Actors and Celebrities With Rare Diseases or Chronic Illness
by jonesie12345 | created - 30 Jun 2022 | updated - 6 days ago | PublicChronic diseases are ones that last for 3 months or longer. They usually worsen over time. They can often be controlled, but are rarely cured
Common chronic diseases include cancer, diabetes, asthma, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, Grave's disease, Alzheimer's disease, lupus, and many other serious health disorders
1. Bono
Soundtrack | Across the Universe
Bono was born Paul David Hewson in Dublin, Ireland on May 10, 1960, to Iris (Rankin) and Brendan Robert Hewson. He has been the lead singer of the rock band U2 since 1976. U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards to date, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Lauded by fans and critics ...
Has glaucoma, an eye disease caused by damage to the optic nerve, leading to impaired vision and blindness
He has had the disease for over 20 years. He wears his trademark sunglasses because his eyes are very sensitive to light
2. Bud Abbott
Actor | Hold That Ghost
Long acknowledged as one of the best "straight men" in the business, Bud Abbott was born William Alexander Abbott in Reading, Pennsylvania to Rae (Fisher) and Harry Abbott, who had both worked for the Barnum and Bailey Circus. When Bud was three his family moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey, which he...
Had epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures
DIED April 24, 1974, age 76, of cancer
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Actor | Airplane!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record...
Has chronic myeloid leukemia, a slow-progressing type of blood cell cancer. It is caused by a spontaneous chromosal mutation
He was diagnosed in 2009, and has been able to manage the disease with oral medications
4. Jessica Alba
Actress | Fantastic Four
Jessica Marie Alba was born on April 28, 1981, in Pomona, CA, to Catherine (Jensen) and Mark David Alba, who served in the US Air Force. Her father is of Mexican descent (including Spanish and Indigenous Mexican roots), and her mother has Danish, Welsh, English, and French ancestry. Her family ...
Has asthma, a condition in which the airways to your lungs narrow and swell and fill with mucus
As a child her asthma was so severe that she often had pneumonia, and once even a collapsed lung. The disease inspired her to start The Honest Company, an eco-friendly brand of personal care products
5. Muhammad Ali
Actor | The Greatest
Muhammad Ali beat more champions and top contenders than any heavyweight champion in history. He defeated heavyweight kings Sonny Liston (twice), Floyd Patterson (twice), Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Ken Norton (twice), Joe Frazier (twice), George Foreman and Leon Spinks. He defeated ...
Had Parkinson's disease, a disorder of the nervous system. He began exhibiting signs of the disease in the 1970's, but was not diagnosed until 1984 at age 42. The disease greatly affected his speech and ability to walk
Some have speculated that numerous blows to the head during his boxing career caused his Parkinson's. There is no definitive proof of this, although head trauma does increase the likelihood of the disease
He became an advocate for Parkinson's disease and worked with actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, to raise awareness and to fund research for a cure
DIED June 3, 2016, age 74, from complications of Parkinson's disease
6. Christina Applegate
Actress | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
Christina Applegate was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, to record producer/executive Robert Applegate and singer-actress Nancy Priddy. Her parents split-up shortly after her birth. She has two half-siblings from her father's re-marriage - Alisa (b. October 10, 1977) and Kyle (b. July 15...
Has multiple sclerosis, a neurological autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Her symptoms have included weight gain, fatigue, and balance problems
7. Alec Baldwin
Actor | The Departed
Alec Baldwin is the oldest, and best-known, of the four Baldwin brothers in the acting business (the others are Stephen Baldwin, William Baldwin and Daniel Baldwin). Alexander Rae Baldwin III was born on April 3, 1958 in Massapequa, New York, the son of Carol Newcomb (Martineau) and Alexander Rae ...
Has Lyme disease, which is caused by being bitten by infected ticks. It can cause fever, joint pain, headaches, and fatigue
8. Halle Berry
Actress | Catwoman
Halle Maria Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Oakwood, Ohio to Judith Ann Berry (née Hawkins), a psychiatric nurse & Jerome Jesse Berry, a hospital attendant. Her father was African-American and her mother is of mostly English and German descent. ...
Was diagnosed at age 19 with Type I diabetes, a condition in which your pancreas produces little or no insulin. This prevents glucose (sugar) from entering your cells, causing it to build up in your bloodstream
People with Type I diabetes must take insulin injections every day. There is no known way to prevent Type I diabetes, and there is currently no cure
9. Michael Berryman
Actor | Weird Science
Late 1970s horror genre icon who's best known for his creepy performance as "Pluto" in the uncompromising Wes Craven horror film The Hills Have Eyes (1977). Berryman (who suffers from Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia, a rare condition leaving him with no sweat glands, hair, fingernails or teeth) ...
Has the genetic disorder hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia
The disease caused him to have an odd-shaped head, no fingernails, no eyebrows, and no teeth. He also has no sweat glands, so is constantly in danger of heat stroke
He said he believes his condition is due to his father being exposed to radiation at Hiroshima during World War II. Despite this, he has had a very successful movie career and is one of the most recognizable faces in horror films
10. Justin Bieber
Soundtrack | Justin Bieber: Never Say Never
Justin Drew Bieber was born on March 1, 1994 at St. Joseph's Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada and was raised in Stratford, Ontario. He is the son of Pattie Mallette and Jeremy Bieber. He is of French-Canadian, Irish, German, English, and Scottish descent. He has three younger half-siblings via ...
Has Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a nerve disorder caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox and shingles
He has paralysis on one side of his face, causing it to droop. He is also unable to close one eye. People with Ramsay Hunt usually have reddish blisters inside and outside of the ear that is on the paralyzed side of the face, and often lose their hearing in that ear
The disease most commonly affects people over age 60, but Bieber was only 28 when he was diagnosed
11. Selma Blair
Actress | Cruel Intentions
Throughout her diverse career, Selma Blair has been one of the most versatile and exciting actresses on screen. Blair's longstanding career began with her comedic roles in pop culture classics in the early 2000s. Blair has worked with an array of acclaimed directors including Guillermo del Toro and...
In 2018 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that damages the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
Symptoms include slurred speech, difficulty walking, tremors, vision problems, nerve pain, and problems with bowel and bladder function
She wrote about her battle with the disease in her 2022 book "Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up"
12. Andrea Bocelli
Soundtrack | The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Andrea Bocelli, as born in Lajatico, Italy, in 1958, is one of the greatest singing talents in the world today. He has been blind since age 12, owing to congenital glaucoma and a blow to the head while tending goal during a soccer game. Andrea did not begin his singing career until the late 1980s, ...
