According to statistics, the age group most often affected by lupus is from 15 to 50 years old, and the disease accounts for 50/100.000 people, and celebrities are no exception. There are quite a few famous people who have suffered from this dangerous disease. Here are some famous people who have been diagnosed with lupus.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that impacts many body systems, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, etc. The disease is sometimes difficult to diagnose because its symptoms often resemble other illnesses. But the most distinctive sign of lupus is a rash that stretches across both cheeks.
Lupus is divided into two main types: discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common. Some people have lupus due to congenital and genetic. Although no universal cure for lupus exists, treatments can help people manage symptoms.
1. Michael Jackson
| Birth name | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Date of birth | August 29, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Gary, Indiana, US |
| Died | June 25, 2009 |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer |
| Years active | 1964–2009 |
The “King of Pop” Michael Jackson is one of the stars who have had lupus. From the mid-1980s, his appearance began to change markedly, especially the color of his skin gradually became paler. In addition to being diagnosed with the skin disorder vitiligo, Jackson was also diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus in 1986.
In an interview with CNN, Dr. Arnie Klein – Michael Jackson’s dermatologist, revealed that at the time, the pop legend had a butterfly-shaped rash and severe scabs on the front part of his scalp. Klein did a biopsy and discovered that Jackson had lupus. Until the end of his life, Michael Jackson suffered from many illnesses and died of acute poisoning with propofol and benzodiazepine in 2009.
Michael Jackson was out and about on 15th November 2006.
2. Seal
| Birth name | Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel |
| Date of birth | 19 February 1963 |
| Birthplace | Paddington, London, England |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
Seal (real name Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel) is a famous British singer and songwriter. He is famous for his R&B/soul music and has many hit songs such as “Kiss from a Rose,” “Crazy,” etc. Seal has achieved many major awards in his singing career, including Brit Awards, MTV Video Music Award, and British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award. He has also coached The Voice Australia in 2012, 2013 and returned in 2017.
Seal was diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). In his interviews, Seal once revealed that he had been affected by lupus since his teenage years. The disease caused him to lose his hair and caused scars on his face. Usually, DLE causes sores on the face and scalp, but it can affect the skin anywhere on the patient’s body. Fortunately, Seal has had treatments for lupus, but the scars are still permanent on his face.
Seal at the Gucci and RocNation Pre-GRAMMY Brunch on February 13, 2011.
3. Lady Gaga
| Birth name | Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta |
| Date of birth | March 28, 1986 (age 37) |
| Birthplace | New York City, US |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Lady Gaga is one of the cases of hereditary lupus. In a conversation with Larry King, the famous singer revealed she was positive for this disease. Her aunt, Joanne, also died of lupus in 1974 after a period of expensive treatment. Lady Gaga released an album called “Joanne” in memory of her aunt in 2016.
Lady Gaga is very open about her health condition. So far, lupus has not caused any symptoms, but she still regularly monitors her health condition. Although a person with lupus has a higher risk of developing it when a loved one has the disease, it can still lie dormant for many years in the patient’s body.
Lady Gaga at the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Arrivals on February 8, 2015, in Los Angeles, CA.
4. Selena Gomez
| Birth name | Selena Marie Gomez |
| Date of birth | July 22, 1992 (age 30) |
| Birthplace | Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, actress, producer |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Selena Gomez, Hollywood’s most famous singer and actress, has also struggled with lupus. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2014. For a long time, Selena struggled with pain throughout her body that stemmed from the overlap of lupus and myositis, which caused pain and muscle weakness. Selena’s doctor recommended intravenous injections of Rituxan to relieve her muscle pain for a while, after which she also had to undergo chemotherapy.
The lupus disease caused Selena Gomez to have many other health problems. In 2017, she also performed a kidney transplant surgery. In addition, due to the use of drugs to treat lupus, Selena Gomez had complications such as shaking hands and difficulty controlling the ability to grasp objects. Fortunately, the symptoms of lupus caused by Selena have been relieved for Selena.
Selena Gomez at the “Dolittle” Premiere at the Village Theater on January 11, 2020.
