Notable Persons

Historical Figures

 

Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, is said to have been given a “divine sign” that directed him in his actions –  signs that could have been auras or seizures in his case. Evidence from texts suggests Socrates may have had temporal lobe epilepsy 

(National Library of Medicine). Quote: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

 

Julius Caesar was the dictator of the Roman Empire from approximately 46-44 B.C. Ancient sources describe him having seizure-like behaviors on several occasions. A family history can be traced to the deaths of his great-grandfather and father possibly caused by SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy) (National Library of Medicine). Quote: “Experience is the teacher of all things.”

 

Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who dedicated her life to helping other slaves

gain their freedom by way of the famous Underground Railroad. At the age of 12 she  attempted to intervene between her owner and another slave and was hit over the head with a heavy weight. From that injury she developed headaches, seizures and narcolepsy which continued throughout her life (National Women's History Museum). Quote: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.”

 

 

Political Figures

 

Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest President of the United States at the age of 42. He had seizures as well as several other medical ailments including asthma and problems with his vision. He was the first President to win the Nobel Peace Prize, for his assistance in negotiating peace between Russia and Japan in the early 1900’s (Epilepsy Foundation). Quote: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

 

 

Artists and Musicians 

 

Jimmy Reed was a popular blues artist in the 1950’s. He had epileptic seizures throughout his life which worsened as a result of his problem with alcohol. Jimmy died in 1991 at the age of 51. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Mississippi Writers and Musicians). Quote: “What you sees is what you gets.”

 

Neil Young is a musician who played guitar and sang in the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as his own band, Crazy Horse. He started having seizures in 1966 at the age of 21. His daughter has also been diagnosed with epilepsy (Healthline). Quote: “Epilepsy taught me that we are not in control of ourselves.”

 

Prince, a legendary musician, was born with epilepsy. At the age of approximately 7 years old he told his mother he would no longer be sick with the disease. He was teased by other children during the time when he actively had seizures. He describes compensating for that experience as a musician by being “as noisy and as flashy as he could.” (Tavis Smiley Show, PBS). Quote: “Instead of hate, celebrate.”

 

Lil Wayne, a Grammy winning rap artist, has had epilepsy since childhood. However, he was not diagnosed until he was an adult. After having his first seizure, his mother thought it was a fainting spell. (Health Digest). Quote: “Never apologize for what you feel. It’s like being sorry for being real.”

 

Susan Boyle is the singer who started her career as a contestant on “Britain’s Got Talent.” Her debut album, “I Dreamed a Dream”, became the UK’s best-selling album of all time. She describes difficult times in school having seizures and “fainting” in front of the other students (Health Line). Quote: “All through my childhood they’d say epilepsy is to do with mental function. And now I realize it’s not.”

 

Adam Horovitz is a member of the rap group “The Beastie Boys,” which began in 1979. 

He had a tonic clonic seizure in 2003 which was related to flash photography. He wears an identification bracelet to explain his condition (My Epilepsy Team). Quote: “I’d rather be a hypocrite than the same person forever.”

 

Lindsey Buckingham was the lead guitarist in the band Fleetwood Mac. He collapsed

in the shower after a concert in 1977 and was diagnosed with a mild form of epilepsy, at the

time, 29 years of age (Rolling Stone). Quote: “If you’re any good at all, you know you can be better.”

    

 

Actors, Actresses and Television Personalities

 

Bud Abbott is the famous comedian in the duo of Abbott and Costello. Abbott tried to hide the fact that he had epilepsy and attempted to control it with alcohol. Unfortunately, he developed a drinking problem, which was part of the reason for the break-up of his professional relationship with Lou Costello. (Celebrity). Quote: “Now on the St. Louis team we have Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third.” 

 

Danny Glover is a well-known actor, producer and political activist, starring in such movies as “The Color Purple” and the “Lethal Weapon” series. His epileptic seizures began at the age of 15 but stopped when he was 35 and have not reoccurred since then (Epilepsy Foundation). Quote: “I try to find hope in struggle and resistance in small places as much as I can.”

 

Margaux Hemingway was a famous actress who died young in 1996. She started having seizures in 1962 when she was seven years old. Later in life she went public with her diagnosis and tried to help remove the social stigma that epilepsy still has in society to this day (Psychology Today) Quote: “If you are at one with your body, then you are at one with yourself.”

 

Cameron Boyce was an American actor and star of the Disney channel. He was diagnosed and treated for epilepsy, but died at the age of twenty in his sleep. An autopsy confirmed the cause was SUDEP, or Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (IMDb). Quote: “We all go. What you leave should be bigger than you.”

 

Hugo Weaving, an Australian actor, is best known for his roles in films such as “The Matrix” and “The Lord of the Rings”. He started having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager. As an adult, he was able to stop taking epileptic medications and no longer has seizures (Healthlink). Quote: “I kind of like the challenge of jumping into totally different spaces and styles and figuring out how to fit in.”

 

Rick Harrison owns the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas where the television show  

“Pawn Stars” is filmed. He was diagnosed at the age of 8 and had seizures until he was 18. His personal experience led him to become very active in the epilepsy community (Healthline). Quote: “It’s not a stigma. It’s everywhere from First Ladies to Supreme Court Justices.”

 

 

Famous Authors

 

Lewis Carroll is the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” His real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. It is possible that many of Alice’s adventures, such as falling down a hole or shrinking can be related to Carroll’s symptoms of his own seizures (Epilepsy Foundation) Quote: “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”

 

 

Famous Athletes and Coaches

 

Florence Griffith Joyner was a three-time gold medal track and field athlete in the 1988 Olympics. She eventually won a total of five Olympic medals. She suffered a seizure during a flight in 1996. Two years later, Florence had a seizure in her sleep which restricted her airway, causing her death at the age of 38 (Los Angeles Times). Quote: “I believe in the impossible because no one else does.”

 

Jerry Kill is a football coach who developed epilepsy at the age of 43. He has had several seizures during his career, including some during games in front of the spectators in the stadiums. Coach Hill has received hate mail from football fans about his condition. He has taken these experiences positively and used them to start an open discussion to increase public awareness about epilepsy (The Post Game). Quote: “There were people who privately told me they had epilepsy but had not revealed it to anyone out of fear of losing their job and their friends.”

 

Alan Faneca is a pro-football player who has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 15 and continues to take medication to control his seizures. Faneca decided to openly discuss his diagnosis during his speech for the Hall of Fame in order to show others he has not let the disease define him (Forbes). Quote: “If I can inspire one person then that’s a job well done for me.”