Darrell Hammond Reveals Dark Moment Behind The Scenes At SNL

First Published: October 24, 2011 11:39 PM EDT Credit: WireImage NY, N.Y. -- Caption Darrell Hammond attends the 2010 Annual REX Event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, NY, on March 16, 2010Darrell Hammond is known for his hilarious impressions, but the Saturday Night Live veteran has shown a very serious side, revealing details about his traumatic past including a very difficult moment that occurred during his time on the show. There was cutting backstage, Hammond, who has a new book, God, If Youre Not Up There, Im F***ed, told CNN in an emotional interview. I was once taken to a psych ward. The week that I did the [Al] Gore debates, I believe I was taken away in a straight jacket. And theres no way you people would know about that, Hammond continued. But SNL is a place where if Lorne [Michaels, SNLs Executive Producer] judges if you can hit the ball over the wall that night, then youre gonna go out and step up to the plate. I didnt want to let Lorne down. Hammond claimed he was abused as a child by his mother, who passed away two years ago. When I was a child, I was a victim of systematic and lengthy brutality, I mean, stabbing, beating, being electrocuted, stuff like that, he told CNN. On Monday, Horatio Sanz, one of Hammonds former SNL castmates, Tweeted his support for the funnyman. Im proud of my friend Darrell, Horatio wrote. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.