Was born with congenital glaucoma, an eye disease that seriously impaired his vision
When he was 12, he had a brain hemorrhage following a football accident. The hemorrhage destroyed the rest of his vision, rendering him completely blind
13. Cameron Boyce
Actor | Mrs. Fletcher
Cameron Boyce was an American actor, with Afro-Caribbean and African-American descent. His paternal grandmother Jo Ann Allen was one of the "Clinton Twelve", the first African-Americans to attend an integrated high school in the Southern United States (specifically in Clinton, Tennessee).
In 1999, ...
Had epilepsy, a neurological disorder in which there is excessive electrical activity in the brain. This causes staring spells, confusion, seizures (convulsions), and loss of consciousness
DIED July 6, 2019, age 20, of an epileptic seizure
14. Toni Braxton
Soundtrack | The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
Toni Braxton was born on October 7, 1966 in Severn, Maryland, USA. She is a music artist and producer, known for The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012), Boomerang (1992) and Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (2016). She was previously married to Keri Lewis.
Has lupus, an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation throughout the body. It can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs
Braxton was diagnosed in 2011, and has had multiple hospital stays since then, but still performs live on a regular basis
15. Gary Burghoff
Actor | M*A*S*H
Gary Burghoff was born on May 24, 1943 in Bristol, Connecticut, USA. He is an actor and director, known for M*A*S*H (1972), M*A*S*H (1970) and Behind the Waterfall (1995). He was previously married to Elisabeth Bostrom and Janet Gayle.
Has Poland syndrome, a disorder in which people are born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of their body
As a result of the disease, Burghoff has brachydactyly, i.e., three fingers on his left hand are significantly smaller than those on his right
In the movie and TV show "M*A*S*H," he disguised it by usually carrying a paper or clipboard in his hand
16. Gary Busey
Actor | The Buddy Holly Story
A blond-haired, fair-complexioned actor with a toothy grin and capable of an unsettling glint in his eyes, Gary Busey was born in Goose Creek, Texas, and was raised in Oklahoma. He is the son of Sadie Virginia (Arnett), a homemaker, and Delmar Lloyd Busey, a construction design manager. He has ...
Has a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1988
He was riding without a helmet when he slid on some gravel and hit his head on a curb. He was in a coma for over a month. He still has some residual cognitive effects of TBI, but was able to resume his acting career
He works as an advocate for TBI prevention and treatment, and educates people about the importance of wearing helmets when biking, skating, or motorcycle riding
17. Tisha Campbell
Actress | Little Shop of Horrors
Tisha Michelle Campbell was born on October 13, 1968 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma & raised in Newark, New Jersey. Her first TV appearance was at the age of 8 on episode #006 of the PBS show, The Big Blue Marble (1974). The show featured stories on the life and culture of children from around the ...
Has pulmonary sarcoidosis, a lung disease
18. Nick Cannon
Actor | Drumline
Nicholas Scott Cannon is an American television host, rapper, actor, and comedian. Cannon began in television as a teenager on "All That" before going on to host "The Nick Cannon Show", 'Wild 'n Out", 'America's Got Talent", 'Lip Sync Battle Shorties", and "The Masked Singer." He acted in the films...
Has lupus, an autoimmune disease. Symptoms include a red "butterfly" rash on the face, joint pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes
He has been hospitalized with kidney infections due to the disease, and has had chemotherapy and blood transfusions to treat his lupus
19. Ray Charles
Actor | The Blues Brothers
A tragic fate may have given this visionary a heightened sensitivity, perception, awareness, even expansion to his obvious musical gifts that he may have never touched upon had he not suffered from his physical affliction. Whatever it was, Ray Charles revolutionized American music and was ...
Had pediatric glaucoma, a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged due to increased pressure in the eye. He started losing his vision at age 4, and was completely blind by age 11
His life was portrayed in the Academy Award-winning movie "Ray" starring Jamie Foxx
DIED June 10, 2004, age 73, from liver failure
20. Kristin Chenoweth
Actress | Pushing Daisies
Kristin Chenoweth is an American stage, screen and television actress, though, depending on who you ask, Chenoweth fans may disagree on what her most famous roles are. Since Chenoweth began her career, she has been credited with roles in musicals and plays on and off-Broadway, on various television...
Has Meniere's disease, a disorder of the inner ear. Symptoms include extreme dizziness that can last up to 12 hours, ringing in the ear, pounding headaches, and hearing loss
It usually begins after after age 40, but Chenoweth was diagnosed in her 20's
21. George Clooney
Actor | The Ides of March
George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Nina Bruce (née Warren), a former beauty pageant queen, and Nick Clooney, a former anchorman and television host (who was also the brother of singer Rosemary Clooney). He has Irish, English, and German ancestry. Clooney ...
Has chronic pain from a spinal cord injury he suffered on a movie set in 2005. This was later aggravated by a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2018. At times the pain has been so severe that he contemplated suicide
He currently controls it with pain management techniques and prescription pain killers
22. Gary Coleman
Actor | Diff'rent Strokes
Without a doubt Gary Coleman was THE child TV star of the late 1970s and early 1980s. A refreshingly confident little tyke with sparkling dark, saucer-like eyes and an ingratiating, take-on-anyone burst of personality, the boy charmed the pants right off of TV viewers the minute he was glimpsed in ...
Had kidney disease since childhood, the treatment for which stunted his growth; he was only 4'8" (1.42 m). It also gave his face a chubby child-like appearance even into adulthood
He had two kidney transplants, the first at age 5. Both were unsuccessful, so he was on dialysis for most of his life
DIED May 28, 2010, age 42, of an epidural hematoma (blood accumulation in the brain) after falling in his home
23. Tim Curry
Actor | Congo
Timothy James Curry was born on April 19, 1946 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. His mother, Maura Patricia (Langmead), was a school secretary, and his father, James Curry, was a Methodist Royal Navy chaplain. Curry studied Drama and English at Birmingham University, from which he graduated with ...
Had a stroke in 2012. Stroke symptoms include an inability to move or feel on one side of the body, facial drooping, slurred speech, dizziness, and sometimes loss of vision on the affected side
He uses a wheelchair for mobility, and rarely makes public appearances anymore. He does, however, occasionally do voice work
24. Pete Davidson
Actor | The King of Staten Island
Pete Davidson is an American comedian and actor who is a featured player on Saturday Night Live (1975), as of September 2014. He was raised on Staten Island, New York, and is the son of Amy (Waters) and Scott Matthew Davidson. Pete's father, a firefighter, died during the 9/11 attacks.
Davidson ...
