Voices of Strength – Parkinson’s Chronicles

Rock star Ozzy Osbourne has revealed he has Parkinson’s disease in 2019.

John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English musician and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname “Prince of Darkness”.

Osbourne became a founding member of Black Sabbath in 1968, providing lead vocals from their self-titled debut album in 1970 to Never Say Die! in 1978. The band was highly influential on the development of heavy metal music, in particular their critically acclaimed releases Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

The Scottish comedian and actor, known for his distinctive humor, revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2013. He has continued to share his experiences with the disease in documentaries.

Sir William Connolly CBE (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, retired comedian, artist, writer, musician, and television presenter. He is sometimes known by the Scots nickname the Big Yin (“the Big One”). Known for his idiosyncratic and often improvised observational comedy, frequently including strong language, Connolly has topped many UK polls as the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. In 2022 he received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

The Canadian actor and advocate is perhaps one of the most well-known figures associated with Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 1991 and has since become a prominent advocate for research and awareness

Michael Andrew Fox OC (born June 9, 1961), known professionally as Michael J. Fox, is a Canadian and American activist and retired actor. Beginning his career as a child actor in the 1970s, he rose to prominence portraying Alex P. Keaton on the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989) and Marty McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990). Fox went on to star in films such as Teen Wolf (1985),

The legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 1980s, which was attributed to his boxing career. Despite his health challenges, he remained an influential figure until his passing in 2016.

Muhammad Ali ( born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed “the Greatest“, he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970. He was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979. In 1999, he was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.

Allan Border, the former Australian cricket captain, has revealed in 2023 that he has been battling Parkinson’s disease for the past seven years.

Allan Robert Border AO (born 27 July 1955) is an Australian cricket commentator and former international cricketer. A batsman, Border was for many years the captain of the Australian team, and led his team to victory in the 1987 Cricket World Cup, the maiden world title for Australia. His playing nickname was “A.B.“. He played 156 Test matches in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh. Border formerly held the world record for the number of consecutive Test appearances of 153, before it was surpassed in June 2018 by Alastair Cook, and is second on the list of number of Tests as captain.

The actress, best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on “The Golden Girls,” battled Parkinson’s disease in her later years until her passing in 2008.

Estelle Gettleman (July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008), known professionally as Estelle Getty, was an American actress and comedian best known for her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls (1985–92), for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Davis Phinney (born July 10, 1959) is a retired professional road bicycle racer from the United States. He won 328 races in the 1980s and 1990s, a record for an American, including two Tour de France stages. He has worked in media since retiring as a professional cyclist. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 40.  Davis started the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s to promote and fund innovative research that seeks to improve the quality of life of those living with Parkinson’s. Since then, the Foundation has expanded far beyond research to become a leading source for education and resources to help people with Parkinson’s take action to live well today.

The former U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, publicly disclosed her diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 1995. She served in the Clinton administration and passed away in 2016.

Janet Wood Reno (July 21, 1938 – November 7, 2016) was an American lawyer and public official who served as the first female and 78th United States attorney general. Reno, a member of the Democratic Party, held the position from 1993 to 2001, making her the second-longest serving attorney general, behind only William Wirt.

The iconic singer-songwriter Neil Diamond announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018, prompting him to retire from touring. He remains involved in music and philanthropy.

Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts: “Cracklin’ Rosie”, “Song Sung Blue”, “Longfellow Serenade”, “I’ve Been This Way Before”, “If You Know What I Mean”, “Desirée”, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”, “America”, “Yesterday’s Songs”, and “Heartlight”. Thirty-eight songs by Diamond have reached the top 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts, including “Sweet Caroline”.

The acclaimed actor best known for his role in “M*A*S*H” revealed in 2018 that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He continues to be active in the entertainment industry and in raising awareness about the condition.

Alan Alda (born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo; January 28, 1936) is an American actor, author, screenwriter, podcast host and director. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner and a three-time Tony Award nominee, he is best known for playing Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the CBS wartime sitcom M*A*S*H (1972–1983). He also wrote and directed numerous episodes of the series.

The Grammy-winning singer revealed her Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2013, which ultimately led to her retirement from performing. She has since been outspoken about her journey with the disease.

Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is an American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin music.  She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, and an ALMA Award. Many of her albums have been certified gold, platinum or multiplatinum in the United States and internationally. She has also earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe award. She was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy in 2011 and also awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy in 2016. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014. On July 28, 2014, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities.^[5][16] In 2019, she received a star jointly with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work as the group Trio. Ronstadt was among five honorees who received the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements.

Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła –18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005.   In 2001 he was diagnosed as suffering from Parkinson’s disease. International observers had suspected this for some time, but it was only publicly acknowledged by the Vatican in 2003.

Gerald ‘Jerry’ McGinnis, the founder of Respironics, was a remarkable inventor and entrepreneur. He established Respironics in 1976 and played a vital role in developing the first CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea. McGinnis, a veteran of the Korean War and a mechanical engineer at Westinghouse, was known for his hard work, generosity, and guidance to others. Forbes Magazine recognized the company as 5^th best private company in 1987.  He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association in 2016, contributing to the growth of Pittsburgh as a tech hub. Despite battling Parkinson’s disease, he continued his work and philanthropy with determination. He passed away on January 25, 2024, just before his 90th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and kindness.