20 Famous People with Muscular Dystrophy

Jillian Mercado photo By Adweek Wikimedia

20 Famous People with Muscular Dystrophy

*Originally published by Gloria N in February 2023 and updated by Felix in May 2024

People living with muscular Dystrophy experience different symptoms depending on the type of their condition. Some types of Muscular Dystrophy cause the mild muscles to be weak and other forms may lead to significant disability.

This disease reduces people’s life span and makes their bodies nonfunctional hence requiring assistive devices such as walkers, wheelchairs, or braces. Some people living with this muscular Dystrophy may as well need personal care such as bathing and dressing.

Despite the many disadvantages of this disease many people have fought it with appropriate medical care and are living the lives of their dreams. Being diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy does not mean you can’t pursue your goals and interest.

The following are 20 famous people with Muscular Dystrophy:

1. Augie Nieto

Augie Nieto together with his family lived in Corona Del Mar, California. His wife is known as Lynne and they were blessed with four children. He was the founder of Life Fitness and chairman of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS and the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

He founded Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease back in 2005. The organization has raised over $75 million to facilitate research into the disease.

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2. Jillian Mercado

Jillian Mercado photo By Adweek Wikimedia

Jillian Mercado is an actress and American fashion model represented by CAA Fashion born and raised in New York. She was diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as a child. She believes her interest in fashion is a family thing since her mother is a dressmaker and her father was once a shoe salesman.

She is among the view professional models who have a visible physical disability doing a great job in the industry. She attended a fashion design school in New York known as the Fashion Institute of Technology from 2006 to 2010.

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3. Nawaal Akram

She is a comedian, athlete, model and disability rights campaigner. She is widely known for protecting the right to Education. At age of six, she was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and was removed from school against her wishes at age of 10 by the school management since they did not want to take responsibility for a physically disabled child.

At the age of 12, she became a wheelchair user and since then she founded Muscular Dystrophy Qatar to educate and bring awareness to the people of the condition. She has been helping children within Qatar and the middle east with disabilities get an education.

4. Bradley Walker

Photo by Leo Wieling on Unsplash

Bradley Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter and bluegrass. He has been active since 1998 to date. Walker was born with muscular dystrophy and has been in a wheelchair all his life.

It is interesting to know that Bradley started singing when he was only three years old and at four years he was performing in public. At 10 he was invited on stage to perform with The Oak Ridge Boys, an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge.

He continued shining in music at a young age, and he sang with The Oak Ridge on the Nashville Network’s Nashville Now and the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon when he was 11.

5. Trevor Bentham

Trevor Bentham is a former British stage manager and screenwriter. He was a partner with a British actor, Nigel Hawthorne for 22 years. The two partners had met when Trevor was stage managing the Royal Court Theatre in 1968.

He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 1997. He lived with Nigel from 1979 till 2001 when Nigel died. They had lived in several locations such as Radwell near Baldock and at Thundridge, in Hertfordshire, England.

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6. T. Whitney

T. Whitney was also known as Tim Whitney Born on December 14, 1945. He was known for being an expert on British postmarks. He attained his degree in theology from Oxford University and a PhD from Nottingham University in 1975.

He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was a teenager and he was an active fundraiser for muscular dystrophy to help improve the treatment facilities. He died after his 45^th birthday in Southend-On-Sea, Essex.

7. Bryson Foster

Bryson Foster was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age of five. He is an activist who promotes and fundraises to improve the treatments for muscular dystrophy. When Foster was nine years old attended a Muscular Dystrophy Association and requested to address the audience.

Apart from being a loyal MDA fundraiser and independent MD spokesperson, he is also a voice actor. He was given a role in the app ‘Little Ashby’: Star Reporter, which was developed by Entertainment Tonight host and Nancy O’Dell, an MDA National ALS Ambassador.

8. Quentin Crewe

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Quentin Crewe was known as an English journalist, author, adventurer and restaurateur. He worked with different organizations, and he was a regular writer for the Daily Mail, Sunday Mirror, Evening Standard, and Queen magazine among others.

He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was only 6 and the doctor predicted, he would be dead by age of 16 years old. It was kept a secret and he was told nothing about his health matter. He appeared twice as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on January 1984 and on June 16, 1996, respectively.

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9. Steve Way

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Steve Way was born on December 28, 1990, in New Jersey, US. He is an American comedian, writer, speaker and actor. He has been active in his careers since 2011 to date.

Way was born with Muscular Dystrophy and this has motivated him to be an advocate for disability rights and universal health chase not forgetting the disabled actors in Hollywood.

He works with Apple Tv + to promote his own series and works as a substitute teacher of a high school.

10. Raul Pizarro

Raul Pizarro was born on November 11, 1975, in Mexicali. He is a queer and latinx visual artist famously known for his Day of the Dead Series. Pizarro suffers from muscular dystrophy and he is unable to make large canvas paintings hence he makes smaller ones.

In  2012 he was lucky to work with Self Help Graphics to create Sharia, the body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. 

11. Mattie Stepanek

Mattie Stepanek is a name that sounds in people’s ears whenever people talk about poetry. He was an American poet, a peacemaker, and a motivational speaker whose life is still celebrated today. Mattie, born in 1990 was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy called dysautonomicmitochondrial myopathy at a young age. This is a condition that weakened his physical abilities over time.

Despite being challenged physically, Mattie lived a fulfilled life through poetry and other works. He began writing poems at a young age and elevenyears later, he published his first poetry book. He became one of the youngest people in history to do so. however, Mattiepassed away in 2004 at the age of thirteen years.