Has Crohn's Disease, an autoimmune disease of the digestive tract that causes severe abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition
Was diagnosed with Crohn's when he was 17 years old. At one point his weight dropped to 110 pounds (50 kilos) on his 6'3" (1.91 m) frame.
He smokes marijuana to increase his appetite and keep his weight within normal range
25. Danny DeVito
Actor | Matilda
Danny DeVito has amassed a formidable and versatile body of work as an actor, producer and director that spans the stage, television and film.
Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. was born on November 17, 1944, in Neptune, New Jersey, to Italian-American parents. His mother, Julia (Moccello), was a homemaker. ...
Has multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (Fairbank's disease), a genetic bone disorder that results in joint pain, short fingers, a waddling gait, and short stature. DeVito is 4'10" (1.47 m)
26. Neil Diamond
Soundtrack | The Jazz Singer
Neil Leslie Diamond was born in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York City, on January 24, 1941. His father, Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond, was a dry-goods merchant. Both he and wife Rose were Jewish immigrants from Poland. The Diamond family temporarily relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, because of...
Has Parkinson's Disease; in 2018, during his 50th anniversary tour he announced that he was canceling all upcoming tour dates due to the disease
He said that he would continue writing and recording music, but he would no longer give live performances
27. Peter Dinklage
Actor | Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage is an American actor. Since his breakout role in The Station Agent (2003), he has appeared in numerous films and theatre plays. Since 2011, Dinklage has portrayed Tyrion Lannister in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011) . For this he won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a...
Has achondroplasia, a genetic form of dwarfism in which the arms and legs are short, but the torso is normal length. Dinklage is 4'5" (1.35 m)
He said that when he was younger, he was often angry and bitter about his condition, but has since come to accept it
28. Céline Dion
Soundtrack | Titanic
Hailing from the small town of Charlemagne, Québec, Céline Dion has become one of the all-time greatest singers. Céline was born in 1968, the youngest of 14 children. Early in childhood, she sang with her siblings in a small club owned by her parents. From these early experiences, Céline gained the...
Has stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that hinder her to ability to walk and sing
In January 2023 she canceled all upcoming concerts due to the effects of the disease
29. Shannen Doherty
Actress | Beverly Hills, 90210
Shannen Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, on April 12, 1971, to Rosa Doherty (Wright) and Tom Doherty. Her father worked in a bank, while her mother owned a beauty parlor. She has an older brother, Sean B. Doherty. Her ancestry includes Irish, English, Scottish, and French. In 1978, at ...
Was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Since then she has had a mastectomy and undergone chemotherapy and radiation. The cancer went into remission in 2017, but returned in 2020
She has openly shared her battle with cancer, and is a strong advocate for mammograms and early detection
In 1999 she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in your intestine, leading to severe abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, bloody stools, and fatigue
30. Karen Duffy
Actress | Dumb and Dumber
Karen "Duff" Duffy is an American writer, model, television personality, and actress. She is a certified hospital chaplain, a former Coney Island Mermaid Queen, and one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 1993. In 1995, Duffy was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease sarcoidosis ...
Has sarcoidosis, a disease in which lumps of inflammatory cells form throughout the body, usually in the lungs, skin, and lymph nodes
She works to rase awareness of the disease, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
31. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Self | Nazi Concentration Camps
Dwight D. Eisenhower was born on Tuesday, October 14, 1890, as Dwight David Eisenhower, in Denison, Texas. He was the third of seven sons born to David Jacob Eisenhower and Ida Elizabeth Stover. Both of his parents were of German descent. Eisenhower studied at the West Point Military Academy from ...
Was the 34th President of the United States
Had Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel condition
He battled the disease most of his life, and underwent several surgeries to combat it. He developed an intestinal blockage during his presidency, and had surgery in 1956 to remove a portion of his intestines. He had previously had his appendix removed
DIED March 28, 1969, age 80, of congestive heart failure
32. Lola Falana
Actress | The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Born in Philadelphia in 1942, Lola Falana left home as a teenager to seek her fortune in entertainment. She often slept in subway stations before finding work. She studied African dance, and her big break came when she appeared opposite Sammy Davis Jr. in "Golden Boy" on Broadway in 1964. She then ...
Has multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the central nervous system
Is a Tony-nominated singer, actor, and dancer; the disease caused her to retire from show biz in the late 1990's
33. Marty Feldman
Actor | Young Frankenstein
"I am too old to die young, and too young to grow up," Marty Feldman told a reporter -- a week before he died.
This beloved comedian, who poked fun at himself, as well as others, was born Martin Alan Feldman on July 8, 1934, in London, England. His parents were of Ukrainian Jewish heritage (from ...
Had Graves' Disease, a thyroid disorder that caused his eyes to protrude and become misaligned
DIED December 2, 1982, age 48, of a heart attack
34. Roberta Flack
Soundtrack | X-Men: Days of Future Past
Roberta Flack was born February 10, 1937 (1939 according to some sources), in Black Mountain, North Carolina, a small town located about 10 miles (18 kilometers) from the city of Asheville, North Carolina. She is best known for her love ballad "Killing Me Softly With His Song", released in 1969. ...
Has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrigs Disease, a nervous system disease that progressively weakens muscles throughout the body
In November 2022 she retired from performing due to the effects of the disease
35. Michael J. Fox
Actor | Back to the Future
Michael J. Fox was born Michael Andrew Fox on June 9, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Phyllis Fox (née Piper), a payroll clerk, and William Fox. His parents moved their 10-year-old son, his three sisters, Kelli Fox, Karen, and Jacki, and his brother Steven, to Vancouver, British Columbia, ...
Has Parkinson's Disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Symptoms include shaky hands and fingers, rigidity, slow movements, and difficulty walking and talking. Patients often develop dementia as the disease progreses
The disease usually occurs in people over the age of 60, but Fox was only 29 when he was diagnosed
He is a spokesperson and strong advocate for Parkinson's Disease research, and has established a foundation to support this cause
36. Morgan Freeman
Actor | Driving Miss Daisy
With an authoritative voice and calm demeanor, this ever popular American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. The young Freeman...
Has fibromyalgia. Also has permanent nerve damage in his left hand which was paralyzed following a 2008 car accident. He wears a black compression glove on the hand to reduce swelling
37. Annette Funicello
Actress | Muscle Beach Party
Annette Joanne Funicello achieved teenage popularity starting in October 1955 after she debuted as a Mouseketeer. Born on October 22, 1942 in Utica, New York, the family had moved to California when she was still young. Walt Disney himself saw her performing the lead role in "Swan Lake" at her ...
