Noteworthy Bipolars

People who have been diagnosed as manic-depressive usually don't advertise their situation. Psychology has advanced much since the theories of Dr. Sigmund Freud, circa 1923, but public understanding and acceptance lags another century behind.

The social stigma attached is notorious, and to be avoided if at all possible. But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not. I don't tell everyone I have bipolar disorder.

The following people are bipolar too. Either they have publicly acknowledged that they "suffer" from manic-depression, or they have been "labeled" as such, due to behaviours documented during their lifetimes.


This work is periodically updated. Comments and attitudes gratefully accepted via e-mail sent to [e-mail] .

~Catherine Zeta-Jones ~ actress

~Shawn Colvin ~ singer

~Robert Downey, Jr. ~ actor

~Freddie Prinz ~ actor

~Ted Turner ~ media mogul

~Peter Gabriel ~ musician

~Danny Bonaduce ~ actor, radio personality

~Jane Pauley ~ newscaster

~Maurice Benard ~ soap actor General Hospital

~Ozzy Osbourne ~ musician

~Winston Churchill ~ statesman

~Rosemary Clooney ~ singer (George Clooney's aunt)

~Jayson Blair ~ former New York Times journalist

~Sheryl Crow ~ singer, songwriter

~Patty Duke ~ actress

~Carrie Fisher ~ actress

~Thomas Jefferson ~ statesman

~Jimi Hendrix ~ musician

(Hendrix is included because of my observations of his life and death. In researching on the Internet, I found lyrics to "Manic-Depression," which I consider a public acknowledgment that he knew of what he sang.)

~Kurt Cobain ~ musician Nirvana

~Margot Kidder ~ actress

~Abraham Lincoln ~ statesman

~Buzz Aldrin ~ astronaut

~Kristi McNichol ~ actress, animal activist

~James K. Polk ~ statesman

~Margaux Hemmingway ~ actress

~Phil Specter ~ music mogul, 60s "wall of sound"

~Ray Davies ~ (The Kinks) musician

~Ben Stiller ~ actor, comedian

(At a fellow writer's request, I'm seeking an additional source for verification on this one. I was informed Stiller may have been joking when he said he was bipolar, although his family has a documented history. You can read his remarks in the bipolar section of www.About.com, or cut and paste the link.

~Tracey Ullman ~ actress, comedianne

~Britney Spears ~ singer, entertainer

~Robin Williams ~ actor, comedian

(NOT currently able to verify with a primary source, but have you caught his stand up routines and not wondered?)

~Gordon Sumner (Sting) ~ musician, activist

~Jean-Claude Van Damme ~ athlete, actor

~Brian Wilson ~ musician, The Beach Boys

~Virginia Wolf ~ writer

~Francis Ford Coppola ~ director

The vast majority of literature printed on bipolar disorder reflects the socio-psycho-logical-medical-esque-ness of this biochemical mental aberration. Many diagnosed bipolars have manipulated this "dysfunction" so that they have made positive contributions to society. Though many face exasperating emotional life challenges, an unknown percentage overcome their personal biochemical demons and gift the world with unique genius.

Stories of success, as portrayed by these noteworthy bipolars, exist. These levels of achievements aren't necessarily the norm. The public is more aware of manic-depression as associated with some horrendous behaviour. Bad news is newsworthy.

A rather scholarly presentation, Touched with Fire by Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison, is a good detailed read about literary, and artistic types, of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, who suffered from now identifiable mental disorders. Information on bipolars and schizophrenics is included.

The web site www.AboutBipolarDisorder.com lists more detailed biographical information about many bipolars.

~Dick Cavett ~ media mogul

~Earl Simmons (DMX) ~ musician, actor

~Larry Flynt ~ entertainment mogul "Hustler"

~Kitty Dukakis ~ statesman's wife

~Tony Orlando ~ musician

~Connie Francis ~ singer

~Kevin McDonald ~ comedian, actor

~Linda Hamilton ~ actress

~Mariette Hartley ~ actress

~Burgess Meredith ~ actor

~Sylvia Plath ~ writer

~Charley Pride ~ musician

~Axl Rose ~ musician Guns N Roses



These individuals have been documented as bipolar in research print, or on television shows such as "Oprah" or "Larry King." Other have documented their diagnosis on Internet sites.

~Ned Beatty ~ actor

~Robert Boorstin ~ statesman

~Art Buchwald ~ writer

~Alohe Jean Burke (Ghafoor) ~ musician

~Tim Burton ~ movie producer, director

~Robert Campeau ~ Canadian financeer

~Lisa Nicole Carson ~ actress

~C E Chaffin ~ writer

~Garnet Coleman ~ statesman

~Patricia Cornwell ~ writer

~John Daly ~ athlete

~Lenny Dee ~ musician

~Bill Lichtenstein ~ TV and radio producer

~Jay Marvin ~ radio personality, writer

~Eric Douglas ~ actor

~Thomas Eagleton ~ statesman

~Margot Early ~ writer

~Robert Evans ~ film producer

~Stephen Fry ~ actor, author, comedian

~Kit Gingrich ~ statesman's mother

~Stuart Goddard (Adam Ant) ~ musician

~Shecky Greene ~ comedian, actor

~Kristin Hersh ~ musician

~Jack Irons ~ musician

~Kay Redfield Jamison ~ writer

~Daniel Johnston ~ musician

~Peter Nolan Lawrence ~ English writer

~Rika Lesser ~ writer, translator

~Dimitri Mihalas ~ scientist




If you are aware of bipolar individuals who should be included in this list, please drop me an e-mail at [e-mail] Thanks!

© Copyright 2003 a sunflower in Texas (UN: patrice at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
a sunflower in Texas has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.