List of people with Guillain–Barré syndrome

A number of notable people have been affected by the rare peripheral nervous system condition Guillain-Barré syndrome.

American actor Andy Griffith developed Guillain-Barré syndrome in 1983. Griffith is seen here receiving an award at the White House in 2005.

• Ryūtarō Arimura, vocalist for Japanese rock band Plastic Tree: His case was detected and treated early, and Arimura was able to return to touring within three months.^[1]
• Markus Babbel, former international footballer, contracted GBS in 2001, following a period suffering from the Epstein–Barr virus. He lost almost an entire year of his footballing career between the two illnesses.^[2]
• Tony Benn, British politician^[3]
• Rachel Chagall, actress, contracted GBS in 1982. In 1987, she portrayed Gabriela Brimmer, a notable disabilities activist.^[4]
• Alastair Clarkson, Australian football coach.^[5]
• Tom Edlefsen, American tennis player, made the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1968, a year after he developed GBS.^[6]
• Mike Egener, Canadian hockey player^[7]
• Samuel Goldstein, American athlete and Paralympian^[8]
• Andy Griffith, an American actor best known for The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, developed GBS in 1983.^[9]
• Joseph Heller, author, contracted GBS in 1981. This episode in his life is recounted in the autobiographical No Laughing Matter.^[10]
• Lucia Hippolito, Brazilian political scientist, journalist, historian, columnist and commentator.
• Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, was diagnosed and under treatment for GBS in April 2010.^[11]
• Hugh McElhenny, former professional American football player with the San Francisco 49ers^[12]
• Scott McKenzie (born Philip Wallach Blondheim), an American singer and songwriter most notable for his hit single and hippie anthem "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)", died August 18, 2012, at the age of 73 from GBS.^[13]
• Sabine Moussier, Mexican actress^[14]
• Lena Nyman, Swedish actress
• Lucky Oceans, Grammy Award-winning musician with Asleep at the Wheel, was diagnosed with GBS in 2008.^[15]
• Len Pasquarelli, sports writer and analyst for ESPN and resident of the Pro Football Writers of America, was diagnosed in 2008.^[16]
• Serge Payer, Canadian-born professional hockey player, after battling and overcoming the syndrome, set up the Serge Payer Foundation, which is dedicated to raising money for research into new treatments and cures for GBS.^[17]
• William “The Refrigerator” Perry, former professional American football player with the Chicago Bears, was diagnosed with GBS in 2008.^[18]
• Toni Rüttimann, bridge builder in developing countries, in Cambodia (2002); he used the rehabilitation time in Thailand to develop software to support bridge-building works.^[19]
• Norton Simon, American industrialist and philanthropist^[20]
• Kay Smith (artist), current Illinois Artist Laureate, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome at the age of 73, after extensive rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago she was able to continue painting and teaching^[21]
• Kelly-Marie Stewart, British actress^[22]
• Hans Vonk, Dutch conductor.^[23]
• Morten Wieghorst, Danish former footballer and football coach^[24]
• Danny Wuerffel, 1996 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida^[25]
• Rich Ceisler, American standup comedian, became sick while performing on a cruise ship. He was flown to a hospital in the Dominican Republic where diagnosis of Guillain–Barré syndrome was made. Ceisler died soon after, on 4 August 2014.^[26]

NOTE: Research published in 2003 concluded that the features of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's illness and his age were more consistent with a diagnosis of this syndrome rather than polio.^[27]

References

1. "Plastic Tree’s vocalist, Arimura Ryutaro recovers from "Guillain-Barre syndrome"". Tokyohive.com. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
2. Wallace, Sam (2002-08-10). "Grateful Babbel a tower of strength again". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
3. Lea, Robert (2002-10-17). "Relative Values: Tony and Josh Benn". London: The Times. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
4. http://tcm.tv/this-month/article.html?isPreview=&id=499692|218343&name=Gaby-A-True-Story
5. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-27/clarksons-health-crisis
6. Los Angeles Times, "Tom Edlefsen Beats Virus", 30 June 1968
7. http://www.coventryblaze.co.uk/index.php/news/latest-news/631-egener-illness-forces-contract-cancellation
8. The case of Sam Goldstein and the swine flu vaccine, jta.org, May 5, 2009
9. "Andy in Guideposts Magazine".
10. Vogel, Speed; Heller, Joseph (2004). No Laughing Matter. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-4717-5.
11. "Luci Baines Johnson hospitalized with nervous system disorder".
12. Raley, Dan (2004-09-02). "The untold story of Hugh McElhenny, the King of Montlake". Seattle PI. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
13. "Scott McKenzie Dead". Celebritydiagnosis.com. 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
14. "People en español".
15. "Lucky Oceans in hospital". The Australian. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
16. "Chris Mortensen on Len Pasquarelli's comeback". ESPN.com. 2009-01-26. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
17. Serge Payer Foundation, Serge Payer Foundation Mission.
18. . YumaSun.com. 2008-09-08 http://www.yumasun.com/sports/tatum_44249___article.html/perry_night.html. Retrieved 2008-10-28. Missing or empty |title= (help)
19. Gallanti, Fabrizio (30 November 2006). "The bridge builder". Domus. Italy.
20. "Norton Simon Biography". Retrieved 13 October 2009.
21. Artist Discovers That A Still Life Can Be Moving http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-05-18/news/9705180077_1_guillain-barre-syndrome-paint-tahiti
22. Sutton, Jessica. "Kelly-Marie Stewart: disability and motherhood". Retrieved 3 January 2013.
23. Kozinn, Allan (2004-08-31). "Hans Vonk, 63, Conductor Of the St. Louis Symphony". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
24. "Recovering Wieghorst is now talking". BBC News. 2000-11-01.
25. Dooley, Pat. "Wuerffel hospitalized to treat nervous system disorder". Gatorsports.com. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
26. Procida, Billy. "Comedian Rich Ceisler dies from rare Guillain-Barré syndrome". Laughspin.com. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
27. Goldman AS, Schmalstieg EJ, Freeman DH, Goldman DA, Schmalstieg FC (2003). "What was the cause of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's paralytic illness?" (PDF). J Med Biogr 11 (4): 232–40. PMID 14562158. Retrieved 2012-02-27.