This is a categorised, alphabetical list of notable people who have been diagnosed with lupus. Lupus is a collection of

autoimmune diseases An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a functioning body part. At least 80 types of autoimmune diseases have been identified, with some evidence suggesting that there may be more than 100 types. Nearly a ...

in which the

human immune system The immune system is a network of biological processes that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to parasitic worms, as well as cancer cells and objects such as wood splinter ...

becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin,

kidneys The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blood ...

blood cells A blood cell, also called a hematopoietic cell, hemocyte, or hematocyte, is a cell produced through hematopoiesis and found mainly in the blood. Major types of blood cells include red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), ...

heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide to ...

, and lungs. The most common and most severe form is

systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Symptoms vary among people and may be mild to severe. Commo ...

(SLE).

Confirmed diagnosis

Sports

Shannon Boxx Shannon Leigh Boxx Spearman (; born June 29, 1977) is an American retired soccer player and former member of the United States women's national soccer team, playing the defensive midfielder position. She last played club soccer for the Chicago Re ...

, diagnosed in 2007 * Tim Raines, former major league baseball player *

Juli Furtado Juliana "Juli" Furtado (born April 4, 1967 in New York City) is a retired American professional mountain biker, who began her sports career in skiing. After knee injuries dashed her hopes of ski success, she took up cycling and won the US Nationa ...

, champion professional mountain biker

Music

J Dilla J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...

(also known as Jay Dee), hip-hop producer and beat maker; died of SLE complications in 2006 *

Kéllé Bryan Kéllé Bryan (born 12 March 1975) is an English singer and actress, known as a member of girl group Eternal. In 2018, she began portraying the role of Martine Deveraux in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', a role she played until 2022. Sh ...

, diagnosed in 1998 * Lucy Vodden, inspiration for the Beatles song "

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. It was written primarily by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnersh ...

"; since becoming aware of this, Julian Lennon has campaigned to raise awareness of lupus *

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over ...

, had both SLE and vitiligo; diagnosed in 1986, and confirmed by his dermatologist, Arnold Klein, who presented legal documents during court depositions * Nick Cannon, American actor and former presenter of ''

America's Got Talent ''America's Got Talent'' (often abbreviated as ''AGT'') is a televised American talent show competition, and is part of the global Got Talent, ''Got Talent'' franchise created by Simon Cowell. The program is produced by Fremantle (company), F ...

'' *

Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...

, British singer-songwriter * Selena Gomez, American singer and actress *

Teddi King Teddi King (September 18, 1929 – November 18, 1977) was an American jazz and pop vocalist. Born Theodora King in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, she won a singing competition hosted by Dinah Shore at Boston's Tributary Theatre, later beg ...

, American singer; died of SLE complications in 1977 * Toni Braxton, American singer, was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December 2012 because of "minor health issues" related to lupus

Stage and screen

Sally Hawkins Sally Cecilia Hawkins (born 27 April 1976) is an English actress who began her career on stage and then moved into film. She has received several awards including a Golden Globe Award and the Berlin International Film Festival's Silver Bear fo ...

, actress *

Charles Kuralt Charles Bishop Kuralt (September 10, 1934 – July 4, 1997) was an American television, newspaper and radio journalist and author. He is most widely known for his long career with CBS, first for his "On the Road" segments on '' The CBS Eveni ...

, former anchor of ''

CBS Sunday Morning ''CBS News Sunday Morning'' (normally shortened to ''Sunday Morning'' on the program itself since 2009) is an American news magazine television program that has aired on CBS since January 28, 1979. Created by Robert Northshield and original hos ...

'', died of SLE complications in 1997 *

Lauren Shuler Donner Lauren Diane Shuler Donner (born June 23, 1949) is an American film producer, who specializes in mainstream youth and family-oriented entertainment. She owned The Donners' Company with her late husband, director Richard Donner. Her films have ...

, American movie producer * Mary Elizabeth McDonough, American actress; believes her SLE to be due to silicone breast implants *

Michael Wayne Michael Anthony Morrison (November 23, 1934 – April 2, 2003), better known by his stage name Michael Wayne, was an American film producer and actor. He was the eldest son of actor John Wayne and his first wife, Josephine Saenz. Biography Bo ...

, Hollywood director and producer; part owner of

Batjac Productions Batjac Productions is an independent film production company co-founded by John Wayne in 1952 as a vehicle for Wayne to both produce and star in movies. The first Batjac production was '' Big Jim McLain'' released by Warner Bros. in 1952, and its ...

; son of John Wayne, died of heart failure resulting from SLE complications in 2003 *

Ray Walston Herman Raymond Walston (November 2, 1914 – January 1, 2001) was an American actor and comedian, well known as the title character on ''My Favorite Martian''. His other major film, television, and stage roles included Luther Billis ('' South Pac ...

, character actor who died of SLE complications in 2001 after a six-year battle with the disease

Modelling

* Mercedes Scelba-Shorte, ''

America's Next Top Model ''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...

'' Season Two runner-up and model *

Sophie Howard Sophie Howard (born 24 February 1983) is a former glamour model from Southport, England. She appeared regularly on ''Page 3'' and in men's magazines such as ''Maxim'', '' Nuts'' and '' Loaded''. In August 2005, Howard was voted 73rd in the ' ...

, British glamour model

Politics

* Ferdinand Marcos, former Philippine president, died of SLE complications in 1989 *

Hugh Gaitskell Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell (9 April 1906 – 18 January 1963) was a British politician who served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1955 until his death in 1963. An economics lecturer and wartime civil servant, ...

, British politician; died of SLE complications in 1963 aged 56

Other

Donald Byrne Donald Byrne (June 12, 1930 – April 8, 1976) was an American university professor and chess player. He held the title International Master, and competed for his country in the Chess Olympiad on several occasions. Biography Born in New York Cit ...

, American chess player who died from SLE complications in 1976 *

Flannery O’Connor Mary Flannery O'Connor (March 25, 1925August 3, 1964) was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist. She wrote two novels and 31 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries. She was a Southern writer who often ...

, American author who died of SLE complications in 1964

Retrospective diagnosis

* Louisa May Alcott, American author best known for her novel ''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives ...

'', has been suggested to have had SLE.{{cite journal, vauthors=Hirschhorn N, Greaves IA, year=2007, title=Louisa May Alcott: her mysterious illness, journal=Perspect. Biol. Med., volume=50, issue=2, pages=243–59, doi=10.1353/pbm.2007.0019, pmid=17468541, s2cid=26383085

References

Lists of people by medical condition