5. Toni Braxton
| Birth name | Toni Michele Braxton |
| Date of birth | October 7, 1967 (age 55) |
| Birthplace | Severn, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress, television personality |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Toni Braxton is an outstanding R&B singer and songwriter. In addition, she is an actress, television celebrity, record producer, and humanitarian. Dubbed the “Queen of R&B,” Toni Braxton has achieved much success with hit albums such as Toni Braxton (1993), Secrets (1996), More Than a Woman (2002), Libra (2005), etc.
Toni Braxton was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 2008. This is the most common strain of lupus and has resulted in multiple hospitalizations for Braxton for the disease. Due to the subjectivity of her disease, the singer encountered dangerous complications of lupus. Braxton’s left main coronary artery was 80% blocked, and if not detected in time, she could have suffered a life-threatening heart attack. Since then, Toni Braxton has contributed to raising public awareness of lupus. She also expressed support for finding a cure for this dangerous disease.
Toni Braxton at the “It’s A Wonderful Lifetime” Red Carpet at the Grove on November 14, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA.
6. Kristen Johnston
| Birth name | Kristen Angela Johnston |
| Date of birth | September 20, 1967 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Kristen Johnston is an actress best known for her hit sitcom “3rd Rock From the Sun.” She has twice won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in this series. Other films featuring Johnston include The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), Ice Age (2002), Music and Lyrics (2007), Johnston, Bride Wars (2009), etc.
Kristen Johnston was diagnosed with lupus in 2013 after seeing 17 doctors get an accurate result. The disease had taken a toll on her, so she couldn’t lift her neck without a brace. Johnston was treated with chemotherapy, and his symptoms gradually improved. At first, Kristen Johnston felt pessimistic about her health, but then she became more optimistic and believed that every day was a gift to her.
Kristen Johnson at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.
7. Nick Cannon
| Birth name | Nicholas Scott Cannon |
| Date of birth | October 8, 1980 |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Television presenter, actor, rapper, comedian |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Nick Cannon is an American rapper, comedian, television presenter, director, and screenwriter. He is the ex-husband of famous singer Mariah Carey. Nick has hosted many hit shows such as The Nick Cannon Show, America’s Got Talent, Wild ‘n Out, and The Masked Singer. In addition, he also acted in films such as Drumline, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, Roll Bounce, etc.
Nick Cannon once struggled with lupus. During an appearance on Good Morning America, Nick revealed that he had been diagnosed with lupus with inflammation of the kidneys, known as lupus nephritis. At that time, he was hospitalized with symptoms such as kidney failure and, more dangerously, a pulmonary embolism. Due to his busy work, doctors asked Nick to limit activities and strong emotions that could affect the treatment process. After learning that Selena Gomez also suffered from the same disease, Nick Cannon spoke up to encourage her and support lupus patients.
Nick Cannon arrives at the 2016 March of Dimes Celebration of Babies Luncheon on December 9, 2016.
8. Oleta Adams
| Birth name | Oleta Adams |
| Date of birth | May 4, 1953 |
| Birthplace | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Oleta Adams is a successful American singer and pianist. She became famous after releasing the album Tears for Fears The Seeds of Love (1989). Her other albums have reached the top 10 hits in the UK, such as Circle of One (1991), Evolution (1993), etc. Adams has been nominated for a Grammy Award four times and has been nominated twice for the Soul Train Music Awards.
After seven years of keeping it a secret, Oleta Adams has spoken publicly about her lupus. She was diagnosed with the disease after going to the doctor because she had aches and pains all over her body for a long time. Lupus has affected every area of Oleta Adams’ life. However, she has found a balance between her personal preferences and therapies that help reduce her condition. Adams has also warned people to pay attention to this lupus disease and advocate for research to develop new treatments for people with the disease.
Oleta Adams arrives at the 2017 BLACK MUSIC HONORS on August 18th, 2017, at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in Nashville.
9. Flannery O’Connor
| Birth name | Mary Flannery O’Connor |
| Date of birth | March 25, 1925 |
| Birthplace | Savannah, Georgia, US |
| Occupation | Novelist, short story writer, essayist |
| Years active | 1946–1964 |
Flannery O’Connor is an outstanding American novelist, writer, and essayist. Throughout her career, she has written a total of two novels and 31 short stories, and several reviews and commentaries. Her works revolve around showing good and evil, violence or love in every human being. O’Connor won the 1972 US National Book Award for Fiction.
