Famous Faces of Multiple Sclerosis
Montel Williams
Former talk show host Williams told Oprah Winfrey that pain has been a challenge since his MS diagnosis in 1999. He's learned how to distract himself and "keep it in a box." He currently puts much of his focus on raising awareness about the disease through the Montel Williams MS Foundation.
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Jamie-Lynn Sigler
In the final episode of The Sopranos, which aired in 2007, fans saw the mobster’s daughter, Meadow, run across the street to meet her family for dinner. That, says Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played the character throughout the show’s six-season run, was the last time she ever ran. Sigler was diagnosed with MS in 2001 but stayed quiet about it for years because she feared it would affect her career. In early 2016, she came forward with it. She told People magazine, "It's part of me, but it's not who I am." She takes medication twice a day and says her MS is manageable.
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Jack Osbourne
Reality TV star Jack Osbourne learned he has multiple sclerosis in 2012. He told the British magazine Hello that "'adapt and overcome' is my new motto." Just two months later, he took to Twitter to tell the world he’d just hiked more than 17 miles with a 35-pound backpack. He ended his message with the upbeat words: "Good livin'."
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Trevor Bayne
Daytona 500 winner Bayne revealed in fall 2013 he'd been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Doctors cleared the 22 year old to continue to compete in NASCAR, though. "I am in the best shape I've ever been in, and I feel good," Bayne said. "There are currently no symptoms and I'm committed to continuing to take the best care of my body as possible." He became the youngest driver in NASCAR history to win the Daytona 500 back in 2011.
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Ann Romney
Ann Romney, wife of former presidential contender Mitt Romney, has been open about her challenges with multiple sclerosis (MS). This nervous-system disease can cause many symptoms, such as a loss of balance and trouble walking. Romney rides horses as a form of therapy. Research has found that horseback riding can improve walking ability and balance in people with MS.
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Neil Cavuto
Cavuto, a Fox News TV anchor, had already survived cancer when he learned he had MS in 1997. He's said that his biggest challenges are fatigue and understanding his body’s limitations. He shared stories of other people's triumphs over hardship in his book More than Money: True Stories of People Who Learned Life's Ultimate Lesson.
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Clay Walker
MS struck country music star Clay Walker in his mid-20s. At first he couldn't hold a guitar pick in his right hand or stand. Treatments helped Walker regain use of his right hand and leg -- and forge ahead with an active career and a new passion for volunteer work. In more than 15 years since his diagnosis, Walker has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis.
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Teri Garr
Actress Teri Garr's star was shooting upward in Hollywood in the early '80s, when she noticed troubling symptoms. She revealed her MS diagnosis to the world in 2002. She urges people newly diagnosed with MS to learn all they can about the illness. The disease affects each person differently. Plus, doctors have many treatments to help hold the disease in check.
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Tamia Hill
MS hasn't stopped singer-songwriter Tamia Hill from sharing her gift of music. She's recorded four albums since her diagnosis at age 28. Hill says she has good days and bad days, and finds it helpful to keep a positive attitude. Hill also works to raise public awareness of MS -- and stays busy raising her family with her husband, NBA star Grant Hill.
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Victoria Williams
Singer-songwriter Victoria Williams' MS diagnosis led to a source of support for others. In 1993, her musical friends, including Lou Reed and Pearl Jam, recorded the album, Sweet Relief, to raise money for her medical bills. She then founded the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to help others with health problems. Williams regularly performs her quirky country rock and calls music "a healing thing."
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Alan and David Osmond
Alan Osmond and many of his siblings became famous as members of the singing, dancing Osmond family. His son, David, is now carrying on the family name as a performer, including a turn on TV's American Idol. They share something else, too: Both father and son have multiple sclerosis. They live by Alan's motto: "I may have MS, but MS does not have me."
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Noah '40' Shebib
Shebib is making a name for himself as a producer and collaborator with rapper Drake, a fellow Canadian. A leg that felt "on fire" was one early symptom, leading to a MS diagnosis in his early 20s. Shebib uses his fame to encourage others with MS. He says the disease won't stop him: "I've got this disease. I'm going to live with it. I'm going to win with it."
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David Lander
David Lander's face -- and distinctive voice -- is familiar to legions of fans who knew him as Squiggy on Laverne and Shirley. Though he kept his multiple sclerosis diagnosis quiet for 15 years, he now speaks freely about his experience with the disease at public appearances.
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Hal Ketchum
Country singer Hal Ketchum says that talking to people about his MS helps him feel better about the disease. He's also rearranged his priorities in life to focus on what's really important to him. People can find a supportive group or online chat room -- or even a mentor who is living with MS -- by calling the National MS Society at 800-344-4867.
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Sources Medically Reviewed on 12/18/2015 Reviewed by Richard Senelick, MD on December 18, 2015
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SOURCES:
NASCAR.com
Hello magazine.
Twitter.
New York Times.
ABC News.
National MS Society.
Munoz-Lasa, S. Giornale Italiano di Medicina del Lavoro ed Ergonomia, Oct.-Dec 2011.
People magazine.
Tamiaworld.com.
NIH MedlinePlus.
Foxbusiness.com.
Oprah.com.
MontelMS.org.
ClayWalker.com.
YouTube.com.
Osmond.com.
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Sweetrelief.org.
CNN.com.
DavidLLander.com.
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E! Online.
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US Magazine.
Reviewed by Richard Senelick, MD on December 18, 2015
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THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
