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    Seinfeld Star Daniel von Bargen Hospitalized After Failed Suicide Attempt

    (Zuma)

    Daniel von Bargen, perhaps best known as Mr. Kruger on "Seinfeld", was hospitalized this week after shooting himself in the head in a botched suicide attempt.

    The Montgomery, Ohio, resident shot himself in the temple with a Colt 38 gun on Monday. He called Hamilton County 911 after his attempt failed.

    According to the call, Von Bargen shot himself to avoid going to the hospital. After the dispatcher asked if the shooting was accidental, von Bargen responded, " No, I was supposed to go to the hospital today, didn't want to … well, I shot myself." Von Bargen is a diabetic and was supposed to have two of his toes amputated that day.

    The harrowing call was caught on tape. Entertainment site TMZ has the call.

    One can hear Von Bargen painfully describing as he explained to the dispatcher what happened.

    "Yes, I shot myself in the head and, uhh, I need help," he said.

    Unable to open his eyes or move to open his door, he was able to stay on the phone until police and fire officials arrived at his home five minutes after he called 911. Apparently worried that Von Bargen may have other weapons around, police can be heard yelling at Von Bargen to stay still and keep his hands where they could see them.

    According to Montgomery Police Srgt. Greg Vondenbenken, Von Bargen was "seriously injured." They took him to Bethesda North hospital, where Vondenbenken says that his condition is improving.

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    • the equalizer  •  Troy, Michigan  •  3 mths ago
      He's alone, hasn't worked in 3 years, and was about to have 2 toes amputated. Sometimes life su/cks and sometimes life su/cks a lot. I wish him the best
      • Ms. R 3 mths ago
        Agreed.
      • Brooks S 3 mths ago
        Must liek the litte piggies ALOT!
      • stupid 3 mths ago
        We don't know how good we got it till its gone. No pun intended. Hope he can get the help he needs.
    • White Squirrel  •  Baltimore, Maryland  •  3 mths ago
      Kruger was the guy who George photoshopped a picture of...the one where his family is on the beach...classic episode.
      • guillotinetheelites 3 mths ago
        ahh! now i remember.
      • Mike 3 mths ago
        Will George have to update that photo now? WIll he get Kramer to pretend Dr. VanNorstrand is now a Brain Surgeon?
      • Flwrchld 3 mths ago
        Loved it when George told him the "R" fell off the building and it now says K-UGER. He started spinning in his office chair saying, "K-UGER! Sounds like one of those old horns." May he get better soon and find peace in his mind and heart.
    • CLARK KENT  •  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Stress can make things appear hopeless.
    • Chris  •  Cumby, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      He was also on "Malcome In the Middle" as Comandant Spangler (not sure of the spelling). A real shame.
      • CheesyPoofNation. 3 mths ago
        Ha! yes, followed the brother up to Alaska and tried to strangle him with his hook's for hands....DIE, DIE!! monster!...all malcom's brother did was giggle cause it tickled. Feel free to thank the Cadet after I leave Gentlemen...
      • Chris 3 mths ago
        Oh yes I remember that. I think Francis ended up getting him a job yelling at old people in an arts and crafts class in a retirement home. There was also something else I saw him in a little while back (but I think he did it before either show) but I can't recall what it was now. Off IMDB I go. :)
      • james 3 mths ago
        SWEET TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT CHARACTER
    • BrianE  •  West Fork, Arkansas  •  3 mths ago
      THaks for another great pic. Now I have to google to see who this guy is
      • Carol 3 mths ago
        You're right. No pic!! Lazy reporting.......
      • James 3 mths ago
        wow It will take you 20 seconds or less to find out yourself
      • OBX1 3 mths ago
        Georges boss, remember him at the Festivus dinner
    • Angry Matt  •  Studio City, California  •  3 mths ago
      Daniel was a friend of mine when he lived here in Los Angeles, although we lost touch when he moved back to Cincy, although some other friends of mine kept in touch with him. He was a fixture at Barney's Beanery where every regular there had a Daniel impression. We didn't know him as the actor, but just as the regular guy who loved baseball more than anything and used to say things like "life is a river..." or wax philosophical on any host of other topics. I have fond memories of time spent hanging out with him, particularly when we went to the 2001 Rose Bowl together when the Huskies played Drew Brees' Boilermakers (since I am a Washington alumnus and he is a Purdue alumnus -- the Huskies won). When I received news of his attempted suicide, it shook me and I have been flooded by memories of the many good times we spent together. I wish I hadn't lost contact with him and hope the best for him, both in the form of a speedy recovery from the physical wounds, but also from the emotional ones.
      • Call them out 3 mths ago
        I'm sure he'd like to hear from you...
      • Kenna 3 mths ago
        no kidding, try writing him a letter or text or email or hell even this thing called a phone works. dont post it here, tell it to HIM. he clearly needs a good friend,
      • Angry Matt 3 mths ago
        I plan to, as do a number of us here in LA who knew him and lost touch. I just wanted to post here about the human being that I knew and was friends with, not just the face or the characters that others know him as, particularly given some of the less than sensitive comments posted here.
    • Richard  •  3 mths ago
      Not a very insightful article. Poor bloke has diabetes and already had one leg amputated and was about to have two toes on the other leg removed. The article says some of this but doesn't mention the previous amputation. One has to feel sorry for the guy. Reminds me of a passage from Hemingway's ISLANDS IN THE STREAM: "O Man is persecuted! Man has his robe of dignity plucked at and destroyed." Also reminds me of some of Samuel Beckett's writings, where people are reduced to their basic elements. I suppose he saw himself losing more of his body as time passed. But shooting oneself in the head is not very pleasant either. He's only 61 but felt his life was over, or at least life wit dignity. Actor George Sanders killed himself at, I think, 59, writing a suicide note that life was boring.
    • jp  •  Sunnyvale, California  •  3 mths ago
      Sweet Daniel , please know how loved and appreciated you are , we are all praying for you !
    • Red Ryder  •  Wilmington, Delaware  •  3 mths ago
      TMZ is not doing anything good for America.
    • Matt L  •  San Francisco, California  •  3 mths ago
      The younger generations may recognize him from Super Troopers!
    • MNB  •  3 mths ago
      oh no….i hope he recovers and gets the help he needs
    • Kelsey  •  3 mths ago
      Why isn't it a HIPAA violation to release these recordings? His desperation should not be available to the public.
    • william m  •  Portland, Oregon  •  3 mths ago
      Sad, Always loved his charactor Mr. Kruger
    • Captain Spaulding  •  Tafton, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      He always reminded me of the owner of WKRP."I swear to God,I thought turkeys could fly"
    • 800 Pound Gorilla  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  3 mths ago
      Pity! Hope you recover and know that people are pulling for you and enjoyed your work.
    • The Ayatollah  •  3 mths ago
      I'll make a donation in his name to the Human Fund.
    • LaVone  •  3 mths ago
      As a person who has lost 3 toes off of each foot, and the feeling in my right leg and both feet, from Diabetes, I have found there is still alot to live for. I can live without those body parts and no one will know unless I tell them they are missing.
    • Michelle  •  Boston, Massachusetts  •  3 mths ago
      Very sad, especially since he was so funny and so well liked on the show.

      "Coco the Monkey".

      Godspeed on your recovery...
    • Dave  •  3 mths ago
      Poor guy. I hope he recovers and finds happiness.
    • Klingon_Psychiatrist  •  3 mths ago
      Reason #1 Not to Commit Suicide: A botched suicide may well leave you in a worse situation than you had before. No suicide attempt is 100% effective. There is always room for failure.