Hope Davis
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Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities. It’s impartial and appears in many different people, even celebrities.
If you’re interested in learning more about famous people with dyslexia, you’re in the right spot. Get ready as we dive into 33 famous dyslexic people who were able to be successful in life even after a dyslexia diagnosis.
1. Danny Glover
First on our list of famous people with dyslexia is actor Danny Glover, known for this role in films like Predator and Lethal Weapon. He reportedly grew up being harassed and labeled by teachers and thus has spent much of his adult life assisting students with similar disabilities.
2. Kiera Knightley
Kiera Knightley is one of the most prominent actresses of our time, and she was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was six years old. She gained her first acting agent as an incentive from her parents to get her to focus on school, which led to her astounding career.
3. Octavia Spencer
Next on our list of famous dyslexic people is Oscar winner Octavia Spencer. Growing up, Spencer reported that the words on her pages would scramble before her eyes, forcing her to read the same sections before she would eventually grow bored and give up.
4. Vince Vaughn
Vince Vaughn is one of the funniest comedy actors of our time, but he arrived at this point after struggling through school with dyslexia. Everyone thought he was way too much to handle, forcing him to work harder than other kids and thus landing him in his successful position as an actor.
5. Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is another on our list of famous people with dyslexia, which was diagnosed when she was a child. She reveals most people suspected she was not trying in school when in reality, she was struggling to push through her diagnosis.
6. John Lennon
Beatles singer John Lennon had dyslexia. Technically, his case went undiagnosed, but there is plenty of proof for his condition now.
Related: The Tragic Story of John Lennon’s Death
7. Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is a rarity on our list of famous dyslexic people because he wasn’t diagnosed with the condition until he was 60. However, he suspected this trouble when he was younger, as his inability to read led to severe bullying from his classmates.
8. Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso, artist extraordinaire, is another famous dyslexic individual. His condition likely influenced some of his choices in his unforgettable paintings.
9. Carly Simon
Carly Simon, like most famous dyslexic people, was made fun of as a child. However, she persevered, becoming the chart-topping singer she is today. Now she does her best to share her story, hoping that other dyslexic children will never go through what she once did.
10. Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie is one of the most renowned mystery writers of all time, but she considered herself one of the “slowest” in the family due to her dyslexia diagnosis. Spelling and writing were, surprisingly, often very tricky for the creative woman.
11. Hans Christian Anderson
Many sources speculate that famed writer Hans Christian Anderson was dyslexic. He was great at memorizing and creating stories but often failed at spelling and writing in the very language he loved.
12. Caitlyn Jenner
Next on our list of famous dyslexic people is Caitlyn Jenner. The athlete and reality star was diagnosed with the condition as a child, making it tricky to stay on track in school.
13. Billy Bob Thornton
Actor, writer, and musician Billy Bob Thornton is another on our list of famous people with dyslexia. He wasn’t diagnosed with the condition until he was out of school and on his way to success in Los Angeles.
14. Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey reportedly was very disruptive in school due to his dyslexia, causing him to lean on humor as a coping mechanism. He was diagnosed with it later in life and used it to push into the career he holds as a comedian and actor today.
15. Orlando Bloom
Actor Orlando Bloom received a diagnosis of dyslexia at seven. He reveals that this obstacle was ultimately a gift, strengthening him as he grew braver and eventually became the star he is today.
16. Jay Leno
Next on our list of famous dyslexic people is comedian, actor, and host Jay Leno. He’s revealed that it hasn’t drastically impacted his life, instead fueling him to push forward toward his various life goals with even greater vigor.
17. Cher
Singer and actress Cher has both dyslexia and dyscalculia, which dramatically impacted her ability to learn and grow like other kids in her class. Nowadays, she’s learned taking it slow is essential to memorizing and mastering her scripts and songs.
Related: 15 Facts About Cher
18. Harry Belafonte
Actor and activist Harry Belafonte is another on our list of famous dyslexic people. This diagnosis made learning tricky for him in a traditional school environment, leading to his choice to drop out at 17 and join the Navy before becoming the professional actor that sealed his career.
19. Henry Winkler
Writer, actor, producer, and director Henry Winkler was diagnosed with dyslexia at 31. The Happy Days and Arrested Development actor has been vocal about helping young people with the disease.
20. Richard Branson
Next on our list of famous people with dyslexia is Sir Richard Branson, the investor, author, and philanthropist extraordinaire. He works as a positive, inspirational voice for those who have dyslexia, revealing it can be a driving, successful force instead of one that drags you down.
21. Ozzy Osbourne
The famed heavy metal star Ozzy Osbourne has struggled with dyslexia since he was young. While he still can’t read or write very well, he has worked hard to overcome his disability
Related: The Best Ozzy Osbourne Songs, Ranked
22. Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is next on our list of famous dyslexic people. Perhaps the most famous boxer ever, he was well-known for his braggadocio (that he always backed up) and stances for social causes. He died in 2016.
23. Tim Tebow
When Tim Tebow was seven, he received an official diagnosis of dyslexia, which didn’t stop him from becoming a star athlete. His brother and father also have dyslexia, though his brother didn’t find out until he was almost 40.
24. Anderson Cooper
When Anderson Cooper was a child, he worked hard to hide his dyslexia diagnosis from other kids his age. He eventually pushed through it as he progressed in journalism and developed into one of the most well-known faces on television today.
25. Bella Thorne
Next on our list of famous people with dyslexia is actress and singer Bella Thorne. Even Disney Channel embraced this condition, ensuring Thorne’s character in Shake It Up also had dyslexia to speak to other children with the same diagnosis.
26. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise received his diagnosis of dyslexia at seven and attempted to hide it from his friends. He had to work hard at reading after he got his first acting gig, pushing twice as hard as other actors to understand the same scripts, which eventually paid off.
27. Salma Hayek
Next on our list of famous people with dyslexia is Salma Hayek. The actress was diagnosed when she was a teenager, though she doesn’t think it impacted her life too dramatically.
28. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, basketball extraordinaire, received a diagnosis of dyslexia and crushed it to dominate on the court. He was made fun of for his learning struggles as a child, which he carried as encouragement in his later career.
29. Channing Tatum
Next on our list of famous dyslexic people is Channing Tatum, who actually has dyslexia and ADHD. The actor revealed it was tricky for him to learn as a child, advocating for a better school system to fit every child, not just those who fall into a specific category.
30. Mick Fleetwood
Fans of the band Fleetwood Mac likely already know that the band’s namesake, Mick Fleetwood, suffers from dyslexia. He never let his diagnosis get him down, though and swears that dyslexia is the reason he is so good at drums.
31. Gwen Stefani
Singer Gwen Stefani always struggled in school, but she never knew why until she was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult. Now she devotes a lot of her time, and energy, to helping her own children who also have been diagnosed with the condition.
32. John Irving
John Irving is a screenwriter and producer. He reported that his dyslexia gave him an advantage because it taught him to go slow rather than speeding through work like his fellow creatives.
33. Jennifer Aniston
Last up on our list of famous people with dyslexia is Friends actress Jennifer Aniston. She wasn’t diagnosed with the condition until her late 20s.
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