Flannery O’Connor was one of the talented writers who died at a young age. She was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 25 when she was a promising young writer. She died at 39 from lupus, the disease that had taken her father’s before. Lupus had left O’Connor in constant pain. She used literature to forget about physical pain. Thanks to that, the world literature village has had more excellent literary works such as Wise Blood (1952), The Violent Bear It Away (1960), A Good Man is Hard to Find, and Other Stories (1955), etc.
10. Paula Abdul
| Birth name | Paula Julie Abdul |
| Date of birth | June 19, 1962 (age 60) |
| Birthplace | San Fernando, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, television personality |
| Years active | 1978–present |
Paula Abdul is an American singer, dancer, and choreographer. After many years of diligent work as a professional dancer, she suffered from osteoarthritis pain. Before being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, Paula knew she had lupus and had experienced many injuries while dancing.
Paula Abdul has endured physical and mental pain and fatigue because of this disease. However, she found her own therapy by following an anti-inflammatory diet to help ease the pain. In addition, she also practices stretching in the morning and right before going to bed at night. The joy of dancing and keeping a positive outlook helped her manage her symptoms. Paula Abdultly is an activist to make people more aware of lupus and support research on the disease.
Paula Abdul attends the premiere of Impractical Jokers: The Movie at AMC Lincoln Square.
11. Charles Kuralt
| Birth name | Charles Bishop Kuralt |
| Date of birth | September 10, 1934 |
| Birthplace | Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 1997 |
| Occupation | journalist, correspondent, news anchor |
| Years active | 1957–1997 |
Charles Kuralt is an American journalist and host known for his career with CBS. He is best known for his “On the Road” segment on the CBS Evening News and for which he won two individual Peabody Awards. Kuralt was the first host of CBS News Sunday Morning and held the position for fifteen years.
Charles Kuralt had systemic lupus erythematosus. After a long battle with the disease, Charles Kuralt passed away from a heart attack as a complication of lupus in 1997. Over the course of his forty-year career, Kuralt proved that reality always contains miracles that we do not need to search for anywhere.
12. Shannon Boxx
| Birth name | Shannon Leigh Boxx Spearman |
| Date of birth | June 29, 1977 |
| Birthplace | Fontana, California, United States |
| Occupation | soccer player |
| Years active | 1994-2015 |
Shannon Boxx is a retired American football player. She is a former United States women’s national soccer team member and plays as a defensive midfielder. Shannon brilliantly won gold medals for the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, and 2012 London Olympics. Shannon Boxx announced his retirement after winning the Football Championship championship. Women’s World 2015.
Shannon Boxx was diagnosed with lupus in 2007. Currently, she is still an outstanding female player on the US national football team. Shannon revealed that starting in 2002, she began to have symptoms of extreme fatigue and joint pain even while doing normal daily tasks, in early 2002. However, it wasn’t until before the Olympics. At the 2012 meeting, she just went public about her illness. Since then, Shannon Boxx has been trying to help raise awareness about lupus among the general public. She has also worked with the Lupus Foundation of America to help find a cure for the disease.
13. Trick Daddy
| Birth name | Maurice Samuel Young |
| Date of birth | September 27, 1974 |
| Birthplace | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Rapper, songwriter |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Trick Daddy is an American rapper born in 1974. He is known to the public through the songs “I’m a Thug” and “I’m So Hood.” Trick Daddy revealed he was diagnosed with lupus in an interview after years of keeping his condition a secret. The type of lupus Trick has is discoid lupus, which makes him very sensitive to exposure to direct sunlight.
Trick Daddy is also outspoken about his battle with this dangerous, life-threatening disease. After a period of drug treatment, Trick stopped taking the drug and did not accept cortisone injections to treat the lesions appearing on the body. According to Trick, these injections left scars and dimples on his skin. In addition to using sunscreen, cortisone injections, and additional medications, Trick Daddy’s doctor asked him to change his lifestyle in ways he found difficult.
Trick Daddy attended the 2017 BET HIP-HOP AWARDS red carpet on Friday, October 6th, 2017.
