
publicly for the bankruptcy.
At the time, his debt to the IRS was around $500K, and he said his monthly income was
close to $20K.
But unfortunately, at that point his expenses every month were almost $23K, leaving him
further and further in debt every month.
But perhaps most interesting were some of the many Native American items he listed as
part of his possessions.
These included things like an old bull’s head, a bald eagle figurine, bows and arrows,
two small decorative teepees, and much more.
Busey has embraced a Native American-based spirituality over the years, as he’s tried
to recover from his motorcycle accident and drug addictions.
Busey also listed various assorted items like 300 VHS tapes, and 200 cassette tapes, all
of which were presumably collected in the 1980s and ‘90s.
Gary’s Accident As we mentioned, Gary’s life was forever
changed when he got into a serious motorcycle accident in December 1988.
Busey, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, suffered severe head
injuries and was in a coma for several days.
Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, Busey's injuries left him with long-lasting effects,
including impaired speech and memory loss.
However, Gary has since become an advocate for helmet safety and has spoken out about
the importance of wearing helmets while riding motorcycles.
The accident was a turning point in Busey's life and career, and a life-changing event
for him and his family.
He had to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation process to recover from his injuries and regain
some of his cognitive abilities.
Despite the challenges, Busey remained determined and worked hard to overcome his limitations.
He also became more spiritual and began to see life from a different perspective.
In interviews, he has often credited the accident with teaching him valuable life lessons and
making him a better person.
Following his accident, Busey has also become an advocate for traumatic brain injury (TBI)
awareness and has worked with various organizations to help promote education and research on
the topic.
He has used his platform to raise awareness about the importance of early intervention
and rehabilitation for individuals who have suffered from TBIs.
Busey's accident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures, such as wearing
helmets, while engaging in potentially dangerous activities.
It also highlights the significant impact that TBIs can have on individuals and their
families, and the importance of ongoing research and education to improve outcomes for those
affected.
Gary’s Addiction Issues Gary’s journey has included dealing with
drug addiction.
In 1995, he was arrested for drug possession after he accidentally overdosed in his Malibu
home.
According to Busey, he only remembers waking up in the hospital, and had liquid pouring
out of his eyes, mouth, and nose.
He heard the doctors saying that they’d found cocaine in his pocket, so they were
assuming it was a cocaine overdose.
He ended up being charges with some possession counts for cocaine, marijuana, and psilocybin,
as well as a count of being under the influence of cocaine.
But those were only a drop in the bucket compared to what they did to Gary emotionally.
While it obviously was a tragedy that he even got to the point where he was overdosing,
the incident changed him profoundly.
In an interview, Busey talked about how when he got home from the hospital that day in
1995, he realized that he’d been “dancing with the devil in a circle that's very tight.”
He then mentioned that the devil always leads that particular dance, and it wasn’t one
he wanted to be involved in anymore.
He likened cocaine to a mineral sent from Satan himself, and that it was robbing him
of his freedom.
From that day on, he vowed never to give in to the temptations of addiction again.
He also talked about how he felt like healing angels had come into his life, and they made
him realize that his thoughts while on the drug were not creative, and were actively
stupid.
He spoke to his fans, and anyone who would listen, saying, “If you're doing cocaine
now, you gotta stop immediately, no matter what it takes.”
But despite this revelation in 1995, addiction issues have still plagued the actor.
Busey has spoken openly about his struggles with addiction, including his addiction to
cocaine and alcohol.
He has described himself as being in a state of denial for many years, even as his addiction
issues worsened.
In the years since his arrest, Busey has made a number of efforts to get clean and sober.
He has been involved in various rehabilitation programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous and
Narcotics Anonymous, and has also undergone a number of medical treatments to help him
overcome his addiction issues.
He has also been a vocal advocate for addiction recovery, speaking out about his own experiences
and encouraging others to seek help if they are struggling with addiction.
Pet Judge In 2020, Gary appeared in court several times.
Only these were paid appearances.
Busey starred in the show “Pet Judge,” which had the veteran actor playing a fake
judge who presided over cases involving house pets.
In the show, a variety of problems were brought before the honorable Judge Busey, and he had
to decide which of the claimants would win jurisdiction over their pet-related issues.
For example, a woman wanted to bury their family cat in a mausoleum, while her husband
was in favor of giving it a Viking Funeral.
There was also the case where a woman, convinced that her dead husband had been reincarnated
as the family dog, was suing her insurance company who won’t permit the dog to be included
in their policy.
So, you know, very down to earth and relatable content.
Busey doled out his usual bizarre and oddly calming advice, making the show a fun and
quirky one to watch.
The only season aired in 2020, and there’s no word if there will be more made.
Now it’s time to hear from you.
Did you know that Gary Busey was in an accident that nearly killed him, and that he had also
overdosed in 1995?
Let us know in the comments section below!