Many people around the world suffer from bipolar disorder. But what you may not realize is that many celebrities, inventors, and people throughout history have also had this disorder. Before the 1990s, the disorder was better known as “manic depression,” but the symptoms for the disorder remained largely the same — periods of high energy (mania) and periods of serious lows (depression).
Many of these people have been successfully treated for the disorder and no longer have any symptoms of it. Others are still actively taking medications for it.
Listed in alphabetical order, with their profession and birthdate, where known. This is not a complete list by any means, but it does give you a flavor of how prevalent and widespread bipolar disorder is.
Famous People with Bipolar Disorder
Sophie Anderton - model
Ludwig Von Beethoven - composer
Maurice Benard - actor - March 1, 1963
Art Buchwald - writer, humorist
Tim Burton - director
Dick Cavett - actor, author, host - November 19, 1936
Rosemary Clooney - singer - May 23, 1928
Francis Ford Coppola - director
Evan Dando - singer
Robert Downey Jr. - actor
Patty Duke - actress - December 14, 1946
Carrie Fisher - actress/writer - October 21, 1956
Connie Francis - singer, actress - December 12, 1938
Linda Hamilton - actress - September 26, 1956
Mariette Hartley - actress - advocate - June 21, 1940
Kay Redfield Jamison - writer, psychologist
Margot Kidder - actress - October 17, 1948
Vivien Leigh - actress - November 5, 1913
Robert Lowell - poet - March 1, 1917
Burgess Meredith - actor - November 16, 1907
Charley Pride - country-western singer - March 18, 1938
Theodore Roosevelt - President of the United States
Axl Rose - rock singer - February 6, 1962
Ben Stiller - actor, director, writer, comedian - November 30, 1965
Sting - musician, actor - October 2, 1951
Darryl Strawberry - baseball player
Ted Turner - entrepreneur
Tracy Ullman - actress
Jean-Claude Van Damme - actor - October 18, 1960
Virginia Woolf - novelist - January 25, 1882
What's Related
- Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar Risk Factors
- Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?
- Talking to a Professional About Bipolar Disorder
- How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?
- Talking to a Doctor About Bipolar Disorder
- How Bipolar Disorder is Diagnosed
- Prevention of Bipolar Disorder
- Treatment of Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Bipolar Disorder