14. Teddi King
| Birth name | Theodora King |
| Date of birth | September 18, 1929 |
| Birthplace | Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | November 18, 1977 |
| Occupation | vocalist |
| Years active | 1949–1977 |
Teddi King is one of the legendary singers of jazz music in America. During her singing career, she won public recognition through musical productions such as Mr. Wonderful, Bidin’ My Time, Say It Is Not So, Married I Can Always Get, and especially the album All the Kings’ Songs, which has received much praise.
While performing in Nantucket in 1970, Teddi King began to develop lupus symptoms. After falling ill, she still returned with several albums released. After seven years of battling lupus, Teddi King passed away in 1977 at 48. In memory of this famous female singer, a fundraising concert called “We Remember Teddi King” was held to support this famous singer. Lupus research aid through S.L.E. Foundation.
15. Juli Furtado
| Birth name | Juliana “Juli” Furtado |
| Date of birth | April 4, 1967 |
| Birthplace | New York City, US |
| Occupation | Professional mountain biker |
Juli Furtado was an American professional cyclist. She started her sports career in skiing until she injured her knee. After that, Furtado entered cycling and won a lot of success at mountain bike events, and she even represented the United States to participate in the Olympics.
In the race for a medal at the Atlanta Olympics, Juli Furtado was unusually slow (in 7th place). It was due to the developing symptoms of lupus in her body. Immediately after being diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in 1997, Furtado was forced to retire early due to health conditions. Fortunately, her disease is now under control.
16. Donald Byrne
| Birth name | Donald Byrne |
| Date of birth | June 12, 1930 |
| Died | April 8, 1976 |
| Occupation | university professor, chess player |
Donald Byrne is an extremely famous American chess player. He has held the title of International Master several times and regularly competes in the Chess Olympics. In addition, Byrne has been a college professor while teaching at Valparaiso University in Indiana and Pennsylvania State University (since 1961) to teach and coach the varsity chess team.
In the late 1950s, Donald Byrne contracted lupus and died of complications arising from the disease in 1976. He was inducted into the United States Chess Hall of Fame in 2003.
Bob Szendroi, Donald Byrne, Jerry Bergman at U.S. Championship in December 1965 via donaldbyrnechess
17. J Dilla
| Birth name | James Dewitt Yancey |
| Date of birth | February 7, 1974 |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2006 |
| Occupation | Record producer, drummer, rapper, songwriter |
| Years active | 1993–2006 |
J Dilla is a famous American rapper and music producer in the 1990s. He is known as the monument of world Hip-Hop in the Chillhop/Jazz/Soul genre and is one of the Hip artists. -Hop is the music industry’s most influential. Moreover, J Dilla is also considered the father of the popular Lo-fi Hip-hop genre.
J Dilla was diagnosed with lupus at a very young age and was at the peak of her career. He passed away in February 2006 after more than three years of battling a terminal blood disease and lupus. In the last years of his life, J Dilla gradually became debilitated due to complications from the above disease. Although he passed away at the age of 32, he left behind excellent music products and was always loved by the public.
18. Ray Walston
| Birth name | Herman Raymond Walston |
| Date of birth | November 2, 1914 |
| Birthplace | Laurel, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | January 1, 2001 |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1940s–2000 |
Ray Walston is an American actor and comedian best known in the 1960s as the main character (Uncle Martin) in My Favorite Martian. Before starting to act in movies, he spent many years in the theater and made his Broadway debut in 1945. Films starring Walston include South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Of Mice and Men, Picket Fences, etc.
Ray Walston was diagnosed with lupus in 1994. Due to the symptoms of the disease affecting his health, his career began to decline. Walston spent six years battling lupus and died in 2001, shortly after his 86th birthday. Ray Walston’s last film role was in the independent film Early Bird Special, released later that year.
19. Tim Raines
| Birth name | Timothy Raines Sr. |
| Date of birth | September 16, 1959 |
| Birthplace | Sanford, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional baseball coach |
Tim Raines (aka “Rock”) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He is considered one of the top and best athletes in baseball history.
