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Famous Individuals Who Had Polio: A Historical and Modern List

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 - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This information provides an extensive and well-researched list of notable individuals, both historical and contemporary, who have lived with polio, highlighting the broad impact of the disease across various fields and societies. The article is authoritative and useful because it not only details the origins and nature of poliomyelitis, a highly infectious disease, but also contextualizes its historical significance by mentioning the development of effective vaccines by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, which dramatically reduced global cases. The list includes figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Frida Kahlo, Wilma Rudolph, and Itzhak Perlman, demonstrating that polio has affected people from diverse backgrounds - politicians, artists, athletes, and musicians alike.

This resource is particularly helpful for people with disabilities, seniors, and advocates, as it underscores the achievements of those who lived with polio, offering both historical perspective and a sense of shared experience. The article's credibility is reinforced by its editorial oversight and commitment to accuracy, inviting readers to contribute corrections or additions, which ensures the information remains current and reliable - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Poliomyelitis (Polio or Infantile Paralysisis) is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, a member of the genus Enterovirus, belonging to the Picornaviridae family. The word poliomyelitis originates from the Greek word "polio" meaning "grey" and "myelon" meaning "marrow." The spread of the disease is through the fecal-oral route.

Main Content

There is currently no cure for polio. The focus of modern treatment has been on providing relief of symptoms, speeding recovery and preventing complications. The polio vaccines developed by Jonas Salk in 1952 and Albert Sabin in 1962 are credited with reducing the annual number of polio cases from many hundreds of thousands to around a thousand. Today, only 3 countries in the world have never stopped transmission of polio; Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria - (WHO).

