Famous People Who Had or Has Parkinson's Disease
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2017/11/10 - Updated: 2025/05/22
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Famous Disabled People - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information provides a comprehensive list of well-known individuals from diverse fields who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, highlighting the broad impact of the condition across society. The article explains that Parkinson's is a chronic, progressive movement disorder that can be difficult to diagnose and currently has no cure, though symptoms can be managed with medication or surgery. By cataloging public figures such as Muhammad Ali, Michael J. Fox, Pope John Paul II, Linda Ronstadt, and George H. W. Bush, the resource underscores that Parkinson's affects people regardless of profession, status, or background. The authority of this compilation stems from its extensive, regularly updated roster and its educational context, making it a valuable reference for those seeking to understand the prevalence and social reach of Parkinson's. This can offer comfort, perspective, and a sense of community to people living with the disease, their families, seniors, and others interested in disability awareness - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic disorder that requires broad-based management including patient and family education, support group services, general wellness maintenance, physiotherapy, exercise, and nutrition. Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement and, in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement.
Main Content
Parkinson's disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately. At present, there is no cure for PD, but medications or surgery can provide relief from the symptoms. Early signs and symptoms of PD may sometimes be dismissed as the effects of normal aging. There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been proven to help in diagnosing PD. Therefore the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination.
List of Famous People Who Had or Have Parkinson's Disease
- A. J. P. Taylor - British historian and writer.
- Al Arbour - Canadian ice hockey player and coach.
- Alan Alda - American actor.
- Albert Whitlock - British motion picture matte artist.
- Alex Band - American singer (The Calling).
- Alf Clausen - American film and television composer.
- Alois Mock - Austrian politician.
- Andrew Grove - American businessman.
- André Courrèges - French fashion designer.
- Andy Barrie - Canadian radio personality.
- Antanas Mockus - Colombian politician.
- Ba Jin - Chinese writer.
- Barney Childs - American composer and teacher.
- Basil D'Oliveira - South African-born English cricketer.
- Bhumibol Adulyadej - Thai king.
- Bill Rasmussen - American sports director.
- Billy Connolly - Scottish comedian and actor.
- Billy Graham - American evangelist.
- Billy Kennedy - American basketball coach.
- Bob Hoskins - English actor.
- Booth Gardner - American politician.
- Boyi Bhimanna - Indian poet.
- Brent Peterson - Canadian ice hockey player and coach.
- Brian Grant - American basketball player.
- Brock Adams - American politician.
- Cait Brennan - American musician and screenwriter.
- Carlo Maria Martini - Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Milan, theologian and biblical exegete.
- Carlos Gomes - Portuguese footballer.
- Casey Kasem - American radio disc jockey and voice actor.
- Chester Himes - American writer.
- Dame Anna Neagle - English actress.
- Dave Jennings - American football player.
- David Jacobs - British radio and television presenter.
- Davis Phinney - American cyclist.
- Dean Jones - American actor.
- Dean Malenko - American professional wrestler.
- Deborah Kerr - British actress.
- Deng Xiaoping - Chinese politician.
- Ed Rendell - American politician.
- Edward Winter - American actor.
- Enoch Powell - British politician.
- Erland Josephson - Swedish actor and author.
- Eugene McCarthy - American politician.
- Farnsworth Wright - American editor.
- Ferdy Mayne - German actor.
- Fergus Henderson - English chef.
- Francisco Franco - Spanish dictator.
- Frank Elstner - German television moderator and entertainer
- Frank Kelly - Irish actor.
- Freddie Roach - American boxer.
- George Coulouris - English actor.
- George H. W. Bush - American politician, st President of the United States.
- George Kirby - American comedian.
- George Perles - American football player, defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, head football coach at Michigan State University.
- George Roy Hill - American film director.
- George Wallace - American politician and former governor of Alabama.
- Gerald Ganglbauer - Austrian publisher.
- Gerald M. Levin - American businessman.
- Giulio Natta - Italian chemist.
- Glenn Tipton - English guitarist (Judas Priest).
- Grace Griffith - American singer.
- Gunther von Hagens - German anatomist.
- Guy Kibbee - American actor.
- Guy Scott - Zambian politician, acting President of Zambia.
- Hans Ras - Dutch linguist and academic.
- Harry Dalton - American baseball executive.
- Harvey D. Williams - African-American U.S. Army major general and activist, Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Army.
- Jack Anderson - American columnist.
- Jack Buck - American sportscaster.
- James Doohan - Canadian actor.
- James Levine - American conductor.
- Janet Reno - Attorney General of the United States.
- Jansher Khan - Pakistani squash player.
- Jean-Louis Tauran - Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Apollinare alle Terme Neroniane-Alessandrine, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Roman Curia.
- Jeff Cook - American guitarist (Alabama).
- Jeremy Paxman - British broadcaster.
- Jeremy Thorpe - British politician and leader of the Liberal Party.
- Jerry Sloan - American professional basketball player and former Member of NBA.
- Jesse Jackson - American civil rights activist.
- Jim Backus - American actor.
- Jimmy Knepper - American jazz trombonist.
- Joe Cook - American actor.
- Joe Pasternak - American film director.
- John Lindsay - American politician.
- John Rosenbaum - American artist.
- John Walker - New Zealand runner.
