Bobcat Goldthwait
When stand-up comedians deliver an exceptional performance, they are often metaphorically described as being “on fire.” However, in 1994, Police Academy actor Bobcat Goldthwait took this expression quite literally when he appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. After stating that he was a good role model for children during the show, he set his chair on fire, causing a real-life fire incident on the set.
Due to his reckless actions, Bobcat pleaded no contest to the charge of causing a fire, resulting in several penalties. He was ordered to pay $3,888 in fines and placed under three years of informal probation. Additionally, he was required to record public service announcements concerning fire safety as part of his punishment. Furthermore, Jay Leno banned Bobcat Goldthwait from appearing on his show for a whole week to address the seriousness of the incident.
