Actors and Celebrities With Rare Diseases or Chronic Illness

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

Had epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures

DIED April 24, 1974, age 76, of cancer

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

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

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

Has multiple sclerosis, a neurological autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Her symptoms have included weight gain, fatigue, and balance problems

Has Lyme disease, which is caused by being bitten by infected ticks. It can cause fever, joint pain, headaches, and fatigue

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

Has pulmonary sarcoidosis, a lung disease

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Has fibromyalgia, which causes chronic musculo-skeletal pain, extreme fatigue, insomnia, and mood disorder. There is no known cure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

Was born with glaucoma in both eyes, and had his left eye surgically removed as a child

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

Has epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures. He was diagnosed at age 13, and does not drive due to the condition

Has an eye condition called ptosis, which causes his upper left eyelid to droop

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

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)

Has frontotemporal dementia (see Bruce Wiils below). Also has Graves Disease, a thyroid disease that caused her eyes to bulge and become misaligned

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

In 2013 was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a type of facial paralysis

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

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

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

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