Famous People Who Had and Have Polio

  • A. H. Almaas
  • Adrian Adepitan
  • Alan Alda
  • Alan Marshall
  • Alex Cord
  • Alice Roosevelt Longworth (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Allen B. DuMont
  • Anthony Royle
  • Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon
  • Apolinario Mabini (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Arthur C. Clarke
  • Arthur Guyton
  • Ash Atalla
  • Bapsi Sidhwa
  • Benjamin C. Bradlee
  • Bert Flugelman
  • Bert Massie
  • Bhagwat Chandrasekhar
  • Bill Cullen
  • Bill Gadsby
  • Bob Blackman
  • Boyd K. Packer
  • Brooks Stevens
  • Brownie McGhee
  • Bud Grant
  • Carey Blyton
  • CeDell Davis
  • Charles Dail
  • Charles E. Bennett
  • Charlie Haden
  • Chavela Vargas
  • Christopher Anne Templeton
  • Claudius (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Colin Banks
  • Connee Boswell
  • Daisy Richards Bisz
  • Daniel J. Kremer
  • David Dore
  • David Onley
  • David Sanborn
  • David Starkey
  • Dennis Washington
  • Dinah Shore
  • Dmitri Shostakovich (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Doc Pomus
  • Don Owen
  • Donald Sutherland
  • Donald Tyerman
  • Donald Wade, Baron Wade
  • Donovan
  • Dorothea Lange
  • E. W. Swanton
  • Ed Roberts
  • Edward Max Nicholson
  • Elizabeth Edmondson
  • Elmer L. Andersen
  • Elsie MacGill
  • Emmett Till
  • Emmett Watson
  • Ethelda Bleibtrey
  • Fitz Henry Lane (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Florence B. Seibert
  • Francis Cardinal George
  • Francis Ford Coppola
  • Franklin Clarence Mars
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • Fred Lawrence Whipple
  • Frida Kahlo
  • Garth Drabinsky
  • Garth Drabinsky
  • Gavin Woods
  • Geoffrey Ward
  • Gianni Russo
  • Grace Padaca
  • Guy Crescent
  • Gwen Verdon
  • H. Ramakrishnan
  • Hans-Georg Gadamer
  • Harlan E. Boyles
  • Harold Brooks-Baker
  • Harold Weston
  • Henriette Wyeth
  • Hildegard Knef
  • Horace Parlan
  • Hugh Gallagher
  • Ian Dury
  • Ida Lupino
  • Ike Skelton
  • Israel Vibration
  • Itzhak Perlman
  • J. D. Beresford
  • J. G. Farrell
  • Jack Nicklaus
  • James DePreist
  • James Drury
  • James Glenn Beall
  • James H. Scheuer
  • James McGregor Stewart
  • Jean Chrétien (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Jessie Sampter
  • Joe Bob Briggs
  • Joe Dante
  • Joe Soares
  • Joh Bjelke-Petersen
  • John Creasey
  • John F. Collins
  • John H. Hager
  • John Hamman
  • John Herbert Quick
  • John Konrads
  • John Laws
  • John Porter East
  • Johnny Weissmuller
  • Joni Mitchell
  • Joseph Goebbels (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Judith Heumann
  • Judy Collins
  • Julian Critchley
  • Justin Whitlock Dart, Jr.
  • Katherine Jackson
  • Kerry Packer
  • Kim Beazley
  • Landis Gores
  • Larry Hinson
  • Laurent Schwartz
  • Leonard Kriegel
  • Leslie Waller
  • Lillian Rogers Parks
  • Lis Hartel
  • Lois Marshall
  • Louis Auguste de Bourbon (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Marc Shell
  • Margarete Steiff
  • Marion Davies
  • Marjorie Lawrence
  • Martha Mason
  • Martha Ware
  • Matthew Fox
  • Maud Lewis
  • Max Noether
  • Mel Ferrer
  • Mia Farrow
  • Michael Flanders
  • Michael R. McNulty
  • Milton H. Erickson
  • Mitch McConnell
  • Neil Young
  • Norma Paulus
  • Odette L. Shotwell
  • Owen Roizman
  • Paola Fantato
  • Patrick Cockburn
  • Patrick Nuttgens
  • Paul Edgar Philippe Martin
  • Paul Joseph James Martin
  • Paul Winchell
  • Paulo Autuori
  • Peg Phillips
  • Pete Dawkins
  • Peter Levi
  • Peter Preston
  • Philip Morrison
  • Phyllis Kirk
  • Phyllis Thaxter
  • Pierre Fournier
  • Ray Ewry
  • Ray Peterson
  • Red Steagall
  • Renata Tebaldi
  • Richard B. Fisher
  • Richard N. Cabela
  • Richmal Crompton
  • Robert Anton Wilson
  • Robert McNamara
  • Robin Cavendish
  • Roger Youderian
  • Ronny Yu
  • Rosalind Miles
  • Rosemary Rue
  • Rosemary Tonks
  • Ruskin Spear
  • Satendra Singh
  • Seán Mac Diarmada
  • Senarath Attanayake
  • Shelley Mann
  • Sherman Skolnick
  • Siptah (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Sir John Slessor
  • Sir Ken Robinson
  • Sir Walter Scott (Possibly Had Polio)
  • Spike Breakwell
  • Stacy Smith
  • Steve Cohen
  • Sylvia Syms
  • Tanaquil Le Clercq
  • Tanaquil LeClercq
  • Ted Landsmark
  • Tenley Albright
  • Theresa Ducharme
  • Thomas Midgley, Jr.
  • Tim Rooney
  • Vic Wertz
  • W. Harry Davis
  • Wah Chang
  • Waldren Joseph
  • Walt Davis
  • William Foote Whyte
  • William John Little
  • Wilma Rudolph
  • Yit Foong Hee

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: The enduring relevance of this article lies in its ability to connect the past and present, reminding readers that disability does not preclude accomplishment or influence. By showcasing the resilience and contributions of people who have faced polio, it challenges stereotypes and inspires a broader understanding of what it means to live with a disability, making it a valuable reference for education, advocacy, and personal reflection - 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.

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Citing and References

Founded in 2004, Disabled World (DW) is a leading resource on disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility, supporting the disability community. Learn more on our About Us page.

Cite This Page: Disabled World. (2017, November 10 - Last revised: 2025, May 22). Famous Individuals Who Had Polio: A Historical and Modern List. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved July 12, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/famous/polio.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/famous/polio.php">Famous Individuals Who Had Polio: A Historical and Modern List</a>: Comprehensive list of famous people who had polio, highlighting their achievements and the disease’s historical impact on society.

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