Famous Diabetics

Below is a list of famous people from all walks of life. They are also diabetics. Many are still with us, some are not. Among those who are no longer with us is George Burns, famous comedian and actor. He lived past 100! Diabetes is not akin to having a "death sentence". If you are diabetic and adhere to the simple, but necessary guidelines found throughout this website: eat sensibly, exercise, and take your diabetes medication on time - well, who knows, maybe your name will be added to the list of "Famous Diabetics"!

We know this is not a complete list*, but it should give you some inspiration (or maybe your child has diabetes and knowing people such as Halle Barry, Elvis Presley, Tommy Lee, George Lucas, Sugar Ray Robinson and many others are or were diabetic) and assure you that YOU CAN DO IT! With or without diabetes, it makes no difference!

ACTORS AND COMEDIANS

Jean Smart - Actress
Jack Benny - Entertainer
Halle Barry - Actress (Type 1)
Wilfred Brimley - Actor

Delta Burke - Actress (Type 2)
info@delta-burke.com

James Cagney - Actor/Producer/Director/Dancer
Jackie Gleason - Actor Comedian
Dorian Gregory - Actor-(Baywatch Nights) (Type 1 since age 9)
Aunt Jemima - Actress

Gordon Jump - Actor (The Maytag Repairman) (WKRP in Cincinnatti)

Mary Tyler Moore - Actress (Type 1)
mtmpix@aol.com

Minnie Pearl - Entertainer/Actress

Elizabeth Taylor - Actress
P.O. Box 55995
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
USA

Spencer Tracy - Actor
Mae West - Actress
Jane Wyman - Actress
Carol Channing - Actress
Richard Mulligan - Actor (SOAP)
Paul Winfield

Stephen Furst
3900 Huntercrest
Moorpark, CA 93021

Jerry Mathers - Actor (Leave It to Beaver)
www.jerrymatherstv.com

Carrol O'Connor - Actor
Jerry Lewis - Actor/Comedian

MUSICIANS

Neil Young - Musician
Leslie West - Musician
Tommy Lee - Musician
Bret Michaels - Musician
David Crosby - Musician
Miles Davis - Jazz Trumpeter
(grandson has diabetes) Tony Bennett - Legendary Crooner
Johnny Cash - Country Singer
Ella Fitzgerald - Jazz Legend
Mick Fleetwood - 70's Rock Singer (Fleetwood Mack)
Jerry Garcia - Lead Singer (The Grateful Dead)
Dizzy Gillespi - Jazz Trumpeter
B.B. King - Rhythem and Blues Legend
Waylon Jennings - Country Singer
Patti LaBelle - Singer (Type 2)
Peggy Lee - Singer
Gladys Knight Family
Tommy Lee - Singer (Motley Crue)
Andrew Lloyd Webber - Broadway Legend
Bret Michaels - Heavy Metal Rocker (Poison) (Type 1)
Elvis Presley - Singer/Actor
Tiny Tim - Singer
Curtis Mayfield
Les McCann
Neil Young - Rock Singer
Nat Adderly - Jazz Trumpeter
Hoyt Axton - Singer
Mama Cass Elliot - Singer
Freddy Fender - Guitarist
Meatloaf - Musician

SPORTS STARS

Arthur Ashe - Tennis
Billy Jean King - Tennis
Ty Cobb - Baseball
Jackie Robinson - Baseball
"Smokin' Joe" Frasier - Boxing
Sugar Ray Robinson - Boxing

SCIENTISTS

Thomas Alva Edison - Scientist
Lois Jovanovic-Peterson - Endocrinologist, Author
Cynthia Ice - Lotus Development

MISCELLANEOUS FAMOUS PEOPLE

James Conklin - Founder-National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Fran Carpentier - PARADE Magazine Editor
Jim Hamblin - California Newsman
Sylvia Chase - ABC News Reporter
Paul Cezanne - Artist
Bill and John Davidson - Harley Davidson Motorcycles
W.L. Gherra - PayLess Drugstores
Ernest Hemingway - Author/Novelist
Howard Hughes - Industrialist
Ray Kroc - McDonald's
George Lucas - Director/Producer
Mario Puzo - Author (The Godfather)
Otto Preminger - Producer
H.G. Wells - Writer/Novelist (The War of the Worlds)
Ann Rice - Novelist
Nell Carter - Actress
Piers Anthony - Author

PumpGirls
A new rock band consisting of 4 girls aged 12-15. The girls, who are all from Southern California, sing about boys, love, dancing and overcoming challenges. They all have Juvenile Diabetes. One of their goals is to motivate other teens to deal with the challenges of the disease successfully. The girls launch "The Pump Girls Whirl Tour", a multi-city tour to introduce their new CD and to raise awareness for teens living with diabetes. Part of the proceeds from the sale of their CD will go to a special "Pump for a Better Life" Fund which will assist children around the world in need of insulin pump therapy.
Submitted by Bari Baker

*(If you know of any "Famous Diabetics" not on the list, please send an e-mail to: webmaster@DefeatDiabetes.org. Thank you.)