Famous People Diagnosed with MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Famous People Diagnosed with MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic neuromuscular disorder that produces weakness and abnormally rapid fatigue of the voluntary muscles. MG is considered to be an autoimmune disease because in this disorder the immune system attacks the body.

It is very rare, occuring in only about one out of every 1 to 10 million people, and can easily be mistaken for other diseases that affect nerves in muscles. It is very much an "equal opportunity" disease and has the same incidence in either sex, all ethnic groups, and all age groups.

#1. Amitabh Bachchan  (October 11, 1942 - )
Brief Bio:  Star of Millennium (voted on BBC), he first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Bollywood cinema and is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis currently in remission
Source:  http://www.iloveindia.com/bollywood/actors/amitabh-bachchan.html 

#2. Aristotle Onassis  (January 20, 1906 – March 15, 1975)

Brief Bio:  He was a prominent Greek shipping magnate and business tycoon as well as the second husband of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.deadoraliveinfo.com/dead.nsf/onames-nf/Onassis+Aristotle

#3. Augustus Pablo (June 21, 1953 – May 18, 1999)

Brief Bio: A popular reggae musician whose original name was Horace Swaby, he was known for what he called the "Far East sound": haunting, minor-key tunes with sparse lines for melodica. He helped define the Dub Reggae style.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis.
Cause of Death:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.myspace.com/officialaugustuspablo 

#4. Brandon Cox (October 31, 1983 - ) 
Brief Bio:  Starting Auburn Quarterback from 2005 through to 2007 who finished with a record of 29-9.  He set a state record with a career completion rate of 68.7% throwing for a total of 5,417 yards.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3645300 

#5. Christopher Robin Milne (August 21, 1920 – April 20, 1996)  
Brief Bio:  As the son of author A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie The Pooh, Christopher Robin Milne found success as an author as well once both his parents had passed on.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Natural Causes
Source:  http://www.poohcorner.com/Christopher-Robin-Milne.html 

#6. Connie Haines (January 20, 1921 – September 22, 2008) 
Brief Bio: American singer who performed up-tempo big band songs with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Frank Sinatra. Haines performed in a number of films, including Duchess of Idaho.
Diagnosis: Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death: Myasthenia Gravis.
Source: http://www.hollywoodmemoir.com/connie-haines

#7. James Carter (May 7, 1978 - ) 
Brief Bio:  James Carter is a world class Olympic champion who was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis as a teen and underwent a thymectomy.
Diagnosis: Myasthenia Gravis in remission.
Source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=145/bio/index.html

#8. John Spencer (June 18, 1935 - July 16, 2006) 
Brief Bio: Famous snooker player who twice won the world championship in 1969 and 1977. He went on to become a commentator on the BBC and chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
Diagnosis: Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Cancer
Source:  http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/16/sports/othersports/16spencer.html?_r=1

#9. Karl Malden (March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) 
Brief Bio:  Karl Malden was an actor whose career that spanned more than seven decades.  He was featured in classic Marlon Brando films such as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront.”  He was best known for his role in the 70s TV series "The Streets of San Francisco."
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death :  Old Age
Source:  http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/karl-malden.s-battle-to-see

#10. Lamar Lundy (April 17, 1935 - February 26, 2007) 
Brief Bio:  Former NFL Pro Bowl linebacker and member of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" defense.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Poor health
Source:  http://www.bigten.org/genrel/020208aaa.html

#11. Roger Smith (actor), ( 1956–1977 )
Brief Bio:  American actor famous for his role in "77 Sunset Strip" and as the husband of actress Ann-Margret. Roger Smith suffered from MG from the mid-60s until his MG went into remission in 1985

#12. Sir Lawrence Olivier  (May 22, 1907 – July 11, 1989) 
Brief Bio: Famous actor was a famoius English actor, director, and producer who became one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century along with such contemporaries as John Gielgud and Alec Guinness.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Cancer
Source: http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept37389/files/79690.html

#13. Opchanacanough (unknown – 1644)
Brief Bio:  Opchanacanough was a much-feared warrior and a charismatic leader of the Powhatans of the Algonquin Nation as well as a Tribal Chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.
Speculative Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:   Shot to death (murder or execution)
Source:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3277598

#14. Sir Peter Wright (November 25, 1926 - ) 
Brief Bio:  Former director of the Royal Birmingham Ballet and currently a Vice-President of the Myasthenia Gravis Association in the U.K.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.brb.org.uk/3215.html

#15. Phil Silvers (May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) 
Brief Bio:  He was was an American entertainer and comedic actor. He is best known for starring in 1950s sitcom, The Phil Silvers Show which was set on a U.S. Army post.  He played the role of Sergeant Bilko.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Heart Attack
Source:  http://www.free-press-release.com/news-new-breakthrough-treatment-1252615911.html

#16. Phillips Lord (July 13, 1902 - October 19, 1975) 
Brief Bio:  Phillips Lord was a writer, producer and sometime actor who created Seth Parker's Singing School, Gang Busters, and other celebrated radio shows of the 1930s and 1940s.
Diagnosis: Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death: Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913650,00.html

#17. Roger Smith  (December 18, 1932 - ) 
Brief Bio:  Roger Smith is a famous actor and the husband of well-loved actress Ann Margaret.  Ann-Margaret is also the chairperson of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Myasthenia Gravis Division.
Diagnosis;  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.ann-margret.com/roger.htm

#18. Stephen Garrett (November 11, 1974 – February 25, 2008) 
Brief Bio:  Hip hop and R&B songwriter who wrote hits for well known hip hop artists Ginuwine, Pretty Ricky, Aaliyah, and Lil Wayne.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://leoweekly.com/news/static-star

#19. Suzanne Rogers (July 9, 1944 - )  
Brief Bio:  Famous soap opera actress from "Days of Our Lives" in the 70s and 80s.  She insisted that the writers have her soap opera character diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis to educate viewers about MG.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis currently in remission
Source:  http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1739-suzanne-rogers

#20. Vijay Tendulka (January 6, 1928 - May 19, 2008)  
Brief Bio: Renowned Indian playwright who wrote "Ghashiram Kotwal"  as well as numerous other plays. With over six thousand performances in its original and translated versions, remains one of the longest-running plays in the history of Indian theater.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Cause of Death:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/amitabh-saddened-at-vijay-tendulkars-death_10050838.html 

#21. Wilma Mankiller (November 18, 1945 - )  
Brief Bio:  First female principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation who was elected in 1987, and re-elected again in 1991 in a landslide victory, collecting 83% of the vote.  She did not run for a third term due to health issues.
Diagnosis:  Myasthenia Gravis
Source:  http://www.biography.com/articles/Wilma-Mankiller-214109