42 celebrities with IBS or IBD

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease don't spare even the most accomplished actors, athletes and musicians. Ahead of IBS Awareness Month in April and World IBD Day May 19, here is a list of celebrities who have been diagnosed with the conditions.

SPORTS

Franklin Gutierrez. The Seattle Mariners center fielder experienced stomach pains that landed him on the team's disabled list. He was diagnosed with IBS in April 2011 after undergoing tests at the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.

Darren Fletcher. Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2011. In January 2013, he underwent surgery for the condition.

David Garrard. Former Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback David Garrard has been a spokesperson for the the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's In the Zone for Crohn's campaign, which raises money for research. He was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2004.

Theoren Fleury. This retired Canadian hockey star, Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medal winner was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1995. 

Kevin Dineen. Canadian Kevin Dineen was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1987 and struggled with the condition during his 19-year career in the National Hockey League.

Sir Steve Redgrave. The five-time Olympic rowing champion was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis while training for the Barcelona Olympic Games.

Fernando Pisani. Former Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks hockey player Fernando Pisani suffered from dehydration and muscle cramps, and tried managing his ulcerative colitis with steroids and pain relievers. After treating his IBD with biologic drugs, he was able to get back on the ice.

George "The Animal" Steele. William James Myers, known to professional wrestling fans as George "The Animal" Steele, began battling Crohn's disease in 1988. His health improved after he had his colon surgically removed in 2002.

James Morrison. The British golfer was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a young age. He was hospitalized for a flare-up during the 2011 French Open but was able to finish the competition.

Rolf Benirschke. Retired San Diego Chargers Placekicker Rolf Benirschke underwent major abdominal surgery for ulcerative colitis in his second season with the team. 

Kathleen Baker. The Olympic swimmer was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 14 but went on to become a gold medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Carrie Johnson. An Olympic kayaker, Carrie Johnson had to stop training in 2003 due to symptoms of Crohn's disease. With doctors' help, she was able to manage the disease and compete in three Summer Olympic Games.

Matt Light. Former New England Patriots Offensive Lineman Matt Light had to sit out games due to his Crohn's disease and eventually had more than a foot of his intestine surgically removed.

Larry Nance Jr. The professional basketball player has taken prednisone to treat his Crohn's disease. 

Seantrel Henderson. The Buffalo Bills offensive tackle was suspended from the NFL for taking prescribed medical marijuana to treat his Crohn's disease and pain from surgeries he'd undergone for the condition. 

 

TELEVISION, FILM AND MEDIA

Jenny McCarthy. The former Playboy Playmate and MTV Singled Out host has talked about her IBS symptoms on The Howard Stern Show and in Arena magazine.

Cybill Shepherd. The actress was diagnosed with IBS and became a spokesperson for an IBS drug after suffering from chronic constipation, bloating and abdominal discomfort for several years.

Pete Davidson. The SNL cast member was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was 17 years old.

Chyler Leigh. The Grey's Anatomy actress was coping with IBS in 2001 on the set of Not Another Teen Movie.

Gregory Itzin. Gregory Itzin, who has acted in 24 and The Mentalist, manages his ulcerative colitis symptoms with medication and diet.

Dan O'Bannon. The scriptwriter for the movie Alien, Mr. O'Bannon struggled with Crohn's disease. A book by his colleague said, "The digestion process felt like something bubbling inside of [O'Bannon] struggling to get out. From his own torment came the idea for the alien bloodily punching its way out of John Hurt's chest during dinner."

Cynthia McFadden. The Nightline co-anchor, Primetime co-anchor and ABC News correspondent Cynthia McFadden treats her Crohn's symptoms daily.

Chuck Lorre. This television producer behind hit shows including Two and a Half Men suffers from ulcerative colitis.

Amy Brenneman. The Hollywood actress has starred in Judging Amy, Grey’s Anatomy, and Private Practice, and is a vocal supporter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. 

Shannen Doherty. Shannen Doherty battled Crohn's while becoming famous for her role as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Prue Halliwell on Charmed.

Frank Fritz. Frank Fritz stars on the History Channel's reality series American Pickers and has had a longtime battle with Crohn's disease.

Camille Grammer. After being diagnosed with IBS in 1996, this Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and her husband at the time became spokespeople for the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Lynda Carter. In addition to playing the part of Wonder Woman in the 1970s, Lynda Carter served as a spokeswoman for IBS awareness in 2002.

Mary Ann Mobley. Three years after being crowned Miss America in 1959, Mary Ann Mobley developed Crohn's disease as her acting and singing career began to take off.

Ben Morrison. Ben Morrison, who was diagnosed with Crohn's in high school, exposes "the lighter side of Crohn's disease" in his one-man comedy show.

Tyra Banks. The model and talk-show host wasn't shy about discussing her IBS with Janet Jackson.

 

FOOD

Sunny Anderson. Ms. Anderson was diagnosed with UC at 19, but didn't let it stop her from becoming a superstar celebrity chef on television.

 

POLITICS

Thomas Menino. Doctors determined that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's intestinal discomfort was caused by Crohn's disease.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 34th U.S. president underwent surgery for Crohn's disease after being diagnosed with the condition in 1956. 

President John F. Kennedy. JFK took antispasmodic drugs to manage his IBD-like symptoms, which included severe diarrhea. His medical records suggest he may have suffered from ulcerative colitis, but other reports indicate that he may have had IBS.

Marvin Bush. The youngest son of former President George H.W. Bush was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1985 and later became a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis.

Tony Snow. Tony Snow served as the White House press secretary for President George W. Bush and dealt with ulcerative colitis for nearly three decades. He died at 53 years old after battling colon cancer.

 

MUSIC

Mike McCready. Guitarist Mike McCready helped form Pearl Jam in 1990 after receiving his Crohn's and colitis diagnosis at age 21. He volunteered for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.

Anastacia. American singer/songwriter Anastacia was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 13.

Chris Conley. Saves the Day lead singer Chris Conley has toured despite his struggle with Crohn's disease.

Cam'Ron. Cameron Giles, who goes by the stage name Cam'Rom, spent much of his early career in the hospital due to an ulcer, a hernia, and irritable bowel syndrome. He wrote and released a song called "I.B.S." in 2006.

Kurt Cobain. The late Nirvana frontman openly discussed painful stomach ailments and IBS-like symptoms.

 

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