Famous People With Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a reading disorder which is characterized by trouble with reading despite normal intelligence. People with dyslexia often start displaying difficulty in reading while at school and face difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, and writing words. Building a meaningful life and career while suffering from dyslexia is truly challenging, but not impossible, as these famous people with dyslexia have proven. Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg, unarguably one of the topmost filmmakers in Hollywood, has struggled with dyslexia. But he did not let the condition hamper his spirit and worked hard to achieve the success he deserved. Comedian and actress Whoopi Goldberg who became the second black woman in the history of the Academy Awards to win an acting Oscar was also diagnosed with dyslexia. Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has dyslexia—but he never let it dampen his ambitions to make it big in life. Dyslexia is relatively common and the prognosis is generally positive for individuals who are identified in childhood and receive support from friends and family. If you or anyone you know is dyslexic, do not despair and gain inspiration from these famous people with dyslexia. Know more about the life and works of celebrities who struggled with this disorder.
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1
Steven Spielberg(One of the Most Influential Personalities in the History of Cinema & Hollywood's Best Known Director)
Birthdate: December 18, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Film director, producer, and screenwriter Steven Spielberg is one of the most popular directors and producers in film history. A pioneer of the New Hollywood era, he popularized the genre of escapist films. As of 2020, he is the highest-grossing film director in history. He has won the Academy Award for Best Director twice.
Birthdate: February 10, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brighton
With approximately seven million followers on Instagram, Holly Willoughby made her place in the showbiz slowly but surely. She started her career as a model, appearing in posters and advertisements before hogging the limelight for her performance in Lemon La Vida Loca and Keith Lemon: The Film. She earned a BAFTA Children's Award as a children's television presenter.
Birthdate: September 16, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Singapore, Straits Settlements
Died: March 23, 2015
Lawyer-turned-politician Lee Kuan Yew, also known as LKY, was the first prime minister of Singapore, from 1959 to 1990. He established the People's Action Party. He later also served as his country’s Senior Minister and Minister Mentor. He was also part of David Rockefeller's International Council and Forbes's Brain Trust.
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Salma Hayek(The First Mexican Actress to be Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress)
Birthdate: September 2, 1966
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Coatzacoalcos, Mexico
Hailing from Mexico, Salma Hayek moved to Hollywood and attained fame with films like Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, Wild Wild West, Dogma, Tale of Tales, Grown Ups, and Grown Ups 2. Her breakthrough role was the film Frida in 2002 for which she received critical appreciation. She works to raise awareness about violence against women and discrimination against immigrants.
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Bob Hoskins(Actor)
Birthdate: October 26, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, England
Died: April 29, 2014
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
6
Octavia Spencer(The First Black Actress to Have Received two Successive Nominations at the Oscars)
Birthdate: May 25, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Octavia Spencer is an American actress, producer, and author. Widely regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation, Spencer has received several prestigious awards, such as a Golden Globe Award, Academy Award, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Octavia Spencer is the first black actress to have received two successive nominations at the Oscars.
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Mark Henry(American Professional Wrestler, Former Powerlifter and Weightlifter)
Birthdate: June 12, 1971
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Silsbee, Texas, United States
Mark Henry is an American powerlifter, strongman, Olympic weightlifter, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearance in WWE, where he was often referred to as the world's strongest man. In 2018, he was made an inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame. A three-time USA National Weightlifting Champion, Henry holds several weightlifting records.
8
Stephen Graham(English Actor Best Known for His Performance in the 2006 film 'This Is England')
Birthdate: August 3, 1973
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kirkby, United Kingdom
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: June 22, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States
Died: February 24, 2006
One of the finest African-American sci-fi authors, Octavia Butler was raised single-handedly by her widowed mother. Best known for the Patternist series and the short story Bloodchild, she often mingled mythology and spirituality in her work. She was the first sci-fi author to receive a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.
10
Keith Flint(Singer, Dancer and Motorcycle Racer Who Was a Member of the Electronic Dance Act ‘The Prodigy’)
Birthdate: September 17, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Redbridge, London, England
Died: March 4, 2019
Keith Flint, founding member of the electronic dance group The Prodigy, has delivered international hits such as Firestarter and Breathe. He later led the band Flint. He also owned a motorcycle racing team that became Isle of Man TT champions four times. He is known for his tattoos and piercings.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: May 15, 1859
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 19, 1906
A pioneer in crystallography, radioactivity, piezoelectricity, and magnetism, Pierre Curie was a French physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Henri Becquerel and Marie Curie. Despite being anatheist, Pierre Curie was fascinated by spiritualismas he believed that spiritual questions deal with physics.
12
Daymond John(American Businessman, Investor, TV Personality and CEO of ‘FUBU’)
Birthdate: February 23, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Daymond John is an American investor, businessman, author, TV personality, and motivational speaker. He is credited with founding FUBU, a hip hop apparel company, for which he also serves as the president and CEO. He is also credited with founding a consulting and brand management firm called The Shark Group, where he serves as the CEO.
