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12 Famous People With Multiple Sclerosis

Famous People With Multiple Sclerosis:

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system, meaning it affects the spinal cord and brain.

In multiple sclerosis, the autoimmune response destroys the myelin sheath, which insulates nerve fibers in the spinal cord and brain. The reason why this autoimmune response happens is unknown.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, MS affects 400,000 people in the United States and more than 2.5 million people worldwide.

Symptoms

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis can fluctuate within the same person from one time to the next since they are unpredictable and vary greatly from sufferer to sufferer.

Some common symptoms of MS are:

  • weakness;
  • sexual problems like – difficulty reaching orgasm, erectile dysfunction, or vaginal sensation;
  • clumsiness;
  • mild intellectual change, like memory problems;
  • difficulty maintaining balance or walking;
  • emotional changes;
  • vertigo;
  • tingling;
  • dizziness;
  • depression;
  • tremors;
  • eye problems, like – uncontrolled eye movements or double vision;
  • stiffness;
  • problems with bowel or bladder control;
  • muscle spasms;
  • fatigue.

Note

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis before the age of 15 years is rare, and the disease usually appears for the 1st time after the age of 50 years. 

List Of 12 Famous People With Multiple Sclerosis:

#1 Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Sigler is an American singer and actress who is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the HBO series called – ”The Sopranos.”

“The Sopranos” star said in an interview.

“I wanted to be somebody that says, ‘I get it, I feel you, I hear you, I go through what you go through, and I understand.’”

Jamie-Lynn was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 at just 20 years old. Sigler didn’t make her MS diagnosis public until 2016 after becoming a mother and wife.

#2 Jim Sweeney

He is an English actor and comedian, who is best known for his improvisation partnership with Steve Steen – a British radio, television, and theatre comedian and actor. 

Sweeney wrote a play about his experiences with multiple sclerosis.

#3 Walter Williams

He was driving back from an O’Jays gig in Buffalo when he first experienced symptoms of multiple sclerosis. During an interview, Walter Williams said:

“I probably stopped in every hospital in every city, trying to find out what was going on.”

#4 Jack Osbourne

He is an English media personality who starred on MTV’s reality series The Osbournes.

In June 2012, Jack Osbourne announced that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He said:

“The timing was so bad. I’d just had a baby, work was going great … I kept thinking, ‘Why now?'”

When a loss of sight in his right eye alerted him to a problem, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

In October 2013, while appearing on ”Dancing with the Stars,” Jack said that he did not suffer from:

“any severe symptoms other than the odd bit of tingling down my leg and the occasional bout of fatigue.”

#5 Montel Williams

Montel is a former American radio talk show host, television personality, and actor who is best known as the host of the long-running daytime talk show named – ”The Montel Williams Show.”

After a car accident in 2017, Williams received a diagnosis that he wasn’t expecting. He said:

“When I heard ‘multiple sclerosis,’ I’d heard the phrase but didn’t know what it was. It felt like a death sentence.” 

#6 Clay Walker

He is an American country music artist who made his debut in 1993 with the single “What’s It to You.” The single reached nr.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

Walker was diagnosed with the disease in 1996.

In 2003, Clay started a nonprofit organization, named – ”Band Against MS,” which focuses on providing educational information to sufferers living with multiple sclerosis and raising funds to help find a cure.

ALSO READ: Famous Deaf People

#7 Tamia

She is a Canadian songwriter, producer, singer, and actress. Tamia released her self-titled debut album in 1998.

After one year, the artist collaborated with Eric Benét on his single – “Spend My Life with You.”

In 2003, Tamia was diagnosed with MS. She declared:

“I’m not shy or ashamed to talk about MS, I’m currently in remission.”

Tamia later added:

“I’m just thankful and blessed that I can still do the things I love to do, a wife, mom, singer, performer, and a businesswoman.”

Tamia is an advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) on behalf of others affected by the disease.

ALSO READ: Famous People With Parkinson’s Disease

#8 Richard Pryor

He was an American actor and stand-up comedian. Richard Pryor is regarded as one of the most influential and greatest stand-up comedians of all time.

In 1996, Pryor received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. He died in 2005 after a heart attack.

#9 Ann Romney

Ann is the wife of American politician and businessman, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah. From 2003 to 2007, while her husband served as Governor, Ann was First Lady of Massachusetts.

In 1998, at the age of 49, Romney was diagnosed with MS.

In 2014, Ann launched the ”Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases,” for which she serves as a global ambassador, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

#10 Clive Burr

Burr was the drummer of Iron Maiden, an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London. Clive was diagnosed with MS. 

Iron Maiden organized the concert “Clive Aid” to raise money for Clive, who was struggling to pay his medical bills.

On March 12, 2013, he died in his sleep in London, 4 days after his 56th birthday, due to complications related to multiple sclerosis.

ALSO READ: Famous People With Disabilities

#11 Teri Garr

She is a retired American actress, dancer, and singer. Her career spans over 40 years and includes more than 140 credits in television and film. Teri often appeared in comedic roles.

In 1999, Teri received a diagnosis of MS.

In 2002, Garr went public about having multiple sclerosis. Teri also became an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

#12 Selma Blair

She is an American actress who played numerous roles in television and films.

Some of her notable film credits include the following:

  • Mom and Dad (2017);
  • Mothers and Daughters (2016);
  • Ordinary World (2016);
  • In Their Skin (2012);
  • Dark Horse (2011);
  • The Poker House (2008);
  • Feast of Love (2007);
  • WΔZ (2007);
  • The Fog (2005);
  • A Dirty Shame (2004);
  • A Guy Thing (2003);
  • Storytelling (2001).

In 2018, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, however, Selma experienced the symptoms long before her diagnosis. 

References

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/hope-through-research/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/multiple_sclerosis/