Celebrities with Parkinson's Disease and What They've Said About It

Mar. 15, 2025

Michael J. Fox, Alan Alda and Ozzy Osbourne.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty; zz/KGC-11/STAR MAX/IPx

Kevin Winter/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty; zz/KGC-11/STAR MAX/IPx

Michael J. Foxwas one of the first stars to shine a light on Parkinson’s disease, following his diagnosis in the early 1990s. Through his ups and downs, he’s remained open and public about his health, showing fans the symptoms while calling it “a gift” for both better and worse.

In the years since, many other stars have opened up about their own diagnoses, sharing their journeys, their optimism and their harder moments with their fans.

“Symptoms start slowly. The first symptom may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder may also cause stiffness or slowing of movement.”

Here, hear from Fox and 10 other celebrities who have opened up about their experience with the disease.

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Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox.Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic

One of the earlier famous faces to open up about Parkinson’s wasFox, who was diagnosed in 1991. The actor has been vocal about hisups and downs, research and fundraising, and even launchedhis own foundationin 2000.

It’s the ebb and flow of his symptoms that can get him, though.

“I try not to get too New Age-y. I don’t talk about things being ‘for a reason.’ But I do think the more unexpected something is, the more there is to learn from it,“he said in 2018. “In my case, what was it that made me skip down the hallway to the kitchen thinking I was fine when I’d been in a wheelchair six months earlier? It’s because I had certain optimistic expectations of myself, and I’d had results to bear out those expectations, but I’d had failures too. And I hadn’t given the failures equal weight.”

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Alan Alda

Alan Alda.TNT

Aldakept his diagnosis private for a few years beforerevealing the news in 2018, and admitting that at first it was “scary.” However, education and exercise have helped him cope with the initial shock.

“My life hasn’t changed much,“he said in 2019. “I just applied my curiosity to it. I’m constantly reading and trying to figure out the best approaches. So far it’s really interesting. I think it’s helped me understand a little better that everybody has something they’re coping with.”

In a 2020 interviewwithAARP the Magazine, Alda shared the steps he’s taking to curb his symptoms.

He’s continued to keep his optimistic attitude going,telling PEOPLE in 2022, “Tying shoelaces can be a challenge with stiff fingers. Think of playing the violin while wearing mittens. The silver lining is that I keep getting more confident that I can always find a workaround.”

03of 11Brett FavreAP Photo/Mark SchiefelbeinWhile testifying before Congress in Sept. 2024 about allegations of his misuse of public funds (which he denies),Favre, 54, revealed that he had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.Favre said in his testimony about the funds that he had lost money in an investment for a drug that would treat concussions, a cause that was close to his heart ashe had previously said he’d suffered “thousands” of concussions over the course of his football career. (One study says that a single concussion can raise the risk of a Parkinson’s diagnosis 57%.)“As you know, I was recently diagnosed w/ Parkinson’s which has been an ordeal.My wife, family, and friends have been supportive and I want to thank them for being there for me,”he later wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “To my fans and those wishing well — thank you all for the love.”

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Brett Favre

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

While testifying before Congress in Sept. 2024 about allegations of his misuse of public funds (which he denies),Favre, 54, revealed that he had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Favre said in his testimony about the funds that he had lost money in an investment for a drug that would treat concussions, a cause that was close to his heart ashe had previously said he’d suffered “thousands” of concussions over the course of his football career. (One study says that a single concussion can raise the risk of a Parkinson’s diagnosis 57%.)

“As you know, I was recently diagnosed w/ Parkinson’s which has been an ordeal.My wife, family, and friends have been supportive and I want to thank them for being there for me,”he later wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “To my fans and those wishing well — thank you all for the love.”

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Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.Greg Doherty/Getty

The musiciansat down with Robin Roberts onGood Morning Americain January 2020, along with his family, to update his fans on his ongoing health battle.

“I did my last show New Year’s Eve at The Forum. Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves,” Ozzy began, before opening up abouthis diagnosis.