Was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1987 at age 45, but did not publicly disclose it until 1992 to combat rumors that her unsteady gait was due to alcoholism
She gradually lost the ability to walk, speak, or eat and had to be fed via a feeding tube. Her husband cared for her for several years with the assistance of a healthcare aide so that she could remain at home as her medical condition worsened
DIED April 8, 2013, age 70, from complications of MS
38. Lady Gaga
Soundtrack | A Star Is Born
Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an American songwriter, singer, actress, philanthropist, dancer and fashion designer.
Gaga was born on March 28, 1986 in Manhattan, New York City, to Cynthia Louise (Bissett), a philanthropist and business executive, and Joseph Anthony ...
Has fibromyalgia, which causes chronic musculo-skeletal pain, extreme fatigue, insomnia, and mood disorder. There is no known cure
39. Joseph Gatt
Actor | Dumbo
Born and raised in London. Gatt first got the acting bug when his Maltese parents took him to see Star Wars at the age of 8 and he decided to be Han Solo when he was older. He began his professional training at Sylvia Young Theater School and then followed that with a 3 year acting and music ...
Has alopecia universalis, an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack its own hair follicles, thus preventing hair from growing anywhere on the body
All of his hair fell out by age 14, and has never regrown
He volunteers his time with The Children's Alopecia Programme, an organization that provides educational and social support to children with alopecia
40. Lou Gehrig
Actor | Rawhide
Lou Gehrig is remembered as baseball's "Iron Horse" and used to own the major league record for the 2,130 consecutive games that he played for the New York Yankees between 1925 and 1939, where he had a .340 career batting average, making him one of the greatest hitters of all time. Henry Louis ...
Had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It causes the individual to lose control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat, and breathe. Is now commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
He was diagnosed with ALS on his 36th birthday, forcing him to retire from Major League Baseball
The Academy Award-winning movie "Pride of the Yankees" starring Gary Cooper was about his life and illness
DIED June 2, 1941, age 37, of ALS
41. Selena Gomez
Actress | Spring Breakers
Actress and singer Selena Gomez was born on July 22, 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas. She is the daughter of Mandy Teefey and Ricardo Gomez. Her mother is of part Italian ancestry, and her father is of Mexican descent. She was named after Tejano singer Selena, who died in 1995.
Her first acting role ...
Has lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue throughout the body
Lupus damaged her kidneys, and in 2017 she received a kidney transplant from her close friend, actress Francia Raisa
42. Bella Hadid
Actress | Ramy
Isabella Khairiah "Bella" Hadid was born on October 9, 1996 in Washington, D.C. & raised in Los Angeles, California to real-estate developer Mohamed Hadid and former model Yolanda Hadid. Her mother is a Dutch-born American, and her father is Palestinian American. Hadid has two siblings, an older ...
Has Lyme disease, a bacterial infection caused by a tick bite
Over the past 3 years she has experienced joint pain, fever, brain fog, and extreme fatigue, all of which are typical symptoms of the disease
43. Gigi Hadid
Actress | Ocean's Eight
Jelena Noura "Gigi" Hadid is an American model. She was signed to IMG Models in 2013. In November 2014, Hadid made her debut in the Top 50 Models ranking at Models. In 2016, she was named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council.
Gigi Hadid was born and raised in Los Angeles to...
Has Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disorder in which a person's immune system attacks healthy tissue in the thyroid gland, leading to a decreased production of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism)
Symptoms include fatigue, muscle aches, stiff joints, increased sensitivity to cold, enlarged thyroid, and other discomfort
44. Winnie Harlow
Actress | The Perfect Find
Winnie Harlow (born Chantelle Brown-Young) is a Canadian fashion model, spokesperson, and activist. She gained prominence as a contestant on the twenty-first cycle of the U.S. television series America's Next Top Model while having a prominent form of the skin condition vitiligo.
Following America's...
Has vitiligo, a condition in which patches of skin lose their pigment. The exact cause of vitiligo is unknown, and there is no known cure
45. Jeff Healey
Actor | Road House
Norman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey (March 25, 1966 - March 2, 2008) was a Canadian blues and rock singer and guitarist who obtained large notoriety in America also. He lost his sight as a child due to a rare form of eye cancer. That never seemed to affect his music career as Jeff scored a top 5 hit on ...
Had retinoblastoma, which is cancer of the retina. He lost his sight at age 1
His son was also born with retinoblastoma. If children survive retinoblastoma, the likelihood of developing other types of cancer later in life are greatly increased
DIED March 2, 2008, age 41, of sarcoma, which is cancer of the soft tissues in the body
46. Sarah Hyland
Actress | Vampire Academy
Sarah Hyland was born in New York City to actors Melissa D. Canaday and Edward James Hyland. She began in the business at the age of 4 with commercial work and voice overs. Her first film was Private Parts (1997). She then moved on to The Object of My Affection (1998) and then spent time on Another...
Has kidney dysplasia, a congenital condition in which a person is born with malformed kidneys
Hyland has had 16 surgeries since childhood, including two kidney transplants, and suffers from gynecological problems and extreme fatigue
47. Geri Jewell
Actress | Deadwood
Geri Jewell was born on September 13, 1956 in Buffalo, New York, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Deadwood (2004), 21 Jump Street (1987) and The Facts of Life (1979). She was previously married to Richard Pimentel.
Has cerebral palsy, a disease caused by abnormal development of or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. She was diagnosed at 18 months old
Is a disability advocate, and wrote about her disease in her autobiography, "I’m Walking As Straight As I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond"
48. Magic Johnson
Producer | Obsessed
Magic Johnson was born on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Obsessed (2009), Dead Tone (2007) and Hair Show (2004). He has been married to Cookie Johnson since September 14, 1991. They have two children.
Was diagnosed with HIV in 1991, at a time when most people thought HIV was a disease exclusive to gay men, and that it was always fatal
Magic was one of the first people to be successfully treated with a drug cocktail that allows him to live symptom-free with HIV. Now, more than 30 years after diagnosis, he remains healthy and active
He became a spokesperson and advocate for AIDS education and research, launching the Magic Johnson Foundation to raise awareness about the virus. He also pushed Congress and the White House to spend money to fight the disease
49. Nick Jonas
Actor | Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Nick Jonas is best known as one of the Jonas Brothers, a band formed with his brothers Kevin and Joe. He has appeared in films such as Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and Careful What You Wish For (2015). He has also appeared television series Last Man Standing (2011) and ...
