After her star ascended in the '80s with roles in classic movies including 'Romancing the Stone' (1984), Kathleen Turner all but disappeared when she received her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, due to debilitating pain. She returned to screens in the Netflix drama-comedy 'The Kominsky Method' (2018), saying in an interview "You work with what you have, as best you can.”

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Keith Richards -

In an interview with the BBC, Keith Richards spoke about living with arthritis. When asked if the condition affects his playing, he told the outlet, "Funnily enough, I've no doubt it has, but I don't have any pain."

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Debbie Allen -

The 'Fame' and 'Grey's Anatomy' actress says that "constant movement" helps her cope with arthritis.

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B.B. King (1925-2015) -

According to Billboard, iconic blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer B.B. King reportedly suffered from arthritis.

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Paula Abdul -

Paula Abdul was diagnosed with RA around 2005. “I just try to be as mindful as I can be of what my body is telling me,” she says.

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Tiger Woods -

In 2023, Woods underwent a procedure on his right ankle to address post-traumatic arthritis, from when he broke his talus bone in February 2021.

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Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) -

The late Kobe Bryant was diagnosed with arthritis in his knee after the 2012 NBA season. Bryant underwent a new type of surgery on his knee, which improved his symptoms. Sadly, he tragically passed away in 2020, along with his daughter, in a helicopter accident.

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Tatum O'Neal -

Once the highest-paid child star in history, actress Tatum O'Neal is upfront about her rheumatoid arthritis. She's shared that she takes prescription RA medicines and uses heating pads to ease her symptoms.

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Barry Gibb -

Bee Gees vocalist Barry Gibb experiences arthritis pain in his knee, hands, left shoulder, and wrists. "There were times [...] when I literally couldn't get out of bed. I was living in pain," he said in an interview in 2023.

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Lucille Ball (1911-1989) -

A 17-year-old Lucille Ball was diagnosed with a type of arthritis that was possibly RA, according to her autobiography 'Love, Lucy.' The diagnosis occurred around the time she was auditioning to become an actress and model, and she received injections from a doctor until she recovered.

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Édith Piaf (1915-1963) -

The 'La Vie en Rose' singer was a French icon in the '40s and beyond. She also suffered from severe RA, made worse by car accidents and reportedly heavy drinking. She continued performing right up until her death in 1963.

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Robbie Coltrane (1950-2022) -

In 2022, Robbie Coltrane sadly passed away at the age of 72. The 'Harry Potter' star suffered from osteoarthritis, which saw him bound to a wheelchair in his later years. "I had no cartilage in my knee. It was bone on bone," he said of his condition in 2020.

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Hank Aaron (1934-2021) -

Baseball legend Hank Aaron received a diagnosis later in life for pain that began in his right knee. It turned out to be osteoarthritis.

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Glenn Frey (1948-2016) -

Founding member and co-lead of The Eagles, Glenn Frey passed away at the age of 67. Unfortunately, the vocalist succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia.

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Terry Bradshaw -

The former quarterback was diagnosed with RA several years ago. "You don’t have to be an old athlete like me to wake up with sore joints," he says. "I try not to ever sit around and go 'When is this coming to an end?'"

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Caroline Wozniacki -

The tennis star had just won her first Grand Slam title in 2018 at the Australian Open, when she was hit by debilitating pain and tiredness. She initially thought she had the flu, but she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis several months later. She continued to compete professionally until 2020, then made a comeback in the summer of 2023.

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Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) -

He pioneered impressionist painting during the mid-1800s, and, despite having rheumatoid arthritis in his hands, in his later years Renoir remained dedicated to his craft.

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Camryn Manheim -

The Emmy Award-winning actress knew something was wrong back in 2004, when her hands hurt so badly she couldn't hold a pen. Eight months and several doctors later, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. “You have to get the proper diagnosis and then the proper treatment,” she told People.

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Joe Namath -

Legendary quarterback Joe Namath says arthritis in his spine, thumbs, and other joints is painful sometimes. But he credits taking care of it well for saving him further grief.

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Phil Mickelson -

Before diagnosis, Phil Mickelson chalked up his pain to years of practicing for and playing pro golf. Instead, he learned he had psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Genetics, the environment, viruses, and the body’s immune system are all examples of factors that might cause psoriatic arthritis.

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James Coburn (1928-2002) -

At the height of his career, James Coburn, star of 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960) and 'Our Man Flint' (1966), was sidelined by rheumatoid arthritis. He later credited alternative therapies, such as fasting and taking methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), for providing pain relief.

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Rosalind Russell (1907-1976) -

Four-time Oscar nominee Rosalind Russell was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1969, before she sadly passed away in 1976. The Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis was opened in 1979, in her honor.

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Megan Park -

Canadian actress Megan Park has been living with rheumatoid arthritis since she was a teen. 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' star went public about her health condition in 2015.

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Aida Turturro -

Aida Turturro was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when she was 12 years old. Best known for her role as Tony Soprano's sister, Janice, on 'The Sopranos,' Turturro remarked in an interview, "You learn as an actor to not show you’re in pain. That’s what I do. I act.”

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Dorothy Hamill -

Figure skating Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill has osteoarthritis of the neck, hips, and knees. "There are some forms of exercise that don’t make the pain worse, so I’m trying to figure that out," she says. "It’s an ongoing process."

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Kristy McPherson -

Pro golfer Kristy McPherson describes being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as "a blessing." At the age of 11, McPherson took up golf because she was no longer able to run or play high-impact sports. Her advice for living with RA? "Stay active!"

Sources: (HealthCentral) (WebMD) (Everyday Health) (Dr. Arthritis) (Ranker)
(Daily Express) (Arthritis Foundation)
(AP News) (BBC) (People) (Future of Personal Health)

Famous people affected by arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) triggers systemic inflammation throughout the body

18/06/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY World arthritis day

Arthritis, an autoimmune disease, is one of the most common diseases of its kind in the world. It's no surprise then, that many famous faces are among those who have suffered, or currently suffer, from it. Osteoarthritis is the most common type, occurring when the cartilage between bones is worn down over time with painful consequences. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the second most common type, causes systemic inflammation in the body.

It can happen to anyone, and you might be surprised by the stars in the sports, music, and TV/film worlds who have been affected. Click on to discover who they are.