Famous People Who Have or Had Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2 Jun 2025 - Updated: 2 Jul 2026
Publication Type: Awareness, Appreciation

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis: This article offers an informative and accessible overview of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious neurological disorder, by presenting a wide-ranging list of prominent individuals who have lived with or possibly experienced the condition. It highlights the unpredictable nature of GBS, its sudden onset, and its potential to affect individuals of any age, background, or profession - including actors, athletes, religious leaders, musicians, and political figures. The inclusion of personal cases - ranging from Joseph Heller to Sufjan Stevens - adds human depth to the medical facts and underscores the importance of early recognition and treatment. This information can be especially meaningful for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and caregivers by offering relatable examples of resilience, while also contributing to greater public awareness of a condition that often remains underrecognized.

At a Glance

• 1 - Possible historical cases include Alexander the Great and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• 2 - Author Joseph Heller, who wrote Catch-22, contracted GBS in 1981 and chronicled it in his memoir No Laughing Matter.
• 3 - Those affected span actors like Andy Griffith, Grammy winners like Christopher Cross, and NFL players like Travis Frederick. Several, including Serge Payer and Toni Rüttimann, turned their recovery into charitable or humanitarian work.

Topic Definition: Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barré Syndrome, often abbreviated GBS, is a rare neurological disorder in which the immune system mistakenly turns on the body's own peripheral nerves. It usually starts with weakness or a tingling sensation in the legs and can move quickly toward muscle paralysis, trouble breathing, and, in the most severe cases, life-threatening complications. The exact cause remains unknown, though the condition is frequently triggered by an infection such as the flu or a gastrointestinal illness, and occasionally follows a vaccination. Because symptoms can escalate within hours or days, GBS typically calls for hospital care, with treatments like intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis used to calm the immune response. Many people recover fully or partially, but the path through treatment and rehabilitation can be long and hard to predict.

Introduction

Notable People Who Faced Guillain-Barré Syndrome and the Rare Nerve Disorder Behind It

Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves. It often begins with weakness or tingling in the legs and can progress rapidly to muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications. While the exact cause is unknown, GBS is often triggered by infections such as the flu, gastrointestinal illnesses, or even vaccinations. The condition can develop over hours to days and typically requires hospitalization, with treatments including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or plasmapheresis to reduce the immune response.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome can be life-threatening and debilitating, but many individuals have recovered and gone on to achieve greatness. GBS affects people from all walks of life - presidents, actors, athletes, and doctors - showing that resilience and determination often play a key role in recovery and legacy.

What makes GBS particularly striking is that it can affect anyone - regardless of age, gender, or background. Healthy children, adults, athletes, politicians, and entertainers alike have all experienced its sudden onset. Because it comes without warning and progresses quickly, it reminds us that neurological disorders do not discriminate. While many recover fully or partially with treatment and rehabilitation, the road can be long and unpredictable, underscoring the importance of awareness, early diagnosis, and support for those affected.

Main Content

List of People with Guillain–Barré Syndrome

• Alastair Clarkson, Australian rules football coach.
• Andy Griffith, American actor, best known for The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, was diagnosed with GBS in 1983.
• Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Sydney in the Catholic Church.
• Christopher Cross, Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter and guitarist, diagnosed with GBS in 2020.
• Danny Wuerffel, winner of the 1996 Heisman Trophy while playing for the University of Florida.
• Emmanuel Rashba, prominent theoretical physicist known for the Rashba effect.
• Fabio Pisacane, Italian professional footballer.
• Hans Vonk, distinguished Dutch orchestra conductor.
• Hugh McElhenny, Hall of Fame American football player, notably with the San Francisco 49ers.
• Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards, diagnosed with the Miller Fisher variant of GBS.
• Joseph Heller, author of Catch-22, contracted GBS in 1981, which he chronicled in his memoir No Laughing Matter.
• Kay Smith, Illinois Artist Laureate, was diagnosed at age 73 and continued to paint and teach after rehabilitation.
• Kelly-Marie Stewart, British actress, known for her role in Hollyoaks.
• Kim Atienza, Filipino TV host and former politician.
• Len Pasquarelli, veteran ESPN sports writer and analyst, diagnosed in 2008.
• Lena Nyman, acclaimed Swedish actress.
• Lionel Shriver, American author known for We Need to Talk About Kevin.
• Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, diagnosed with GBS in 2010.
• Lucia Hippolito, Brazilian journalist and political commentator.
• Lucky Oceans, Grammy-winning musician and founding member of Asleep at the Wheel, diagnosed in 2008.
• Markus Babbel, former German international footballer, developed GBS in 2001 following an Epstein–Barr virus infection.
• Michael Joncas, Catholic priest and composer, best known for the hymn “On Eagle's Wings.”
• Mike Egener, Canadian professional ice hockey player.
• Montell Cozart, quarterback in the CFL and USFL, diagnosed with GBS following the 2023 season.
• Morten Wieghorst, former Danish footballer and coach.
• Norton Simon, American industrialist and noted philanthropist.
• Óscar Tabárez, longtime manager of the Uruguay national football team.
• Rachel Chagall, American actress, contracted GBS in 1982; portrayed disability activist Gabriela Brimmer in 1987.
• Rafael Martin, former professional baseball pitcher with the Washington Nationals.
• Rich Ceisler, American comedian who fell ill with GBS while on a cruise and died shortly after.
• Rowdy Gaines, Olympic gold medal swimmer for the United States.
• Ryūtarō Arimura, lead vocalist of the Japanese rock band Plastic Tree; recovered quickly from an early-detected case of GBS.
• Sabine Moussier, Mexican actress known for telenovelas.
• Samuel Goldstein, American Paralympian and athlete.
• Scott McKenzie (Philip Wallach Blondheim), American singer-songwriter best known for "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)," passed away in 2012 due to complications from GBS.
• Serge Payer, Canadian professional hockey player who founded a charity for GBS research after his recovery.
• Sufjan Stevens, American indie musician and songwriter.
• Tom Edlefsen, American tennis player who reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1968, a year after his GBS diagnosis.
• Toni Rüttimann, humanitarian bridge builder; used his recovery in Thailand in 2002 to develop software aiding bridge construction.
• Tony Benn, prominent British politician and diarist.
• Travis Frederick, former All-Pro NFL center for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Vicente Fernández, iconic Mexican ranchera singer and actor.
• William "The Refrigerator" Perry, former NFL defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, diagnosed with GBS in 2008.

People with Possible Cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome

• Alexander the Great
• Franklin D. Roosevelt

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

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.