Has Type I diabetes, a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. This prevents glucose (sugar) from entering a peron's cells, causing it to build up in their bloodstream
He was diagnosed at 13 years old when he was hospitalized for rapid weight loss, excessive thirst, and extreme irritability, all of which are symptoms of extremely high blood sugar
He wears an insulin pump, a small computerized device that measures his insulin levels and delivers insulin to his bloodstream
50. Florence Griffith Joyner
Actress | Pacific Blue
Florence Delorez Griffith Joyner (December 21, 1959 - September 21, 1998), also known as Flo-Jo, was an American track and field athlete. She is considered the fastest woman of all time based on the fact that the world records she set in 1988 for both the 100 m and 200 m still stand and have yet to...
Was born with a cavernous hemangioma, a malformation of the blood vessels in her brain. The disorder caused seizures throughout her life
DIED September 21, 1998, age 38; she suffocated in her sleep during a seizure
51. Frida Kahlo
Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderon was born on July 6, 1907 in Mexico City, Mexico. She was the seventh daughter of Guillermo Kahlo (born Carl Wilhelm Kahlo), a successful German photographer who emigrated to Mexico from Pforzheim, and of a mestiza mother, Matilde Calderón y González. Her ...
Had chronic pain from a near-fatal trolley accident at age 18 in which her abdomen and uterus were pierced by an iron rail. Several bones were also fractured including her spine, collarbone, right leg, right foot, and shoulder
DIED July 13, 1954, age 47, of a pulmonary embolism
52. John Kay
Soundtrack | Star Trek: First Contact
John Kay was born on April 12, 1944 in Tilsit, East Prussia, Germany [now Sovetsk, Russia]. He is a producer, known for Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and The Limey (1999). He has been married to Jutta Maue since February 24, 1967. They have one child.
Was born with achromatopsia, an inherited eye disease that causes the retinas to deteriorate
He has some vision, but is legally blind. He is hypersensitive to light, which is why he wears his signature dark glasses. He is also completely color blind
53. John F. Kennedy
Writer | Profiles in Courage
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Rose Kennedy (née Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald) and Joseph P. Kennedy. John was named after his maternal grandfather, John "HoneyFitz" Fitzgerald, the mayor of Boston. John was very ill as a child and was given the last ...
Was the 35th President of the United States
Had several health problems, including Addison's Disease, an autoimmune disorder wherein the adrenal glands don't produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone
The disease causes several symptoms including extreme fatigue, muscle or joint pain, low blood sugar, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms
Addison's is not preventable; it is managed primarily by taking steroids
DIED November 22, 1963, by assassination
54. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Producer | The Real Anthony Fauci
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was born on January 17, 1954 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Real Anthony Fauci (2022), JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass (2021) and Infertility: A Diabolical Agenda (2022). He has been married to Cheryl Hines since ...
Has spasmodic dysphonia, a neurologic disorder that causes the muscles in the larynx to spasm, resulting in difficulty speaking
He was diagnosed in 2001. The condition has steadily worsened, and his speech is gradually becoming unintelligible
55. Richard Kiel
Actor | Moonraker
Towering 7' 2" tall actor who cornered the market on playing giants, intimidating henchmen, bayou swamp monsters and steel toothed villains! Kiel worked in numerous jobs including as a night club bouncer and a cemetery plot salesman, before breaking into film & TV in several minor roles in the late...
Had acromegaly, a condition in which the body produces too much growth hormone. It caused him to be blind in one eye, and to have enlarged facial features
It also caused him to grow to 7'2" (2.18 m). Interestingly, his wife was only 5'1" (1.55 m)
DIED September 10, 2014, age 74, of a heart attack
56. Val Kilmer
Actor | The Doors
Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Swanette (Ekstadt) and Eugene Dorris Kilmer, who was a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor. His mother, born in Indiana, was from a Swedish family, and his father was from Texas. Val studied at Hollywood's ...
Was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015
Has undergone chemotherapy and radiation, and has a tracheostomy (a surgical opening in his windpipe that enables him to breathe)
The trach surgery permanently damaged his vocal cords, so he now speaks with a device that produces a computer-generated voice. He also has a feeding tube inserted directly into his stomach because he can no longer safely swallow foods or liquids
Despite these challenges, he continues to appear in movies and remains optimistic about his recovery
57. Jimmy Kimmel
Writer | Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Jimmy Kimmel was born on November 13, 1967 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003), The Man Show (1999) and Win Ben Stein's Money (1997). He has been married to Molly McNearney since July 13, 2013. They have two children. He was ...
Has narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and dozing off involuntarily during the day while eating, talking, driving, or performing other routine activities
He takes medication to control his symptoms
58. Shane MacGowan
Soundtrack | Grosse Pointe Blank
Born in Kent, England, songwriter/poet Shane MacGowan attended Westminster School (and was later expelled for drug use). After a brief time with the Nips (77-79), Shane MacGowan formed the democratically operated Pogues, a successful '80s group which released a handful of well-received records (e.g...
Had encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, which was caused by the shingles virus
He fractured his pelvis in 2015, and used a wheelchair for mobility afterwards; also broke his knee in 2021
DIED November 30, 2023, age 65, of pneumonia
59. Gaten Matarazzo
Actor | Stranger Things
Gaetano John "Gaten" Matarazzo III (born September 8, 2002) is an Italian-American actor. He began his career on the Broadway stage as Benjamin in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert & as Gavroche in Les Misérables. He stars as Dustin Henderson in the Netflix science-fiction drama series, Stranger Things...
Has cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that affects teeth and bones, particularly those in the skull, face, spine, collar bones, and legs
Gaten has no collar bones, and is missing several teeth, for which he usually wears a bridge
The condition also causes short stature. Gaten is 5'5" (1.65 m)
60. Bret Michaels
Soundtrack | A Letter from Death Row
Bret Michaels was born on March 15, 1963 in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for A Letter from Death Row (1998), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and Friday Night Lights (2004).
Has Type I diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes because it was most often diagnosed in childhood. Michaels was diagnosed at age 6
When he won $250,000 on the TV how "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2010, he pledged the money to The American Diabetes Association
61. Andy Milonakis
Actor | Waiting...
Andy Milonakis was born on January 30, 1976 in Katonah, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Waiting... (2005), Mac & Devin Go to High School (2012) and Who's Your Caddy? (2007).
Has congenital growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a condition in which the pituitary gland makes too little growth hormone
Most people with GHD have absent or delayed sexual development during puberty and very short stature. His height has been reported as 5'5" to 5'7," depending on the source
He also looks and sounds much younger than his age. He is in his 40's, but is often mistaken for someone in their early 20's
62. Adam Morse
Actor | Lucid
Adam Morse is a British actor/writer/producer/director based in London and is the world's first award-winning blind filmmaker. Adam lost his eyesight at the age of nineteen in 2009 when he was diagnosed with a rare mitochondrial disease LHON, since then, Morse has gone against all odds to break ...