“It’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day,” she continued.

Sharon also shared that Ozzy would be seeing a professional in Switzerland, who specializes in “getting your immune system at its peak” so he can return to making music for his fans.

“They’re my air, you know,” Ozzy said. “I feel better. I’ve owned up to the fact that I have - a case of Parkinson’s. And I just hope they hang on and they’re there for me because I need them.”

Despite Ozzy’s struggles,Sharon isn’t too hung upabout her husband’s future.

“He’s gonna get back out there,” she said. “And he’s gonna do what he loves to do; I know it.”

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Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond.Andreas Terlaak

The singerannounced his diagnosisin January 2018, canceling the remainder of an upcoming world tour based on doctor’s orders. But that wasn’t going to stop him from continuing with his passion.

“I plan to remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come,“Diamondsaid in the statement. “My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement. This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you.”

06of 11Jesse JacksonJesse Jackson.Paul Sancya/AP/REX/ShutterstockWhen Jackson announced his diagnosis in 2017 — three years after he began to “notice changes” and years after the disease “bested” his father, he said — the reverend promised it “wasn’t a stop sign.““This diagnosis is personal but it is more than that. It is an opportunity for me to use my voice to help in finding a cure for a disease that afflicts 7 to 10 million worldwide,” Jackson said, noting that about 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year. His planned treatment includes physical therapy to slow the effects of the disease.In July of 2023, at 81 years old,Jackson stepped down from his roleas president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

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Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson.Paul Sancya/AP/REX/Shutterstock

When Jackson announced his diagnosis in 2017 — three years after he began to “notice changes” and years after the disease “bested” his father, he said — the reverend promised it “wasn’t a stop sign.”

“This diagnosis is personal but it is more than that. It is an opportunity for me to use my voice to help in finding a cure for a disease that afflicts 7 to 10 million worldwide,” Jackson said, noting that about 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year. His planned treatment includes physical therapy to slow the effects of the disease.

In July of 2023, at 81 years old,Jackson stepped down from his roleas president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

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Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt.Michael Kovac/Getty

“When you’ve been able to do certain things all your life, like put your shoes on and brush your teeth or whatever - when you can’t do that, you sort of go, ‘What’s this?’ “she said in 2019. “You know, what’s happening here? Come help me with this. And then you have to learn to ask people to help, and that - that took a little doing. But I do that now, because I need the help.”

08of 11Billy ConnollyBilly Connolly.Joanne Davidson/REX/ShutterstockThe actor and comediangot candid in 2019, saying the realization that the disease is never going away was tough to handle.“All my life I have got sick and I have got the flu and pneumonia various things and they all went away. This isn’t going anywhere. It is going to get worse,“he told theDaily Mirror.“It takes a certain calm to deal with, and I sometimes don’t have it. I sometimes get angry with it, but that doesn’t last long, I just collapse in laughter.““I am at the point where the yesteryears mean more than the yesterdays,” he continued. “Because it is back there in my childhood and youth when I go to all those things that made me that live keenest in my memory now.”

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Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly.Joanne Davidson/REX/Shutterstock

The actor and comediangot candid in 2019, saying the realization that the disease is never going away was tough to handle.

“All my life I have got sick and I have got the flu and pneumonia various things and they all went away. This isn’t going anywhere. It is going to get worse,“he told theDaily Mirror.“It takes a certain calm to deal with, and I sometimes don’t have it. I sometimes get angry with it, but that doesn’t last long, I just collapse in laughter.”

“I am at the point where the yesteryears mean more than the yesterdays,” he continued. “Because it is back there in my childhood and youth when I go to all those things that made me that live keenest in my memory now.”