12. Michael Westbrook

Although muscular dystrophy is known for weakening people’s muscles, one man, Michael Westbrook is a testament to defying odds. He is a former American football player who played as a wide receiver. Westbrook began his career at the Washington State University where he showed his outstanding talent setting many receiving records.

The muscular disorder did not stop Westbrook from training as he went on to become a professional football player. Over his nine years as a professional, he played for Redskins, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded over six thousand receiving yards alongside thirty-five touchdowns.

Westbrook was also involved in raising awareness about muscular disorder through his foundation which was dedicated to supporting research on the disorder. He is a legend.

13. Roy Campanella

Courtney, Tom, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another superstar in sports who lived with the muscular dystrophy condition was Roy Campanella. He was one of the greatest baseball players and the best catcher in the history of the sport. For over ten years, Roy showed his talent and skills in the sport, becoming a three-time MVP winner as well as an eight-time All-Star. He was a remarkable hitter who helped the Dodgers to their first-ever World Series Championship in 1955 despite his condition.

To battle his condition, Roy specialized in training his upper body through the constant lifting of heavy weights in the gym. Tragically, his high-flying career was cut short when he was involved in an accident at the age of thirty-five, and paralyzed. However, his resilient spirit did not allow him to be sidelined as he went on to become a baseball coach. He was an inspirational talent.

14. Gilbert Gottfried

Gilbert Gottfried lived with muscular dystrophy that affects muscles and other body systems. This condition caused muscle weakness, pain, and stiffness, with symptoms usually appearing in a person’s 20s or 30s. Despite having no cure or specific treatment, Gottfried managed his symptoms.

The disease led to heart complications like recurrent ventricular tachycardia, which ultimately caused his death. Gottfried’s unique voice and comedic talent left a lasting impact, and his family encouraged others to keep laughing in his honor.

15. Kareem Rush

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-ball-on-basketball-hoop-6777233/

Kareem Rush is a man who defied all odds to become one of the most celebrated basketball players in the NBA and possibly the greatest in the University of Missouri. Despite being diagnosed with a muscular dystrophy disorder named hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, he went on to become a professional basketball player.

Rush began his career at the University of Missouri where he set a record for being the best three-point shooter. E earned the nickname ‘The Shooter’ for his sharpshooting abilities. After finishing college, Rush was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers kickstarting his seven-year career as a professional basketball player.

He went on to play for Charlotte Bobcats and the Philadelphia 76ers where he averaged six points per game from the bench. His resilience to become a star basketball player is a testament that muscular disorder should not define people.

16. Robert Sampson

Robert Sampson, born in 1925, overcame muscular dystrophy challenges to become a lawyer and executive at United Airlines. Despite facing obstacles, he earned his law degree in 1947 with support from firefighters. Sampson’s advocacy for disability rights and work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association left a lasting impact.

He passed away in 2006 due to complications from muscular dystrophy. Sampson’s resilience and dedication to helping others with disabilities continue to inspire many

17. Jill Browne

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-microphone-33779/

Jill Browne is a name that sounds successful as she is an accomplished singer and songwriter who defied all odds to become successful. Born with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, Jill went on to become a celebrated singer thanks to her melodious voice and talent.

After being diagnosed with the condition at the age of fifteen, Jill embarked on a journey to make a difference. She taught herself how to play a guitar and singing. She released her first album ‘Reawakening’ in 2001 marking the beginning of her successful career in the music industry.

Beyond her successful music career, Jill has become an inspiration in the world through her motivational speeches. She has shared her journey with the world and encouraged people never to give up regardless of their conditions.

18. Kevin Schaeffer

Kevin Schaeffer is an American actor who has risen to high levels in the film industry despite living with muscular dystrophy which causes the weakening of the facial and upper body muscles.

Kevin had a dream of becoming a film superstar at a young age. however, he was diagnosed with the muscular dystrophy. Nonetheless, he refused to let the condition define his destiny as he went on to land his first role in film in 1995 when he appeared in the sitcom ‘Life’s Work.’

The first role opened the door for more roles in different films such as ‘7^th Heaven’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother.’ Kevin became an Academy Award winner for his role in the film ‘My Left Foot.’

19. Paul Becker

People living with muscular dystrophy are in every field in the world and Paul Becer is a representative in Law. He is a prominent attorney and activist whose works have seen people living with a disability t have a place in society.

While living with muscular dystrophy himself, Paul obtained a law degree from the University of Illinois and began his career in 1970. He has practiced disability law for years and played a major role in drafting and passing the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. As an advocate for people living with disability, Pau Becker has ensured that everyone has access to public transport, housing, and employment among other social issues. He is a changemaker.

20. Jack Ganse

Photo by picjumbo.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-blue-ballpoint-pen-writing-in-notebook-210661/

Last but not least is Jack Ganse, an American poet and writer whose publications changed the way people approach social issues such as human connection and beauty. Despite being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy which causes the weakening of facial and upper body muscles, Jack relentlessly pushed himself to become the best author.

Some of his publications include Quarter for Seed Elevers and The Fifth Cradlework among others. Jack has also taught many authors to become creative writers through his mentorship programs. His disability did not change his destiny.

The men and women I have mentioned above areliving proof that physical challenges cannot define how one reaches their destiny. Despite having physical challenges, these individuals have achieved remarkable greatness that has inspired many people around the world. Their tales are a reminder that we can achieve anything we want in life as long as we put in hard work and believe in our abilities. We celebrate their success and honor the resilience and human spirit.