Has Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a hereditary eye disease that caused him to become legally blind at age 19
Is an award-winning actor, director, and producer; he usually plays sighted characters, including doing his own stunts in action movies
63. Frankie Muniz
Actor | Agent Cody Banks
Frankie was born in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, to Denise, a nurse, and Francisco Muniz III, a restaurateur. His father is of Puerto Rican heritage and his mother is of Irish and Italian descent. Frankie was home-schooled since Grade Six. He started his acting career performing the role of Tiny Tim in ...
Has transient ischemia attacks (TIA), which are temporary blockages of blood flow to the brain (mini-strokes). He also has severe migraines
He also has had 9 concussions from sports injuries, and suffers from memory loss. On a 2021 podcast he said he doesn't remember much about "Malcolm the Middle," the TV show that catapulted him to fame
64. Rafael Nadal
Actor | Shakira: Gypsy
Rafael Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
Nadal has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, as well as a record 35 ATP Tour Masters 1000 titles, 21 ATP Tour 500 titles and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles. In ...
Has Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a disease in which the navicular bone in the foot loses its blood supply, causing the bone to collapse and die
Is typically seen in women 40-60, but Nadal was diagnosed in 2005 at age 19. The disease causes significant foot pain, and at times he needs crutches to walk
65. Leslie Nielsen
Actor | Airplane!
Leslie William Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and raised in Tulita (formerly Fort Norman), Northwest Territories. His mother, Mabel Elizabeth (Davies), was Welsh. His father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born Mountie and a strict disciplinarian. Leslie studied at the Academy of ...
Was legally deaf
Was a Canadian actor best known for the films "The Poseidon Adventure," "Airplane!," "Police Squad!," and "The Naked Gun" film series
DIED November 28, 2010, age 84, of pneumonia
66. Sandra Day O'Connor
Actress | Wallace Stegner
A mild-mannered jurist who thinks carefully before she speaks or makes decisions, Sandra Day O'Connor does not project the figure of a trailblazer. But she became exactly that. She was the daughter of cattle ranchers Henry Day and Ada Wilkey. She was a true child of the frontier, learning how to ...
Was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court
In October 2018 she announced via open letter, "Some time ago, doctors diagnosed me with the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease." She then immediately retired from public life
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60% - 80% of all dementias. People with Alzheimer's live an average of 4 - 8 years after diagnosis
Her mother and aunt died of Alzheimer's, as did her husband
DIED December 1, 2023, age 93, of Alzheimer's disease
67. Heather O'Rourke
Actress | Poltergeist
Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in Santee, San Diego, California, to Kathleen, a seamstress, and Michael O'Rourke, a construction worker. She had German, Danish, English, and Irish ancestry.
Heather entered American cinematic pop-culture before first grade. She was sitting ...
Had congenital stenosis (narrowing) of the intestine, a condition that either completely blocks or significantly impedes the passage of food through the digestive tract
Actress best known for the "Poltergeist" movies and the TV shows "Happy Days" and "Webster"
DIED December 27, 1975, age 12, during surgery for the condition
68. Ozzy Osbourne
Soundtrack | Little Nicky
One of the pioneers of heavy metal and one of its most commercially successful and iconic artists, Ozzy Osbourne was born in Birmingham, England, as John Michael Osbourne. After leaving school and having many odd jobs, he ended up in a band with Geezer Butler. This group then split, leading Ozzy ...
Has Parkinson's Disease, a neurological disorder that causes tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination
He was diagnosed in 2003, but did not publicly reveal it until 2020 when he canceled all upcoming tour dates due to the disease and other health problems
The disease is progressive, and has gradually affected his ability to walk and speak. In 2022 he announced he would be moving from LA back to his home in the UK to better focus on his health
69. Iggy Pop
Actor | Cry-Baby
Iggy Pop was born on April 21, 1947 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Cry-Baby (1990), Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) and Dead Man (1995). He has been married to Nina Alu since November 22, 2008. He was previously married to Suchi Asano and Wendy Weissberg.
Has scoliosis, a condition in which the spine has an S- or C-shaped curve. As a result, one of his legs is 1½" shorter than the other
70. Christopher Reeve
Actor | Superman
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was born September 25, 1952, in New York City, to journalist Barbara Johnson (née Barbara Pitney Lamb) and writer/professor F.D. Reeve (Franklin D'Olier Reeve). He came from an upper-class family; his paternal grandfather was CEO of Prudential Financial, and one of his ...
Was paralyzed in 1995 when he was thrown from his horse. He lost voluntary control of all movement and bodily functions from the neck down
He had difficulty speaking, and breathed with the assistance of a ventilator. He had a team of medical professionals who provided round-the-clock care
He founded the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and co-founded the Reeve-Irvine Research Center. Both were dedicated to finding a cure for paralysis
DIED October 10, 2004, age 52, from complications of an infected pressure ulcer
71. Janet Reno
Actress | The Simpsons
Janet Reno was born on July 21, 1938 in Miami, Florida, USA. She was an actress, known for The Simpsons (1989), Frontline (1983) and Mugshots (2000). She died on November 7, 2016 in Miami, Florida, USA.
Was the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General, from 1993-2001, under President Bill Clinton
Had Parkinson's Disease, which was diagnosed two years into her term as Attorney General
DIED November 7, 2016, age 78, of Parkinson's Disease
72. Gina Rodriguez
Actress | Deepwater Horizon
Named the "next big thing" and one of the "top 35 Latinos under 35," by The Hollywood Reporter, Gina Rodriguez's profile has been rising steadily since her breakout performance as the titular character in FILLY BROWN during the Sundance Film Festival in 2012.
Gina Rodriguez was born in Chicago, ...
Has Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism, which is low levels of thyroid hormone; causes weight gain, muscle weakness and stiffness, joint pain, fatigue, and other symptoms
73. Matthew Roloff
Producer | Little People, Big World
Matthew Roloff was born on October 7, 1961 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Little People, Big World (2006), Under the Rainbow (1981) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). He was previously married to Amy Roloff.
