Celebrities and Famous People with ALS: Inspiring Stories to Promote Awareness

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Reese Witherspoon, Renée Zellweger Walk to Defeat ALS

Bucket after bucket, celebrities dumped ice on their heads this summer in a viral movement that raised money and awareness for Lou Gehrig’s disease.

And the star-studded touch that helped launch the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is continuing to do good for the cause.

Reese Witherspoon, Renée Zellweger, Emmy Rossum, and Katharine McPhee were among the celebrities supporting the ALS Association at Sunday’s Walk to Defeat ALS in Los Angeles.

The cause is personal for these women. Witherspoon, Zellweger, Rossum and McPhee wore “Team Nanci” shirts to support veteran publicist Nanci Ryder, who was diagnosed with ALS in August.

“We just talked for hours and cried and talked, and after all of the crying, we said, “What are we going to do? How are we going to help?’ ” Witherspoon tells PEOPLE of Ryder’s diagnosis. “And she said, ‘I am going to change the way that people see this disease. I am going to fight, and I am going to raise awareness and money and people are going to know what ALS is – and we’re going to eradicate this horrible disease.’ ”

The BWR co-founder is “always going to be the boss,” says Zellweger.

“This is just another new chapter in our friendship,” she adds. “It’s been a long friendship, and this isn’t the first major change or challenge that she’s faced that we’ve shared.”

Rossum has known Ryder for 15 years, she says. When she received the email about her diagnosis, Rossum started to cry.

“Nanci is strong. She is a fighter,” adds Rossum. “Even though there is no known cure, if anyone can kick ALS’s ass, it’s Nanci.”

• Reporting by REAGAN ALEXANDER

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Celebrities and Famous People with ALS: Inspiring Stories to Promote Awareness

ALS is a frightening disease but there are numerous people with it who have inspiring stories. In this post, we’ll review some celebrities with ALS, including actors, singers, and other noteworthy people.

What Is ALS?

It is important to note some conditions related to the disease. ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, it leads to the loss of muscle control as the motor neurons responsible for transmitting signals from the brain to the muscles gradually deteriorate. This loss of motor function can result in severe physical disability. This includes difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing. While the exact cause of ALS is unknown, it is a serious and often fatal condition with no known cure, though treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Next up, let’s take a look at a particularly noteworthy famous people with ALS, along with the history associated with it.

What is the History of ALS?

One of the most famous athletes with ALS is baseball player Lou Gehrig. While ALS was identified in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, it didn’t become more widely known until Gehrig was diagnosed. For many years, ALS was even referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” Gehrig played with the New York Yankees for 17 years, hitting 493 home runs and establishing a record for playing 2,130 consecutive professional baseball games.

He was diagnosed on June 19, 1939, his 36th birthday. Prior to his diagnosis, Gehrig noticed several symptoms while playing on the field. This included loss of strength, slipping, falling, and loss of coordination. He chose to retire shortly after his diagnosis and the Yankees designated July 4, 1939 as “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium. He later died on June 2, 1941 but his legacy still lives on today. On June 2, 2021, Major League Baseball launched the inaugural Lou Gehrig Day to honor Gehrig and raise awareness of ALS and engage more people in the fight against it.

Are there other famous people with ALS? Let’s take a look.

Who Are Celebrities Who Died from ALS?

Some famous people who had ALS include, but are not limited to:

• Dennis Day (1916-1988) was a comedian, singer, radio, television, and film personality.
• Sam Shepard (1943-2017) was an actor with ALS who is also known for his Pullitzer-prize winning plays as well as directing for film.
• Stephen Hillenburg (1961-2018) is also among actors with ALS but he is probably best known for creating the Nickelodeon animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Polly Platt (1939-2011) was a film producer, production designer, and screenwriter.
• Jon Stone (1932-1997) is best known for being an original crew member on Sesame Street and is credited with developing characters such as Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.
• Peggy Rea (1921-2011) was a famous actress with ALS who is best known for her roles in The Waltons and One Day at a Time.
• Ron Snidow (1941-2009) was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns.

What celebrities suffer from ALS currently? We’ll review what celebrities have ALS in the next section.

Who Are Living Celebrities with ALS?

Many famous ALS patients are continuing to make strides in the public sphere. Famous people who have ALS include:

• Steve Gleason is a former American football player and has become a prominent advocate for ALS awareness, working extensively to support others living with the disease.
• O.J. Brigance is another former American football player Brigance Brigade Foundation to support those affected by ALS.
• Ady Barkan is a progressive activist and lawyer who continues to advocate for social justice issues and health care reform.
• Jason Becker, who was diagnosed in the early 1990s, lost his ability to speak and move and yet continues to compose music using eye-tracking technology.

If you are struggling to care for someone with ALS or want to learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD or find a Caregiver near you.