After a kidney biopsy in July 1999, Tim Raines was diagnosed with lupus. He was asked to spend the rest of the year in treatment and recovery. The symptom that Tim Raines experienced was that his body started an inflammatory process in the kidneys. Doctors gave him high doses of medication to reduce swelling in his kidneys and try to keep the immune system from attacking his body. Tim Raines continued his passion for baseball and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
20. Michael Wayne
| Birth name | Michael Anthony Morrison |
| Date of birth | November 23, 1934 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 2003 |
| Occupation | Film producer, actor |
Michael Wayne is an American actor, film producer, and he is the eldest son of actor John Wayne. He began early in his film career as a production assistant on set and later joined his father’s film production company. Some movies with Wayne’s contribution include The Alamo (1960) and McLintock! (1963), Big Jake (1971), and Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973).
In 2003, Michael Wayne died in Burbank, California, at the age of 68. Warren Cowan, Wayne’s agent, said the cause of his death was heart failure following complications from lupus.
21. Mercedes Scelba-Shorte
| Birth name | Mercedes Yvette Scelba-Shorte |
| Date of birth | August 24, 1981 |
| Birthplace | New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | fashion model, actress |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Mercedes Scelba-Shorte is an American model and actress born in 1981. She was a contestant on Season 2 of America’s Next Top Model and was one of the finalists. During this show, Scelba-Shorte revealed that she has lupus.
In fact, Mercedes Scelba-Shorte was diagnosed with lupus in 2003 while in college. She inherited the disease from her grandmother, who passed away from complications with lupus. A few years before being diagnosed with lupus, Scelba-Shorte experienced symptoms including fatigue and joint pain. The side effects of her lupus medication caused her hair to fall out. Scelba-Shorte is currently a spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America. Despite her illness, she is also a certified yoga instructor and co-founder of The Gilded Fox, a jewelry brand.
Mercedes Scelba-Shorte at the Launch Party for Wes Borland’s Album “I Am: Wolfpack.” Vanguard, Hollywood, CA.
22. Lauren Shuler Donner
| Birth name | Lauren Diane Shuler |
| Date of birth | June 23, 1949 |
| Birthplace | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Producer |
| Years active | 1978–present |
Lauren Shuler Donner is a famous Hollywood film producer. She is the owner of The Donners’ Company and has participated in producing many famous and high-grossing films, including the X-Men series. Some other successful films with the participation of Donner such as Pretty in Pink, Mr. Mom, Dave, Free Willy, and St. Elmo’s Fire.
Lauren Shuler Donner has battled both breast cancer and lupus throughout her life. Despite being cured of cancer, she is still living with lupus. Before that, Donner kept her health a secret and didn’t tell anyone that she had cancer. After that, she opened up and confidently talked about her battle with the disease. Donner is also a longtime LupusLA Board member and was honored by the American Cancer Society in 2006.
Lauren Shuler Donner at the 2017 Producers Guild Awards at Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 28, 2017, in Beverly Hills, CA.
23. Cori Broadus
| Birth name | Cori Broadus |
| Date of birth | June 22, 1999 |
| Birthplace | California, US |
| Occupation | Singer |
Cori Broadus is a female pop singer born in 1999 and the daughter of famous rapper Snoop Dogg. Cori once featured on her father’s album No Guns Allowed in 2015 under the stage name Snoop Lion. In 2021, Cori revealed her ongoing health problems for the first time. She reveals her lupus diagnosis and the high blood pressure problems she has been facing.
Through her Instagram post, Cori Broadus briefly explained her experience with lupus and revealed more about her hair loss symptoms. Her doctors developed an aggressive treatment plan just to be safe, and luckily Cori won’t have to undergo chemotherapy. Instead, she will be given an antibody used to treat lupus called Benlysta. Despite battling illness, she is active in the music industry and CEO of CHOC Factory – a lip care, body care, and home wear product brand.
Cori Broadus arrived at the 2011 Nickelodeon TeenNick HALO Awards on October 26, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA.
24. Elaine Paige
| Birth name | Elaine Jill Bickerstaff |
| Date of birth | 5 March 1948 |
| Birthplace | Barnet, Hertfordshire, England |
| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1964–present |
Elaine Paige is an outstanding English singer and actress best known for her musicals. She is widely known to the public through her role as Eva Perón in Evita, produced in 1978. In addition, Elaine also participated in film and television programs. Besides being nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award five times, she has also released 20 albums, including eight gold and four platinum albums.