09of 11Mike NewmanMike Newman.Michael NewmanIn 2006, Newman’s wife noticed a strange “shake” in the formerBaywatchactor’s movement.Initially, the retired actor and firefighter, then 50, assumed his body was simply wearing out as he got older. But when family members and a concerned neighbor asked him to see a doctor, he figured it wouldn’t hurt. He was prescribed a pill called Azilect — a MAO-B indicator that slows the breakdown of dopamine in the brain — and it was like some sort of magic. Almost immediately, all his physical woes subsided. The next day, he went back and excitedly told the doctor he felt “great.”Unfortunately, it turned out to be nothing to celebrate. In a devastating turn of events, his doctor explained it was actuallynota goodthing that the pill had helped —because it meant he had Parkinson’s disease.“Everything changes,” the actor told PEOPLE in 2023. “All those things that you thought you were going to do with your children and grandchildren, pictures we were going to take, all the plans I had … stopped.”

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Mike Newman

Mike Newman.Michael Newman

Michael Newman

In 2006, Newman’s wife noticed a strange “shake” in the formerBaywatchactor’s movement.

Initially, the retired actor and firefighter, then 50, assumed his body was simply wearing out as he got older. But when family members and a concerned neighbor asked him to see a doctor, he figured it wouldn’t hurt. He was prescribed a pill called Azilect — a MAO-B indicator that slows the breakdown of dopamine in the brain — and it was like some sort of magic. Almost immediately, all his physical woes subsided. The next day, he went back and excitedly told the doctor he felt “great.”

Unfortunately, it turned out to be nothing to celebrate. In a devastating turn of events, his doctor explained it was actuallynota goodthing that the pill had helped —because it meant he had Parkinson’s disease.

“Everything changes,” the actor told PEOPLE in 2023. “All those things that you thought you were going to do with your children and grandchildren, pictures we were going to take, all the plans I had … stopped.”

10of 11Barry MelroseBarry Melrose.Andre Ringuette/World Cup of Hockey via GettyFormer NHL coach and player Melrose revealed in 2023 that he wasdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and would be retiring as a NHL analyst.“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey,” he said in a statement to ESPN. “It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next.““I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years,” Melrose added. “Thanks for the incredible memories and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.”

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Barry Melrose

Barry Melrose.Andre Ringuette/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

Andre Ringuette/World Cup of Hockey via Getty

Former NHL coach and player Melrose revealed in 2023 that he wasdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and would be retiring as a NHL analyst.

“I’ve had over 50 extraordinary years playing, coaching and analyzing the world’s greatest game, hockey,” he said in a statement to ESPN. “It’s now time to hang up my skates and focus on my health, my family, including my supportive wife Cindy, and whatever comes next.”

“I’m beyond grateful for my hockey career, and to have called ESPN home for almost 30 years,” Melrose added. “Thanks for the incredible memories and I’ll now be cheering for you from the stands.”

11of 11Richard LewisRichard Lewis.Mediapunch/ShutterstockIn the spring of 2023,theCurb Your Enthusiasmstarrevealed his diagnosisin an emotional video shared on Twitter.Speaking in the clip, Lewis said he’d had “sort of a rocky time” over the past three-and-a-half years, which included four consecutive surgeries on his back, shoulder and hip.Lewis then said two years ago he “started walking a little stiffly” and was “shuffling” his feet.“I went to a neurologist and they gave me a brain scan and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and that was about two years ago,” he said. “But luckily I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I’m on the right meds so I’m cool.“Lewis died on Feb. 28, 2024,following a heart attack. He was 76.

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Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis.Mediapunch/Shutterstock

In the spring of 2023,theCurb Your Enthusiasmstarrevealed his diagnosisin an emotional video shared on Twitter.

Speaking in the clip, Lewis said he’d had “sort of a rocky time” over the past three-and-a-half years, which included four consecutive surgeries on his back, shoulder and hip.

Lewis then said two years ago he “started walking a little stiffly” and was “shuffling” his feet.

“I went to a neurologist and they gave me a brain scan and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and that was about two years ago,” he said. “But luckily I got it late in life and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I’m on the right meds so I’m cool.”

Lewis died on Feb. 28, 2024,following a heart attack. He was 76.

source: people.com