13
Barbara Corcoran(Investor on ABC's ‘Shark Tank’ & Founder of ‘The Corcoran Group’, a New York City Real Estate Brokerage)
Birthdate: March 10, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Edgewater, New Jersey, United States
Barbara Corcoran is an American businesswoman, television personality, author, and speaker. She is credited with founding a New York City-based real estate brokerage called The Corcoran Group, which she sold for $66 million in 2001. She is best known for appearing in the popular business reality TV series, Shark Tank, where she was one of the original Shark investors.
14
Jackie Stewart(British Retired Racecar Driver Who Competed in 'Formula One')
Birthdate: June 11, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Milton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Jackie Stewart is a British retired racecar driver who competed in Formula One. He won three World Drivers' Championships between 1965 and 1973. He is best known for playing a key role as a campaigner for better safety measures at motor racing circuits. After retiring from racing, Jackie Stewart appeared as a sports commentator for ABC network.
15
Mika(Brit Award-Winning Singer Known for His Breakthrough EP 'Dodgy Holiday')
Birthdate: August 18, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Lebanese-born British singer Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., also known as Mika, had moved to France as an infant and to Britain later, as his family escaped the war-torn Lebanon. Known for tracks such as Grace Kelly, he also earned a Grammy nomination for his single Love Today.
16
Iwan Rheon(Actor Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series: 'Misfits' and 'Game of Thrones')
Birthdate: May 13, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Carmarthen, Dyfed, Wales
Best known to audiences as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones and as Simon Bellamy in Misfits, Iwan Rheon is also an Olivier Award-winning stage actor. A talented singer, too, he was previously the lead vocalist of The Convictions and has also performed with his brother in the single Rhodd.
17
Steve McQueen(British Director Best Known for His Film '12 Years a Slave')
Birthdate: October 9, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England
Steve McQueen is a British filmmaker and video artist best known for his film 12 Years a Slave. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, making him the first black filmmaker to win the award. He is also a prominent visual artist and a recipient of the Turner Prize, the highest award given to a British visual artist.
Birthdate: October 28, 1949
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mount Kisco, New York, United States
Bruce Jenner, who changed her name to Caitlyn Jenner after coming out as a trans woman in 2015, is an American TV personality and former decathlete. Jenner won a gold medal for the USA at the 1976 Olympics. Often referred to as the most popular transgender woman in the world, Jenner serves as an inspiration to the LGBTQ community.
19
Jaime Murray(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Stacie Monroe’ in the TV Series ‘Hustle’)
Birthdate: July 21, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England
Jaime Murray is best known as Stacie Monroe from Hustle, Lila West from Dexter, and Gaia from the miniseries Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Fans also loved her in Hustle, Once Upon a Time, and Ringer. Also a talented model, she has appeared in magazines such as GQ and Cosmopolitan.
20
Eliza Coupe(Actress and Comedian Known for Roles in Comedy Series ‘Happy Endings’, ‘Scrubs’ and 'Future Man')
Birthdate: April 6, 1981
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Plymouth, New Hampshire, United States
Eliza Coupe is an American comedian and actress. She is known for playing important roles in TV series like Happy Endings, Scrubs, Future Man, and Quantico. After being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in childhood, Eliza Coupe went on to study improvisational comedy at ImprovOlympic and The Groundlings. She then established herself as a successful film and TV actress.
Birthdate: July 14, 1977
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Solna, Sweden
Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden and the Duchess of Västergötland, is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf. She is the heir to the Swedish throne by Sweden’s Act of Succession that brought about royal absolute primogeniture into practice. She also works to raise money for disabled children.
22
George Steele(American Professional Wrestler and Actor)
Birthdate: April 16, 1937
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: February 16, 2017
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Birthdate: November 30, 1977
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Harvey
Died: July 8, 2017
Nelsan Ellis was an American playwright and actor who achieved critical appreciation for playingLafayette Reynolds in the popular TV series, True Blood. After years of struggle with alcohol and drug abuse, Ellis made an attempt to quit drinking on his own, which led to complications from alcohol withdrawal syndrome, eventually resulting in his death at the age of 39.
24
Paloma Faith(Pop and Soul Singer Best Known for Her Retro and Eccentric Fashion and Music)
Birthdate: July 21, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London, England
Paloma Faith is a British singer, actress, and songwriter. She is best known for her album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, which received double-platinum certification in the UK apart from earning Faith her maiden BRIT Award nomination. Renowned for her eccentric style, Paloma Faith has also received prestigious awards like the ASCAP Award.