Has diastrophic dysplasia, a form of dwarfism that causes very short arms and legs, club foot, and twisted joints; he is 4'0" tall. He had 15 operations as a child to try to relieve his symptoms
His parents and sister are average height, but his brother also has diastrophic dysplasia. Three of his children are average height; one has achondroplasia, the same form of dwarfism as Roloff's ex-wife
74. Linda Ronstadt
Soundtrack | The Pirates of Penzance
Linda Ronstadt was born on July 15, 1946 in Tucson, Arizona, USA. She is a music artist and actress, known for The Pirates of Penzance (1983), An American Tail (1986) and The Abyss (1989).
Has progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative brain condition that has left her with the inability to sing
In a 2019 People magazine she said, “I can't sing a note. In my mind — in my imagination — I can still sing.”
75. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Writer | The President's Mystery
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, to James and Sara Roosevelt. His father was 54 at the time of FDR's birth and already had a grown son, nicknamed "Rosy". Sarah was only 27 when FDR was born. Growing up, FDR had a happy but sheltered childhood. His ...
Was the 32nd President of the United States, winning the election a record four times
Was diagnosed with polio, an infectious disease caused by the polio virus. He was permanently paralyzed from the waist down
DIED April 12, 1945, age 63, of a hemorrhagic stroke
76. André René Roussimoff
Actor | The Princess Bride
André René Roussimoff was born in a small farming community in Grenoble, France to Boris and Marian Rouismoff. His parents and four siblings were all of normal size, but André suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. As the ...
Was a professional wrestler known as Andre the Giant
Had acromegaly, an endocrine disorder that causes the pituitary gland to produce excessive growth hormone
Acromegaly causes a wide range of symptoms including tall stature, abnormally large hands and feet, enlarged facial bones and brow bone, joint pain, weakness, and fatigue
Andre was reportedly 7'4" (2.24 m), but many believe his height was exaggerated by wrestling promoters and that he was at least 4 inches shorter
DIED January 28, 1993, age 46, of congestive heart failure
77. Seal
Soundtrack | Batman Forever
His Nigerian mother and Brazilian-born father were still studying when Seal was born. They were barely able to stay afloat with odd jobs. Shortly after his birth, Seal was sent to a foster family, where he grew up in sheltered conditions until he was four years old. In 1967, his mother Adebisi ...
Has discoid lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder that causes circular facial lesions, facial scarring, and hair loss
Was diagnosed at age 21. He said that he was initially self-conscious about his looks, but is grateful that his form of lupus does not affect his internal organs, only his skin
78. Charlie Sheen
Actor | Two and a Half Men
Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez on September 3, 1965, in New York City. His father, actor Martin Sheen (born Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez), was at the time just breaking into the business, with performances on Broadway. His mother, Janet Sheen (née Templeton), was a former New York art ...
In 2011 he was diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), but did not publicly reveal it until 2015 in an interview on "The Today Show"
After his interview, sales of home HIV test kits doubled. This phenomenon coined a new term, "the Charlie Sheen effect”, to describe when the general public massively seeks information based on what a celebrity says
Sheen was once the highest-paid actor on TV, earning $1.8 million dollars per episode of "Two and a Half Men"
79. Sia
Soundtrack | Sia: Chandelier
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (born 18 December 1975) is an Australian singer, songwriter, record producer and music video director. She started her career as a singer in the acid jazz band Crisp in the mid-1990s in Adelaide. In 1997, when Crisp disbanded, she released her debut studio album titled ...
Has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of inherited disorders that affect the connective tissues, primarily the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls
People with Ehlers-Danlos experience extreme fatigue, joint pain, frequent dislocated joints, and skin that bruises easily and heals poorly
She also has Graves Disease, an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid. It causes shaky hands, a fast and irregular heartbeat, fatigue, irritability, nervousness, and muscle weakness
80. Grace Slick
Soundtrack | American Hustle
Grace Slick was born on October 30, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for American Hustle (2013), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) and Brooklyn's Finest (2009). She was previously married to Skip Johnson and Jerry Slick.
Has erythromelalgia, a neurovascular disease that causes episodes of burning pain and redness in the feet, and sometimes the hands, arms, legs, ears and face
She said she constantly runs four air conditioners to keep herself cool and relieve the burning pain. She can only stand a few minutes at a time
81. Sylvester Stallone
Actor | Rocky
Sylvester Stallone is an athletically built, dark-haired American actor/screenwriter/director/producer, the movie fans worldwide have been flocking to see Stallone's films for over 40 years, making "Sly" one of Hollywood's biggest-ever box office draws.
Sylvester Stallone was born on July 6, 1946, ...
During birth, a doctor accidentally severed one of his facial nerves with forceps
This paralyzed the lower left side of his face, including parts of his lip, tongue, and chin. This caused his face to droop and gave him a distinctive speech impediment
82. Pete Townshend
Music_department | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Born in Chiswick, London just ten days after the German surrender in 1945, Townshend grows up in a typical middle-class home. His parents, Cliff and Betty Townshend, are both musicians, and as a child he accompanies them on dance band tours. Townshend starts playing guitar at 12. He goes to art ...
Is partially deaf and has tinnitus, which is ringing or other noises in your ear. His condition is believed to be caused by his prolonged exposure to loud music as a member of the rock band The Who
This includes a Who concert at the Charlton Athletic Football Club in London that was listed as the "Loudest Concert Ever" by the Guinness Book of Records,
83. Randy Travis
Soundtrack | Deep Impact
Randy Travis was born on May 4, 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Deep Impact (1998), The Rainmaker (1997) and National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007). He has been married to Mary Davis Travis since March 21, 2015. He was previously married to ...
In 2013 he had a massive stroke that left him with the inability to speak in complete sentences (aphasia) and partial paralysis of his right side, making it difficult for him to walk. He can no longer sing, and has retired from performing
84. Ted Turner
Ted Turner was born on November 19, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA as Robert Edward Turner III. He is the founder of CNN, Turner Broadcast System (TBS) and Turner Network Television (TNT). He was previously married to Jane Fonda, Jane Shirley Smith and Judy Nye. He started in the business as a ...
Has Lewy body dementia, a form of dementia whose exact cause is unknown. There is no known cure
Symptoms include difficulty walking, visual hallucinations, sleep disturbances, difficulty thinking and concentrating, and memory loss
Is most common in people over age 50. Average life expectancy after diagnosis is 4 years. Turner revealed his diagnosis in 2018 at age 79
85. Shania Twain
Soundtrack | I Heart Huckabees
Shania Twain was born as Eilleen Regina Edwards in 1965 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, one of three daughters of Clarence and Sharon (Morrison) Edwards (sister Jill is two years older and Carrie-Ann three years younger). When she was age six, her mother remarried Jerry Twain, a full-blooded Ojibwa ...
