The U.S. election brought us yet another highly-visible person whose life has been touched by disability: Michelle Obama’s father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was a child. An inspiring role model to his family, he continued to get up and go to his job at the water filtration plant on Chicago’s south side, never complaining, never expecting less of himself as a father or a husband despite his illness.

With more than 300,000 people in the United States dealing with multiple sclerosis and an estimated one million worldwide (twice as many women as men), it’s no surprise that multiple sclerosis has, in fact, touched the lives of many well-known people. Famous people with MS include:

Musicians with MS

Clive Burr – Iron Maiden band drummer (1957- )
Donna Fargo – American country music singer and songwriter (1945- )
Lola Folana – American singer (1942- )
Alan Osmond – American singer with the Osmond brothers (1949- )
Jacqueline de Pre – British cellist (1945-1987)
Tamia – Canadian-American R&B singer (1975- )
Clay Walker – American country music singer (1969- )

 Actors with MS

Annette Funicello – American actress/former Disney Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer (1942- )
Terri Garr – American actress (1944- )
William Hartnell – British actor, first Doctor Who (1908-1975)
Lena Horne - actress/singer (1917- )
David “Squiggy” Lander – American actor, comedian, musician (1947- )
Margaret Leighton – British stage actress (1922-1976)
Jonathan Katz – American comedian, actor (1946- )

Athletes with MS

Jimmy Heuga – American ski racer (1943- )
David Humm – American NFL quarterback and sports commentator
Maureen Manley – American Olympic cyclist (1965- )
Adam Riedy – American speed skater (1982- )
Politicians with MSBarbara Jordan – Texas congresswoman, Democrat (1936-1996)
Paul Wellstone – Minnesota senator, Democrat (1944-2002)

TV Personalities with MS

Neil Cavuto – Fox news anchor and TV host (1958- )
Montel Williams – American talk show host, author (1956- )

Other Famous People with MS

Joan Didion – American author, essayist, and critic (1934- )
Wayne Dobson – British magician (1956?- )
Richard Pryor – American comedian (1940- 2005)
Dean Singleton – American newspaper publisher and media magnate (1951- )

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If you have MS, you know fatigue is a side effect.  Learn how to combat this issue in Living with MS is Easier if You Learn to Conserve Energy.