25
Sam Allardyce(English Football Manager and Former Professional Player)
Birthdate: October 19, 1954
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dudley, England
Sam Allardyce is an English football manager. He currently manages West Bromwich Albion, which competes in the Premier League. Often regarded as a pioneer of sports science in football, Allardyce is renowned for his keenness to use innovative techniques and technology in coaching. He is also a keen proponent of yoga.
26
Scoot McNairy(Actor)
Birthdate: November 11, 1977
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
27
Rex Ryan(Head coach)
Birthdate: December 13, 1962
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ardmore
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
28
Flex Wheeler(Retired Professional Bodybuilder)
Birthdate: August 23, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fresno, California, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
29
Captain Beefheart(Singer)
Birthdate: January 15, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Glendale, California, U.S.
Died: December 17, 2010
30
Mireille Mathieu(Singer)
Birthdate: July 22, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Avignon, France
French singer Mireille Mathieu began her career by participating in an annual singing contest in Avignon. She has recorded over 1200 songs in eleven languages in her career spanning over four decades. With more than 150 million albums sold worldwide, the chanteuse is classically known for her illustrious crooning. In 1974, she won the German "Bambi" Music Award.
Birthdate: March 15, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chelmsford, Essex, England
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
32
Nicolas Winding Refn(Director Best Known for His Films: 'Pusher' Trilogy, 'Bronson' and 'Valhalla Rising')
Birthdate: September 29, 1970
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Nicolas Winding Refn is a Danish film director and producer. The son of a prominent film director, he made his directorial debut with the Danish crime film Pusher. He made his Hollywood debut with the English-language thriller film, Fear X. He is the co-founder of the Copenhagen-based production company Space Rocket Nation. He is married to actress Liv Corfixen.
33
Neil Bush(Businessman)
Birthdate: January 22, 1955
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Midland, Texas, USA
34
Helen B. Taussig(American Cardiologist Who Founded the Field of Pediatric Cardiology)
Birthdate: May 24, 1898
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 20, 1986
Helen B. Taussig is remembered as the founder of pediatric cardiology. Born to a Harvard professor father and a mother who was a women’s education pioneer, she was denied a Harvard seat for being a woman and thus studied medicine at Johns Hopkins. She pioneered the cure of the blue baby syndrome.
35
Charles Schwab(Investor)
Birthdate: July 29, 1937
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
36
Dav Pilkey(Author and Illustrator of the Children's Book Series 'Captain Underpants' & 'Dog Man')
Birthdate: March 4, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Dav Pilkey is an American cartoonist, illustrator, and author of children's literature. Pilkey is best known for illustrating and authoring a popular children's book series named Captain Underpants which earned him the prestigious Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Award in 2007.
37
Lahna Turner(Stand-up comedians)
Birthdate: July 15, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Canada
38
Toyah Willcox(Actor, Singer)
Birthdate: May 18, 1958
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Birmingham
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
39
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland(Son of Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf)
Birthdate: May 13, 1979
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Stockholm Palace, Stockholm, Sweden
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland is the only son of Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf. He is best known for his interest in various sports, such as football, sailing, swimming, and skiing. Prince Carl Philip is also a patron of various organizations like The Swedish Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies and The Swedish National Dyslexia Association.
40
Mollie King(Singer from the girl group The Saturdays)
Birthdate: June 4, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Wandsworth, London, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Birthdate: October 22, 1925
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas
Died: May 12, 2008
42
Stephen J. Cannell(Television producer)
Birthdate: February 5, 1941
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: September 30, 2010
43
Eugene Landy(Psychologist)
Birthdate: November 26, 1934
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: March 22, 2006
44
Tanya Robinson(Model, reality TV star best known for starring in the ITVBe reality television series The Real Housewives of Cheshire)
Birthdate: April 29, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
45
Benjamin Zephaniah(Actor, Poet, Writer, Singer)
Birthdate: April 15, 1958
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Birmingham
46
Shane Lynch(Singer)
Birthdate: July 3, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
47
Theo Paphitis(Entrepreneur, Businessperson)
Birthdate: September 24, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Limassol
48
Roberto Bolaño(Chilean Writer Best Known for His Award-Winning Novel 'The Savage Detectives')
Birthdate: April 28, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Died: July 15, 2003
A vagabond who roamed around countries such as Chile, Mexico, and France, author Roberto Bolaño eventually settled in Spain, where he spent his days working odd jobs, such as garbage collection and dishwashing, and wrote at night. He is remembered for his Rómulo Gallegos Prize-winning novel The Savage Detectives.
49
Terry Goodkind(Writer)
Birthdate: May 1, 1948
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
50
Daniel Powter(Singer, Pianist)
Birthdate: February 25, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vernon
Canadian singer Daniel Powter soared to fame with his single Billboard-charting track Bad Day. His childhood was spent battling dyslexia and training in the violin and the piano. He once also opened up about being sexually abused by his babysitter as a child and then resorting to drugs.
