Famous People with Epilepsy: Stories for Epilepsy Awareness Month
Updated: 3 days ago
Seizures are common.
Epilepsy is common.
Let's talk about how common epilepsy is: about 1 in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point in their lives. 1 in 100 have active epilepsy. Up to 10% have a seizure during their life time. About 5% of children will have a seizure.
The Epilepsy Foundation first set aside November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month in 1969, and Congress made it official in 2003.
When a child is diagnosed, parents may naturally worry what this diagnosis means for their future. There's no single answer. Epilepsy looks different for every child. Some outgrow it, many have seizures well controlled with medication, and some need ongoing specialized care.
The people below aren't a promise of any particular outcome. What their stories do show is that epilepsy can be discussed and normalized. Epilepsy has been part of many exceptional lives, including in sports, music, film and public life.
We've included only famous and well-known people who have spoken publicly about their own epilepsy.
Yet the math is clear : if you know someone with asthma, you know someone who had a seizure. If you know someone with celiac disease, you know someone with epilepsy. Why might there be a difference in awareness?
Prince: born with it, and it shaped his stage presence
In a 2009 interview with PBS host Tavis Smiley, Prince shared something he'd never discussed publicly: he was born with epilepsy and had seizures as a young child. He described being teased at school, and said he made up for it by being as loud and flashy as he could, a style that became part of his legendary stage persona. He also said his parents didn't really know how to handle his seizures, but did the best they could with what they had. Many families today will recognize that feeling. His seizures stopped in childhood.
Susan Boyle: the voice the world didn't see coming
Scottish singer Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Years later, she shared that she was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child and often had seizures at school, which classmates used to bully her. She has said that, growing up, people assumed epilepsy had to do with intelligence, and that she now understands it doesn't. It's a misconception that still follows many kids today.
Danny Glover: learning his warning signs
The Lethal Weapon actor had his first seizure at 15. It took several more seizures before he was diagnosed and started on medication. Over time, Glover learned to recognize the signs that a seizure was coming. After about 20 years, his seizures stopped. In 2003, the Epilepsy Foundation gave him its Distinguished Achievement Award for his work raising awareness and acceptance of epilepsy.
Chanda Gunn: Olympic goalie
Chanda Gunn was diagnosed at age nine, with both absence seizures and tonic-clonic seizures, which were controlled with medication. She grew up playing hockey even though it was considered risky for people with epilepsy. Her path wasn't a straight line: she left her first college team early to deal with her epilepsy. She came back to become an All-American goalie at Northeastern University and the starting goalie for the U.S. women's team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where the team won bronze. Today she works at the Epilepsy Foundation of New England, supporting other families.
Marion Clignet: a world champion on two wheels
Marion Clignet was born in Chicago and diagnosed with epilepsy at 22, after a seizure that cost her her driver's license. With no car, she started commuting by bike, and that's how her cycling career began. When the U.S. cycling federation shut her out because of her epilepsy, she raced for France instead, where she held dual citizenship. She went on to win two Olympic silver medals and multiple world titles. Today she runs a charity ride that raises money for children with epilepsy.
Alan Faneca: telling the team
NFL offensive lineman Alan Faneca was diagnosed at 15. His seizures were controlled with daily medication, and he went on to a nine-time Pro Bowl career. One detail from his story stands out for parents: his family encouraged him to talk openly about his epilepsy so that friends, teachers and coaches would know what to do if he ever had a breakthrough seizure. He has since spoken and written about his daughter's epilepsy as well.
Bobby Jones: an NBA Hall of Famer
Philadelphia 76ers power forward Bobby Jones played in the NBA from 1976 to 1985 and was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1978, in the middle of his career. He went on to the Hall of Fame, and was one of the earlier pro athletes to speak openly about his diagnosis at a time when many kept it quiet.
Justin Fields: a quarterback in today's NFL
Quarterback Justin Fields was diagnosed with epilepsy years before he reached the pros. It became public during the 2021 NFL draft process, after his college career at Ohio State, and many in the epilepsy community welcomed seeing a young star quarterback talk about it. He was drafted in the first round that year by the Chicago Bears.
Tony Coelho: the congressman behind the ADA
Tony Coelho, a Portuguese American from California, had been having seizures for years without knowing why. At 22, a routine medical exam to enter the Catholic seminary finally named it: epilepsy. The diagnosis changed his life overnight. He was turned away from the seminary, lost his driver's license and health insurance, and faced rejection from his own family. He went into politics instead, was elected to Congress in 1978, and became the primary sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in 1990. The ADA protects people with disabilities, including many people with epilepsy, from discrimination. Coelho later chaired the Epilepsy Foundation's national board.
More names you may recognize
Others who have shared their experience include rapper Lil Wayne, former Atlanta Falcons running back Jason Snelling, musician Neil Young, U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, former MLB manager Buddy Bell, and British athletes Beth Dobbin (sprinting), Imogen Clark (swimming) and Jessica Warner-Judd (distance running).
Keep in mind…
You're not alone. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, in children and adults alike.
Share the plan. Like Alan Faneca's family, let teachers, coaches and caregivers know about your child's epilepsy and what to do during a seizure. A written seizure action plan makes this easier.
Activity is often possible. For most people, exercise doesn't trigger seizures, and research suggests staying active may even help. Talk with your child's neurologist about which activities fit and what precautions make sense.
Every path is different. Some childhood epilepsies resolve; others need longer-term care. Comparing your child's journey to anyone else's, famous or not, rarely tells the whole story.
We're here to help
If your child has had a seizure or you have questions about their epilepsy care, our team at Houston Specialty Clinic can help. Call 713-464-4107 to schedule an appointment.
This post is for general information and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your child's doctor about their specific care.
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