In 1989, Elaine Paige began battling with lupus. She shared that the illness has had a devastating impact on her work and life. The first symptom she felt was a cold during rehearsal. The cold then developed into flu-like symptoms, and then Elaine’s joints, neck, ankles, knees, hands, and wrists swelled and became painful.
Elaine Paige arrives for the Olivier Awards 2012 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Picture by: Simon Burchell/Featureflash.
25. Hugh Gaitskell
| Birth name | Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell |
| Date of birth | 14 December 1955 |
| Died | 18 January 1963 |
| Occupation | politician |
Hugh Gaitskell is a British politician. He served as Leader of the Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition. During his time as Labor leader, Gaitskell tried to pledge his will to fight to get the party to change its mind about supporting unilateral nuclear disarmament.
In December 1962, Hugh Gaitskell returned to England from a visit to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and fell ill. His condition gradually deteriorated, and he died in January 1963. Gaitskell’s cause of death is believed to have been complications from a sudden outbreak of lupus, an autoimmune disease that had affected the heart and his kidneys.
26. Leslie Hunt
| Birth name | Leslie Hunt |
| Date of birth | March 23rd, 1982 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois |
| Occupation | contestant on American Idol |
Leslie Hunt is known as one of the contestants on the famous music show American Idol. Over the years, Leslie has performed on many stages. She performs regularly as a solo artist and has been praised as a performer.
Leslie Hunt has lupus inherited from her family. She said it was the most difficult obstacle in her life and for her whole family. Leslie lost her sister and best friend to lupus in 1998. Since then, she has worked with AARDA to raise awareness about autoimmune diseases, including lupus
27. Maurissa Tancharoen
| Birth name | Maurissa Tancharoen |
| Date of birth | November 28, 1975 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Maurissa Tancharoen is an American singer, actress, producer, writer, story editor, and dancer. As a story editor, she has contributed to the success of movies like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Drop Dead Diva, Dollhouse, Starz series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, etc. In addition, Maurissa is the showrunner and executive producer of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and played a small role in Dollhouse.
Maurissa Tancharoen was diagnosed with lupus at a very young age. She revealed that she had suffered from severe flare-ups of the disease affecting her kidneys, lungs, and central nervous system. In 2015, she worked with her doctor to get her lupus under control so she could get pregnant and give birth. Currently, Maurissa runs a lupus awareness blog. She also actively advocates for lupus patients and regularly participates in charity walks to support the Lupus Foundation of America.
Maurissa Tancharoen at “Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.” 100th Episode Party at Ohm Nightclub on February 24, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA.
28. Tonya Ingram
| Birth name | Tonya Ingram |
| Date of birth | September 1, 1991 |
| Birthplace | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 30, 2022 |
| Occupation | Poet |
Tonya Ingram is an American poet, speaker, author, mental health advocate, and young disability activist. Her poetic works often talk about Black feminism and her battle with lupus and kidney failure.
Tonya Ingram describes herself as a “lupus warrior.” She is also frank and open about her illness. Tonya’s journey through lupus with poetry has been shared with thousands of people. Although she passed away while waiting for a kidney transplant, Tonya Ingram has always been loved by everyone around her and the audience as a resilient young poet in the battle with illness.
29. Inday Ba
| Birth name | Inday Ba |
| Date of birth | 10 August 1972 |
| Birthplace | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Died | 20 April 2005 |
| Occupation | film, stage, and television actress |
Inday Ba is a Swedish-born stage and television actress. She is best known for her role as Hillevi in the Swedish romantic comedy film Klassfesten (2002). Inday acted in Trial & Retribution from 2002 to 2003 as DC Lisa West.
Before his death at the age of 32, Inday Ba was battling kidney failure and other complications of lupus. She passed away shortly after filming the ITV series Jericho. Inday Ba and her mother filmed the documentary The Wolf Inside to document the progression of lupus.
