Parkinson’s disease doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone, including celebrities. When public figures share their Parkinson’s diagnosis, it helps reduce stigma and raises attention and support for the disease.

You may be surprised to learn how many celebrities have openly shared their Parkinson’s diagnosis.

1. Brett Favre

Retired football player Brett Favre is the most recently diagnosed celebrity on this list. He shared his diagnosis at a 2024 congressional hearing. Favre was a Hall of Fame quarterback with a 20-year career in the NFL.

Favre discussed his Parkinson’s disease symptoms during a podcast interview, noting that his motor symptoms weren’t severe. “Everyone attributes Parkinson’s with shaking, and most people tell me, ‘I don’t see much shaking,’” shared Favre.

“I have a little shaking, but not like Muhammad Ali or Michael J. Fox. Mine is rigidity and stiffness. The problem with that is I have rigid and stiff joints on my right side — really on both sides, but the right side is bothering me. So, Parkinson’s is making it worse.”

Favre also shared other symptoms. “I have a hard time swallowing. One of the doctors, out of the blue, said, ‘How’s your swallowing?’ And I was like, ‘It’s not as easy as it was.’ He said that’s one of the things that’s affected. There are times when I think I’m choking. So it’s sort of scary, because they can’t fix that.”

2. Neil Diamond

Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. But it wasn’t until later that he shared his diagnosis with the world. He said it took time to accept his diagnosis. “In a sense, I was in denial for the first year or two. When the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it.”

Diamond is now in his 80s, and he still enjoys his favorite pastime, singing. He was quoted in an interview saying, “I feel good. It’s like, all the systems in my mind and my body are working as one when I’m singing. And it’s a great feeling.”

Parkinson’s has shaped his outlook on life. “Somehow, a calm has moved into the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio. And I like it.”

3. Muhammad Ali

In 1984, three years after retiring from boxing, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He spent decades advocating for Parkinson’s research through many different organizations.

Today, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center serves as a Center for Excellence in Phoenix, Arizona. Although he died in 2016, his legacy continues to help and inspire others living with Parkinson’s disease.

4. Alan Alda

Alan Alda is an acclaimed actor, writer, and director best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the show M*A*S*H*.

Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015 and shared his diagnosis publicly three years later in 2018. “Almost every day I’m finding a new way to do something,” he said in 2025. “It’s a little like a game. I’ve found whatever the little problem is, if I keep at it, I can eventually solve it, and then I feel like a million bucks. It’s a way to have a good time under poor circumstances.”

“Alan Alda and other famous people have greater visibility than the average person. His message is powerful that Parkinson’s is a disease to live with, and to live fully,” shared a member of MyParkinsonsTeam.

5. Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox is one of the most well-known celebrity advocates for Parkinson’s disease. The famous actor, who starred in Back to the Future and Family Ties, was diagnosed in 1991, at the age of 29. His first symptom was a tremor in his pinky finger.

Since then, he has founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He’s also written several books and starred in a documentary about life with Parkinson’s disease. In addition, Fox has received multiple honorary degrees. In 2024, he made the list of Time Magazine’s 100 people who are transforming the world.

Fox has said, “Truly, what I’m most proud of, is the people who have Parkinson’s. And I think I can say this, hopefully with humility and sincerity: if I made it easier for people to explain what they’re dealing with, to say ‘Well, it’s the thing Michael J. Fox has’ — then that’s a great gift.”

Celebrities Who Were Misdiagnosed With Parkinson’s

Not everyone gets an accurate diagnosis when they first begin experiencing symptoms. That’s true for celebrities as well as for non-famous people. Below are two celebrities who were first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but later learned they had another condition. Their experiences highlight the importance of seeing a neurologist or qualified Parkinson’s disease specialist to make sure you get diagnosed properly.

Jesse Jackson

Reverend and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. But more recently, Jackson shared that his original Parkinson’s diagnosis was incorrect. He has now been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). PSP is a disorder that’s often mistaken for Parkinson’s. That’s because many symptoms, like slowed movements and stiffness, overlap. However, Parkinson’s medications don’t work as well for people with PSP.

Jackson’s story is an important reminder of how complex it can be to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt is sometimes referred to as the “First Lady of Rock.” She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012, after selling over 100 million records and winning 11 Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award. However, just like Jesse Jackson, Ronstadt later found out that her true diagnosis is actually PSP. Ronstandt says the disease has taken away her ability to sing out loud. Instead, she now sings songs in her head.

In an interview with Maria Shriver on the Today Show, Ronstadt mourned the loss of her singing voice. “Sometimes, I choose the song, and sometimes my brain chooses the song,” she said. “My brain chooses the worst music. It just blares away in my head, like really bad Christmas carols.”

How Members Feel About Celebrities With Parkinson’s

Members of MyParkinsonsTeam have shared mixed feelings about celebrities with Parkinson’s disease. Some feel that celebrities with Parkinson’s can’t relate to the everyday struggles of non-famous people with the disease who have limited funds and resources. However, most feel it’s a positive thing when celebrities share that they are living with the disease.

“It’s very uplifting for a public figure to share their experiences and the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease,” wrote one member.

Another member noted, “Celebrities have the ability to focus attention on the disorder and the increasing need for new treatments.”

“God bless the celebrities who find themselves with Parkinson’s and have the courage to share their struggles,” said another member. “You’re bringing a face to this illness and showing most of us that we can still live happy, productive lives.”

Another member wrote, “We are fighting the image of someone with advanced Parkinson’s. We are fighting this image for those newly diagnosed, their families, and those who will be diagnosed in the future. Hopefully, we can all focus on treatment and enjoying every minute rather than living in fear of what may come.”

Finding others who share the same diagnosis can make you feel less alone in your Parkinson’s journey. You can find hope through both public figures and everyday people like you.

Join the Conversation

On MyParkinsonsTeam, people share their experiences with Parkinson’s disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

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