In Depth With Graham Bensinger Rick Harrison’s wild youth: Epileptic seizures at 8, rehab at 14 | Forward Progress
Mar 19, 2026
Rick Harrison, Pawn Stars star and Las Vegas shop owner, recalls childhood epilepsy and the fear that shaped his youth. He talks about nighttime seizures, temporary teenage blindness, early drug use and rehab at 14. He also shares how risk-taking, theft, and becoming a father forced him to change course.
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Childhood Grand Mal Seizures And Recovery
- Rick Harrison developed grand mal epilepsy at age eight and would suffer violent seizures that sometimes tore his muscles and left him unable to walk for weeks.
- He experienced recurring nighttime seizures, often waking with a bitten tongue, and the episodes stopped by age 18 after decades of attacks.
Epilepsy Shaped A Live-Fast Mindset
- Living with epilepsy left Rick constantly fearing a sudden death, shaping a worldview that he could die at any moment.
- That fear reduced his risk aversion as a teen, leading him to take reckless actions because he believed he was going to die anyway.
Teen Years Of Theft And Reckless Escapades
- As a teenager Rick and his friends frequently stole vehicles, ditched school, and lied about midnight movies while partying on the beach.
- He even stole his dad's motor home trying to get to Las Vegas but was stranded when the battery died.