New details have emerged about the tragic death of legendary comedian, Robin Williams. Williams was sober at the time of his death but was struggling with early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
“Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the front lines, or comforting a sick child – Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid,” said his wife, Susan Schneider. “Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.
Robin William’s wife also added that his diagnosis was not something he wanted to share to the public right away. Although this can be a natural reaction to any health deficiency, many celebrities affected by neurological disorders have opened up about their conditions to bring awareness to such groups. In the pages that follow, learn how celebs like Tamia, Samuel L. Jackson, B. Smith, Muhammad Ali and others have dealt with their prognosis.
Muhammad Ali
Diagnosed in 1994, Muhammad Ali battled Parkinson’s disease until the end of his career. Philanthropist Jimmy Walker and Abraham Lieberman, MD established movements disorder clinic in his honor at the St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ three years later.
Tamia
Canadian born songstress Tamia Hill, 39, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003. The wife of former NBA player Grant Hill and mother of two daughters controls the condition with diet, exercise and medication.
Maurice White
As a musician and one of the founding member of Earth, wind, & Fire, Maurice White took notice of his first Parkinson’s Disease symptoms while on tour in the 1980s. He kept quiet about his disease for eight years before releasing details.
Brian Grant
Brian Grant spent more than ten years in the NBA playing with the Sacramento Kings, the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Phoenix Suns. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 36 which is early for many but it was just the right time for him to establish his own foundation, The Brian Grant Foundation.
Sugar Ray Robinson
Frequently cited as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson was the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. He battled with diabetes but was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in his final years. He died at the age of 67.
B. Smith
Smith, 64, was one of the first African American models to grace the cover of Mademoiselle Magazine. She revealed that she had Alzheimer’s in an interview by CBS News earlier this year.
Montel Williams
Emmy® Award winning talk show host Montel Williams has been living with multiple sclerosis since 1999. The 58 year old created the Montel Williams MS Foundation shortly after his diagnosis to raise awareness and funding for the disease. His daughter Maressa was diagnosed late last year with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer.
Samuel L. Jackson
Though he has yet to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Samuel L. Jackson is convinced that he will be the fifth in his family to get the disease. Four family members, including his mother and father, had been diagnosed when he opened up about his urgency to find a cure. “I read, I do crossword puzzles, I memorize lines for a living,” he said. “Maybe that’s why I continue to work — because I want to exercise my mind.”