Many people around the world suffer from bipolar disorder. But what you may not realize is that many celebrities, inventors, and people throughout history have also had this disorder. Before the 1990s, the disorder was better known as “manic depression,” but the symptoms for the disorder remained largely the same — periods of high energy (mania) and periods of serious lows (depression).

Many of these people have been successfully treated for the disorder and no longer have any symptoms of it. Others are still actively taking medications for it.

Listed in alphabetical order, with their profession and birthdate, where known. This is not a complete list by any means, but it does give you a flavor of how prevalent and widespread bipolar disorder is.

Famous People with Bipolar Disorder

Sophie Anderton - model

Ludwig Von Beethoven - composer

Maurice Benard - actor - March 1, 1963

Art Buchwald - writer, humorist

Tim Burton - director

Dick Cavett - actor, author, host - November 19, 1936

Rosemary Clooney - singer - May 23, 1928

Francis Ford Coppola - director

Evan Dando - singer

Robert Downey Jr. - actor

Patty Duke - actress - December 14, 1946

Carrie Fisher - actress/writer - October 21, 1956

Connie Francis - singer, actress - December 12, 1938

Linda Hamilton - actress - September 26, 1956

Mariette Hartley - actress - advocate - June 21, 1940

Kay Redfield Jamison - writer, psychologist

Margot Kidder - actress - October 17, 1948

Vivien Leigh - actress - November 5, 1913

Robert Lowell - poet - March 1, 1917

Burgess Meredith - actor - November 16, 1907

Charley Pride - country-western singer - March 18, 1938

Theodore Roosevelt - President of the United States

Axl Rose - rock singer - February 6, 1962

Ben Stiller - actor, director, writer, comedian - November 30, 1965

Sting - musician, actor - October 2, 1951

Darryl Strawberry - baseball player

Ted Turner - entrepreneur

Tracy Ullman - actress

Jean-Claude Van Damme - actor - October 18, 1960

Virginia Woolf - novelist - January 25, 1882

What's Related

• Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder
• Bipolar Risk Factors
• Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?
• Talking to a Professional About Bipolar Disorder
• How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?
• Talking to a Doctor About Bipolar Disorder
• How Bipolar Disorder is Diagnosed
• Prevention of Bipolar Disorder
• Treatment of Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
• Frequently Asked Questions about Bipolar Disorder