- Johnny Isakson - United States Senator from Georgia.
- Josefa Iloilo - Fijian politician, President of Fiji.
- Joseph M. McDade - American politician and former Congressman from NE Pennsylvania.
- José Bernal - Cuban-American artist.
- José E. Serrano - American politician.
- Joyce Davidson - Canadian-American television personality and producer.
- Kenneth More - English actor.
- Kirk Gibson - American baseball player and manager.
- Knowlton Nash - Canadian television journalist and author.
- Lane Evans - American politician.
- Larry Powers - American bodybuilder.
- Lars von Trier - Danish film director and screenwriter.
- Leo Monahan - American sports journalist.
- Leonard Maltin - American film critic and film historian.
- Leonid Shamkovich - USSR Chess Grandmaster.
- Lesley Elliott - New Zealand campaigner.
- Linda Ronstadt - American singer.
- Lizzie Grey - American singer (London, Spiders & Snakes).
- Lou Butera - American professional pool player.
- Lou Groza - American football player.
- Luis Marden - Italian-American photographer.
- M. Scott Peck - American psychiatrist and best-selling author.
- Mao Zedong - Chinese statesman and revolutionary.
- Margaret Bourke-White - American photographer.
- Margo MacDonald - Scottish politician.
- Mark Mardell - British broadcaster.
- Mark Richt - American college football coach.
- Martha Johnson - Canadian singer (Martha and the Muffins).
- Mary Jackson - American actress.
- Masa Saito - Japanese professional wrestler.
- Masud Husain Khan - Indian linguist.
- Matt Robinson - American actor.
- Maurice White - American singer, musician, founder of R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Meldrim Thomson Jr. - Republican Governor of New Hampshire.
- Mervyn Peake - English author and illustrator.
- Michael Gerson - American journalist and speechwriter.
- Michael J. Fox - Canadian-American actor.
- Michael Kinsley - American journalist and commentator.
- Mo Udall - Member of the US House of Representatives.
- Muhammad Ali - American boxer.
- Nathan Heard - American novelist.
- Neil Diamond - American singer.
- Norman Panama - American writer, producer and director.
- Owen Chamberlain - American physicist.
- Ozzy Osbourne - English singer (Black Sabbath).
- Pat Torpey - American drummer for the band Mr. Big.
- Paul Mayhew-Archer - British radio and television comedy producer and writer.
- Paul Sinha - British comedian.
- Pauline Kael - American film critic.
- Pierre Trudeau - Ex Prime Minister of Canada.
- Pope John Paul II - Polish pope.
- Prince Claus of the Netherlands - Dutch prince.
- Purushottam Laxman Deshpande - Indian writer and humorist.
- Ralph McQuarrie - American artist.
- Ray Kennedy - English footballer.
- Ray Perrault - Canadian politician who served as Senator from British Columbia.
- Richard Lewis - American comedian and actor.
- Richard Thompson - American illustrator and Reuben-award-winning cartoonist.
- Richard Winters - American War Hero. WWII veteran and basis for book Band of Brothers and the subsequent HBO miniseries.
- Richie Kavanagh - Irish singer.
- Rick Shapiro - American comedian and actor.
- Robert Downey Sr. - American filmmaker and actor.
- Roberto Carcelen - Peruvian-American cross-country skier.
- Robin Williams - American actor.
- Roger Bannister - English Olympic runner and neurologist.
- Roger Caron - Canadian bank robber.
- Rory Cellan-Jones - British journalist.
- Salvador Dalí - Spanish painter.
- Shay Healy - Irish songwriter and broadcaster.
- Sir Alec Issigonis - British-Greek car designer.
- Sir John Betjeman - CBE, British poet.
- Sir Michael Redgrave - English actor.
- Sir Osbert Sitwell - English writer.
- Steve Alten - American author.
- Steve Kragthorpe - American football coach.
- Steve Ludzik - Canadian ice hockey player and coach.
- Steve McCoy, American radio host.
- Ted Kroll - American professional golfer.
- Terry-Thomas - English actor.
- Tim Wall - Australian cricketer.
- Tony Mendez - American CIA Officer portrayed in Argo.
- Valerie Perrine - American actress and model.
- Vincent Price - American actor, also had lung cancer.
- Walter Gretzky - Canadian philanthropist and author.
- Walter Lord - American author.
- Walter Sisulu - South African freedom fighter.
- Whit Bissell - American actor.
- William Everson - American poet.
- William Masters - American gynaecologist and sex researcher.
- Zell Miller - American former governor of the state of Georgia.
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: Recognizing the many accomplished individuals who have faced Parkinson's disease serves as a reminder that chronic illness does not define a person's potential or legacy. Their stories can inspire resilience and foster greater public understanding, while also encouraging continued advocacy for research and support for those affected by Parkinson's and similar conditions. In reflecting upon the lives and achievements of those who have navigated the challenges of Parkinson's disease, this compilation not only honors their contributions but also fosters a deeper awareness of the condition. It serves as a reminder that, while Parkinson's presents significant obstacles, it does not define the entirety of one's life or capabilities. Through continued advocacy, research, and public education, society can work towards better support systems and, ultimately, a cure for this debilitating disease - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is an Australian-born writer, editor, and advocate who currently resides in Montreal, Canada. He 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.