30. Yuko Goto
| Birth name | Yūko Gotō |
| Date of birth | August 28, 1975 |
| Birthplace | Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Occupation | Actress, voice actress, singer |
| Years active | 1999–present |
Yuko Goto is a Japanese singer, actress, and voice actress. She has voiced in popular anime series such as Naruto, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Code Geass series, Overlord, Ōkami Kakushi, etc.
In 2012, Yuko Goto announced that she had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had previously been diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a type of hemorrhagic disease that causes a rash and bleeding. She first started showing symptoms of lupus while in middle school. After nearly two years of treatment, Yuko’s illness was in remission. She began to return to voice acting and take on new roles.
31. Gigi Garner
| Birth name | Greta Scott Garner |
| Date of birth | January 4, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Occupation | recording artist, TV show host |
Gigi Garner is an American singer, actress, and songwriter. She is the daughter of actor James Garner – a famous Hollywood icon from the 1960s. This Is Your Life: James Garner (1958) first appeared in the TV show This Is Your Life: James Garner (1958). She was chosen as “Miss Golden Globe” in 1988.
Gigi Garner was diagnosed with systemic lupus in 1995 and hospitalized twelve times. Her father has offered to become a spokesperson and advocate for systemic lupus awareness. He always mentioned his daughter’s serious struggle with this dangerous disease. Gigi Garner runs an artist management company, Gigi Garner Management, which aims to support actors and honor his father’s profession. She is also responsible for many popular movies and TV shows, including Grand Prix (1966), Marlowe (1969), Carl Belfast, Nichols (1971), The Rockford Files (1974), etc.
32. Kelle Bryan
| Birth name | Kéllé Bryan |
| Date of birth | 12 March 1975 |
| Birthplace | Plaistow, London, England |
| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Kéllé Bryan is an English singer and actress. Her first role was in The Bill, followed by other significant roles such as Martine Deveraux in the soap opera Hollyoaks, Debbie in the BBC series EastEnders, and Fran in Me and Mrs. Jones. Bryan is also known as a member of the girl group Eternal, formed in 1992.
Kéllé Bryan was diagnosed with lupus in 1998. By 2014, she started to have severe disease symptoms, such as hair loss, poor vision, hearing, and movement, and can not say. Worse, Bryan had a seizure, and doctors confirmed that lupus had affected her brain. To overcome the illness, Kéllé Bryan had to relearn how to read and write while continuing to struggle with short-term memory loss. She shared with the public that the period of fighting lupus was extremely difficult for her. Bryan also wants to raise awareness about the disease and help others understand it better.
33. Sally Hawkins
| Birth name | Sally Cecilia Hawkins |
| Date of birth | 27 April 1976 |
| Birthplace | Dulwich, London, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Sally Hawkins is an actress who has won a Golden Globe and a Silver Bear for best actress. During her acting career, she has starred in many films that helped make her name, such as Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Cassandra’s Dream (2007), Blue Jasmine (2013), Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Paddington, etc.
Hawkins’ most successful film is The Shape of Water (2018). However, after participating in this movie, she had to take a two-year break due to health problems. In early 2008, Sally Hawkins revealed that she had lupus. This disease greatly affects the actress’s walking. However, Hawkins remains optimistic and feels fortunate that symptoms only appear occasionally. She still maintains stable health and does not let this disease affect her work.
Sally Hawkins attends the photocall of ‘Maudie’ during the 67th Berlinale Film Festival Berlin at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin, Germany, on February 15, 2017.
34. Sophie Howard
| Birth name | Sophie Howard |
| Date of birth | 24 February 1983 |
| Birthplace | Southport, England |
| Occupation | glamour model |
Sophie Howard is a glamorous model born in 1983 in Southport, England. She is famous for appearing regularly in men’s magazines such as Page 3, Maxim, Nuts, and Loaded. Possessing a hot body, Sophie has been on the list of “100 sexiest women on the planet” for many years by FHM magazine.
Sophie Howard was diagnosed with lupus erythematosus while studying Sixth form. She experienced symptoms of becoming very tired and a rash appearing all over her face and body. At that time, the doctors thought it was acne and prescribed many acne medications for Sophie. After consulting with a private dermatologist, Sophie Howard was immediately diagnosed with lupus.