Famous People Born With a Cleft Lip or Palate
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2017/11/10 - Updated: 2025/05/22
Publication Type: Awareness, Appreciation
Category Topic: Famous Disabled People - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information provides an authoritative and thoughtfully curated list of well-known individuals born with a cleft lip or palate, a congenital condition affecting facial development during pregnancy. The article is particularly useful and interesting as it highlights the prevalence of cleft conditions - affecting roughly one in 600 to 800 births - and underscores that modern surgical treatments have made recovery and a full life increasingly possible for those affected. By naming a diverse group of public figures, such as actor Joaquin Phoenix, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, football star Peyton Manning, and historical figures like Tutankhamun and Thomas Malthus, the article offers real-world examples that may inspire and inform people with disabilities, their families, and advocates.
The credibility of the information is reinforced by the expertise of the author, a long-standing disability rights advocate and editor, whose commitment to the Social Model of Disability ensures a focus on social inclusion and accessibility. This resource can help reduce stigma, foster understanding, and demonstrate that people with cleft conditions have made significant contributions across many fields - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Cleft lip and cleft palate, which can also occur together as cleft lip and palate are variations of a type of clefting congenital deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation. This type of deformity is sometimes referred to as a cleft.
Main Content
Cleft lips or palates occur in somewhere between one in 600-800 births. Cleft lip and palate is very treatable, however the kind of treatment depends on the type and severity of the cleft. Thanks to modern technology cleft palate surgery is safer than ever before and can help a child make a full recovery.
List of Famous People with a Cleft
- Antoinette Bourignon
- Carmit Bachar
- Cheech Marin - Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin (born July 13, 1946)
- Dario Šarić
- Doc Holliday
- Franz Rogowski
- Geoff Plant
- Jerry Byrd
- Jesse Jackson - Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.
- Joaquin Rafael Phoenix
- Joe Mele
- Jose Ferrer
- Jurgen Habermas
- Lee Raymond
- Ljubo Milicevic
- Louis Wain
- Michael Helm
- Nikki Payne
- Owen Schmitt
- Peyton Manning
- Richard Hawley - (born Richard Willis Hawley)
- Rita MacNeil
- Stacy Keach - (born Walter Stacy Keach, Jr.)
- Tad Lincoln - Thomas "Tad" Lincoln
- Thomas Malthus - Thomas Robert Malthus (13 February 1766 - 23 December 1834)
- Thorgils Skarthi
- Tim Lott
- Tom Burke
- Tutankhamun - (1341 BC - 1323 BC)
- Wendy Harmer
NOTE: If you notice any inaccuracies in this list, please reach out to us so we can correct it. Additionally, if you believe someone should be added to this list, please provide us with their name and any information to verify their disability. We value your help, and you can contact us here.
You can also view our other lists of famous and well-known people with various disabilities and conditions, including actors, politicians, and writers who contributed to society.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: In conclusion, the article offers a meaningful perspective by presenting the accomplishments of well-known personalities who have faced cleft-related challenges. It broadens public understanding of cleft conditions beyond medical aspects, emphasizing social and cultural dimensions. For readers, especially those directly or indirectly affected, this compilation can provide reassurance and motivation, underscoring the importance of visibility and representation in reducing stigma and fostering acceptance - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.