Has Lyme disease, which is contracted by tick bites. The disease caused irreversible damage to her voice. She had throat surgery in 2015 to try to reverse the effects, but it was only partially successful
86. Gabrielle Union
Actress | Bring It On
Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. There, ...
Has adenomyosis, a condition in which endometrial tissue grows into the uterine wall
Symptoms include an enlarged uterus, chronic pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and impaired fertility. As a result, Union has had 9 miscarriages
87. Pruitt Taylor Vince
Actor | Identity
Pruitt can next be seen starring as a series regular in the Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake, opposite Natalie Portman. Other television work includes recurring in Netflix's Stranger Things, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., NBC's Heroes Reborn, True Blood, The Walking Dead, The Mentalist, and ...
Has nystagmus, an involuntary eye movement which causes the eye to rapidly move from side to side, up and down, or in a circle
He usually incorporates the condition into his acting roles
88. Fetty Wap
Actor | Fetty Wap: Trap Queen
Fetty Wap is known for Fetty Wap: Trap Queen (2015), The Week Of (2018) and I'm Not Really Here (2020).
Was born with glaucoma in both eyes, and had his left eye surgically removed as a child
89. Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins
Producer | ATL
Tionne Tenese Watkins was born on April 26, 1970 in Des Moines, Iowa. She is also known as "T-Boz" in the R&B/Hip-Hop group, TLC. Born to parents of both African American and Native American descent. As a child she was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (1 in 12 people of African American descent ...
Has sickle cell disease (SCD), also called sickle cell anemia, a hereditary blood disorder
It is characterized by periods of extreme pain, when sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow to the chest, abdomen and joints. Symptoms also include swelling of the hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth, and vision problems
85% of people with SCD are of African descent. Average life expectancy is only 47 years; Watkins is currently in her 50's
She is the national spokeswoman for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, and works hard to educate people about the disease
90. Hugo Weaving
Actor | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Hugo Wallace Weaving was born on April 4, 1960 in Nigeria, to English parents Anne (Lennard), a tour guide and teacher, and Wallace Weaving, a seismologist. Hugo has an older brother, Simon, and a younger sister, Anna, who both also live and work in Australia. During his early childhood, the ...
Has epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures. He was diagnosed at age 13, and does not drive due to the condition
91. Forest Whitaker
Actor | The Last King of Scotland
Forest Steven Whitaker has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6' 2", 220 lb. frame. He won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film The Last King of Scotland (2006), and has also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. He is the fourth African-American male to...
Has an eye condition called ptosis, which causes his upper left eyelid to droop
92. Maurice White
Soundtrack | The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Maurice was born in Memphis on December 19, 1941, but moved to Chicago as a teenager. His father, Verdine, was a doctor. For many years, they lived in the South Shore section on the South Side. He attended Crane Junior College and the Chicago Conservatory of Music. It was while he was at the ...
Was one of the founding members of the group Earth, Wind, and Fire
Was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1992 at age 50, but did not publicly disclose it until 2000. He continued to perform for several years after his diagnosis
DIED February 3, 2016, age 74, of Parkinson's Disease
93. Venus Williams
Producer | King Richard
Venus Williams is an American professional tennis player. Williams has been ranked world No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association on three occasions, for a total of 11 weeks. She first reached the No. 1 ranking on February 25, 2002, the first African American woman to do so in the Open Era, and the ...
Has Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease which causes fatigue, muscle and joint pain, arm and leg numbness, dry mouth and eyes, and thyroid problems
People with Sjögren's are also at increased risk of lymphoma (cancer of the blood and lymph nodes)
94. Wendy Williams
Actress | Think Like a Man
Wendy Williams was born on July 18, 1964 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Think Like a Man (2012), Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). She was previously married to Kevin Hunter and Bert Girigorie.
Has frontotemporal dementia (see Bruce Wiils below). Also has Graves Disease, a thyroid disease that caused her eyes to bulge and become misaligned
95. Bruce Willis
Actor | Die Hard
Actor and musician Bruce Willis is well known for playing wisecracking or hard-edged characters, often in spectacular action films. Collectively, he has appeared in films that have grossed in excess of $2.5 billion USD.
Walter Bruce Willis was born on March 19, 1955, in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany,...
Has frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which is caused by damage to the nerves in the brain. Symptoms include difficulty speaking and understanding language (aphasia), memory loss, personality changes, mood swings, and difficulty walking
People with FTD are also at increased risk of infections, with pneumonia being the primary cause of death. People with FTD usually live 6-8 years after diagnosis
In April 2022 he retired from acting due to the disease
96. Carnie Wilson
Soundtrack | Bridesmaids
Carnie Wilson was born on April 29, 1968 in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Bridesmaids (2011), Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) and Whip It (2009). She has been married to Rob Bonfiglio since June 23, 2000. They have two children.
In 2013 was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a type of facial paralysis
97. Stevie Wonder
Soundtrack | Wild Wild West
Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, United States, to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. Due to being born six weeks premature, Stevie Wonder was born with a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which made him blind. Stevie Wonder, even with this disability, made his ...
Has retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition that developed when he was born prematurely and placed in an oxygen-rich incubator because his lungs were underdeveloped
The oxygen saved his life, but caused his retinas to scar and become detached, leading to him becoming permanently blind
98. Steve Wynn
Actor | Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
Steve Wynn is most notable for his contributions to the hotel and gaming industry in Las Vegas. Wynn has also left a mark in the film industry, primarily through the use of lending his hotels as backdrops for movies. In 1997, he lent The Mirage resort for the filming of Vegas Vacation starring ...
Has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disorder that causes loss of vision. He has been legally blind since 2010
Is a billionaire real estate developer best known for building several Las Vegas Hotels including The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, and other hotel resorts
99. Thom Yorke
Soundtrack | Suspiria
Thom Yorke was born on October 7, 1968 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Suspiria (2018), Children of Men (2006) and Motherless Brooklyn (2019). He was previously married to Rachel Owen.
Was born with a paralyzed left eye. He had 5 surgeries by the age of 6 in an attempt to correct the condition. The last surgery worsened his vision, and caused his eye to droop. After that he declined to have any further surgery
100. Robert Z'Dar
Actor | Tango & Cash
Robert Z'Dar was born Robert James Zdarsky on June 3, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He caught the acting bug while attending Proviso West High School in Hillside. He received a BFA from Arizona State University. Prior to acting Z'Dar was a singer/keyboardist/guitar player for the Chicago-based rock ...
Had cherubism, a disorder in which the upper and lower jaw become enlarged due to bone tissue being replaced with cyst-like growths
DIED March 30, 2015, age 64, of heart disease
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