But one disorder that isn’t talked about as frequently is schizophrenia, and that may be for two reasons: One, less than one percent of the U.S. population has been diagnosed with this chronic brain disorder. And secondly, the troubling symptoms can be more difficult to talk about. Signs of schizophrenia can include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and an altered perception of reality. There are modern-day celebrities who have been willing to go public with the challenges they face with schizophrenia, including Aaron Carter and Darrell Hammond. And then additionally, there are historical figures and celebrities of the past who also dealt with the disorder. Some were diagnosed during their lifetimes, while others were diagnosed by experts posthumously. If you or someone you know has schizophrenia, it might help you feel less alone knowing that these 10 movers and shakers struggled with the same disorder and were able to accomplish amazing things in their lives.
Famous people with schizophrenia
Zelda Fitzgerald
As the wife of The Great Gatsby writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and a talented writer and artist in her own right, Zelda is best-known for her flamboyant, glitzy lifestyle as a flapper in the 1920s, and equally for her volatile marriage. Although she was considered an “it girl” back in the day, Zelda privately suffered several mental breakdowns, and at the age of 30, was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia. She spent nearly two decades of her life in psychiatric hospitals before her death at 47.
John Nash
Many of us don’t expect our mental health difficulties to be depicted on the silver screen, but that is the case for John Nash, the brilliant mathematician and Nobel Prize winner. Russell Crowe captured his struggles with schizophrenia in “A Beautiful Mind,“but in a way, Nash was thankful for his disorder, saying that it helped spark his mathematical discoveries.
Bettie Page
Famous for her scandalous 1950s pin-up photos, Bettie Page is considered by many to be a trailblazer. Even though she appeared vivacious and carefree in her photos, she reportedly heard voices, and in the 1970s, the symptoms of her eventually diagnosed schizophrenia became more apparent. She even had a violent altercation with her landlady in 1982 that led to her being sentenced to a psychiatric hospital for 10 years.
Vincent van Gogh
Between his reported hallucinations and hearing voices, many historians agree that the brilliant artist Vincent van Gogh had schizophrenia. He was prone to psychotic episodes, especially within the last two years of his life, but even with all his personal difficulties, he managed to produce 2,100 stunningly beautiful works of art, including the world-famous painting The Starry Night.
Veronica Lake
As a 1940s bombshell known for her film noir roles in “The Blue Dahlia” and “Saigon” and her signature blonde, wavy hair, Veronica Lake dealt with demons behind the scenes. Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, Lake continued to make movies into the 1960s and 70s before her death in 1973. She continues to be a revered Hollywood icon.
Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac, the “Beat Generation” novelist and author of On the Road, was diagnosed with “dementia praecox,” an older term for schizophrenia, before he entered the Navy. He was deemed unfit for military service, and instead, just a couple years later in 1947, he went on the epic road trip that became the inspiration for his celebrated novel.
Clara Bow
Silent film star Clara Bow was widely admired in the 1920s for her fashionable look and glittering lifestyle as a flapper. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia, the same disorder her mother struggled with, and unlike other fellow actors, she successfully made the transition to “talkies” and enjoyed a successful career.
Mary Todd Lincoln
Though Mary Todd Lincoln, American first lady and wife to Abraham Lincoln, was not diagnosed with schizophrenia during her lifetime, historians surmise that this could have been the root cause behind her sudden and unexpected mood shifts and emotional flare-ups. She lived a difficult life, between losing children and then losing her husband, but she was well-known for being driven, passionate, and continually supportive of her husband’s political career.
Sir Isaac Newton
By studying his letters, experts agree that Sir Isaac Newton, the man who discovered gravity, had schizophrenia. In the late 1600s, the scientist struggled with abrupt mood changes, delusions, and psychotic episodes. In addition to his gravity discovery, Newton is also credited with inventing calculus and building telescopes.
Lionel Aldridge
It can be easy to imagine that Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers in the late 1960s and early 70s, seemed on top of the world as a two-time Super Bowl champion. But privately, he dealt with schizophrenia that led to him becoming homeless later in his life. Before his death at 56, Aldridge had become an inspirational speaker, detailing his experiences with schizophrenia. Next up, here are some little-known facts about mental health awareness month.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic: “Schizophrenia”
