Housewives Hubby Begged for Xanax Before Suicide

Just days before his death, Russell Armstrong begged a friend for anxiety drugs, telling him, "This is as bad as it gets." Armstrong was upset over his divorce and his portrayal on Real Housewives, and couldn't even afford to pay for the meal he was sharing with the friend, Russ McCullough. McCullough gave him one Xanax, but Armstrong wanted an entire bottle, TMZ reports. The gossip site adds that Armstrong's death, not surprisingly, was officially ruled a suicide by hanging.

Meanwhile, his family is considering suing Bravo. The network that airs Real Housewives "is at fault and somebody needs to pay," Armstrong's stepbrother tells Radar. But one member of his family is also offering a glimpse into Armstrong's dark past, Perez Hilton notes: His sister says that, at the tender age of six, he accidentally shot her. She adds that he "had anger issues" but was trying to overcome them. He also allegedly punched a business associate, had two restraining orders filed against him by ex-partners, and pleaded guilty to battery in 1997, Radar reports. Click to read Bravo exec Andy Cohen's response to the Armstrong news. (More Russell Armstrong stories.)