Famous People and Polio

Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route.

In fewer than 1% of cases the virus enters the central nervous system, preferentially infecting and destroying motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and acute flaccid paralysis.

Spinal polio is the most common form of paralytic poliomyelitis; it results from viral invasion of the motor neurons of the anterior horn cells, or the ventral (front) gray matter section in the spinal column, which are responsible for movement of the muscles, including those of the trunk, limbs and the intercostal muscles.

Bulbar polio occurs when poliovirus invades and destroys nerves within the bulbar region of the brain stem. The bulbar region is a white matter pathway that connects the cerebral cortex to the brain stem. The destruction of these nerves weakens the muscles supplied by the cranial nerves, producing symptoms of encephalitis, and causes difficulty breathing, speaking and swallowing.

Bulbospinal polio, this subtype is also called respiratory polio. Here the virus affects the upper part of the cervical spinal cord (C3 through C5), and paralysis of the diaphragm occurs. The critical nerves affected are the phrenic nerve, which drives the diaphragm to inflate the lungs, and those that drive the muscles needed for swallowing.

There is no cure for polio. The focus of modern treatment has been on providing relief of symptoms, speeding recovery and preventing complications. The polio vaccines developed by Jonas Salk in 1952 and Albert Sabin in 1962 are credited with reducing the annual number of polio cases from many hundreds of thousands to around a thousand.

Famous People who Had and Have Polio

Donald Sutherland - Donald McNichol Sutherland  (born July 17, 1935) is a prolific Canadian actor with a film career spanning over 40 years. A sickly child, he battled rheumatic fever, hepatitis and caught polio as a child. Sutherland developed a love of reading while bedridden. He went on to become an accomplished actor, and has appeared in over 130 films.. Sutherland was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on 18 December 1978. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2000. He was Canada's youngest radio announcer at age 14. His first great successes came with The Dirty Dozen in 1967 with Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson, in 1970 as the lead Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in Robert Altman's M*A*S*H (The film) and as tank commander Sgt. Oddball in Kelly's Heroes with Clint Eastwood and Telly Savalas.

F.W. Roosevelt - Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), He was the 32nd President of the United States. Elected to four terms in office, he served from 1933 to 1945, and is the only U.S. president to have served more than two terms of office. In August 1921, while the Roosevelts were vacationing at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Roosevelt contracted an illness, at the time believed to be polio, which resulted in Roosevelt's total and permanent paralysis from the waist down. FDR sought out innumerable cures including electric currents, ultraviolet light, massage, mineral baths — whatever might improve his atrophied legs. He also consulted a number of other physicians and therapists in a vain effort to revitalize his muscles.

Arthur C. Clarke - Sir Arthur Charles Clarke - (born 16 December 1917) Was a British science fiction writer, futuristic and inventor who became famous following his novel "A Space Odyssey". He was known as one of the "Big Three" of science fiction which included Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein. He has written many science fiction books since then and they all became very respected among their readers. Charles has been suffering from polio but has kept his enthusiasm for all of his passions, he says he thought he would never see the day where man would go to the moon and to the planets. Although now he has lived to see it happen which proves many things of what he has been saying and writing for the past 60 years.

Kerry Packer - (17 December 1937 – 26 December 2005) Kerry Packer was the wealthiest Australian of his time being the head of a multi-billion dollar industry which included publishing, media and gaming. He owned what is known as the Nine Network and was one of the most influential men in Australia having a net worth of $6.5 billion in AUD at the time of his death in 2005. Kerry Packer was never really good at school and eventually became a victim of polio. Despite the experience Kerry continued to excel in athletics throughout his life and successfully attained great fortune.

Kim Beazley - (born 14 December 1948) Kim Beazley is an Australian politician and academic being the leader of the opposition from 1996 to 2001, and from 2005 to 2006. He is the only ex-leader in the party's history to return to the position after leaving it. Kim Beazley became a victim of polio at the age of 5 years old and it had caused a royal scare. Kim's mother had shaken the hand of the queen shortly before Kim was diagnosed with polio. Since polio was known to be contagious some feared that the queen may have contracted it during that time.

John Laws - (born 8 August 1935) John Laws is a radio presenter in Australia and has been on Australian talk radio longer than any other broadcaster due to his un-surpassed popularity. He has been the most influential and respected programs in the Australian media for many years and has been a voice-over artist for commercials. After 55 years on air Laws retired in 2007 leaving the 2UE building in sydney with his popular quote 'You be kind to each other'. John laws has suffered from polio and once needed the Iron Lung to stay alive.

Jack Nicklaus - (born January 21, 1940) Jack Nicklaus also known as "The Golden Bear" is thought by many to be the greatest golfer of all times. He holds several records and has been involved not only in golf as a sport but also golf course design, writing golf instruction books, and he has had his own tournament on the PGA Tour. Jack has suffered from a mild case of polio at a younger age but was able to get through it without too many problems. He eventually became a professional golfer winning several championships and tournaments in a row, beating some of the best golfers of his time.

Ian Dury - (May 12, 1942 – March 27, 2000) Ian Dury was an English songwritter, band leader and singer well known for being the founder and lead singer of the band Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Ian Dury has made many songs that were banned or refused by broadcasters such as BBC. Many times did the lyrics get a rating of inappropriate or uncompromising. Although refused by many radio stations Ian Dury gained popularity as the punk music era was being born. Ian caught polio on a trip to a Southend swimming pool which had caused him to limp, partly paralyzing his legs.

Mia Farrow - (born February 9, 1945) Mia Farrow is a renowned American actress and has appeared in over 40 films winning several awards in the process. Mia is notable for her constant humanitarian work such as Unicef Goodwill Ambassador. She survived polio as a child and has ever since been present at speeches while dedicating her time to organizations that help fight it. She has also helped to launch a polio immunization day which targeted all children under the age of 5 years old.

Neil Young - (born November 12, 1945) Neil Young is a Canadian songwriter, singer, pianist, guitarist and film director. Neil is involved in many different styles of music including jazz, swing, rockabilly, electronic music, and blues being known for his deep lyrics and good musician skills as a guitarist with a few other instrumental capabilities. In youth Neil Young had to survive polio, epilepsy, diabetes and the divorce of his parents which evidentially a difficult task. Nonetheless he has made it successfully.

Paul Martin - Paul Edgar Philippe Martin PC, MP (also known as Paul Martin, Jr.) (born August 28, 1938) was the twenty-first Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Prime Minister Chrétien and Martin frequently clashed while in office. It was often reported that Chrétien privately often condemned Martin in bitter terms to aides and that he had never forgiven Martin for running against him in the Liberal leadership convention of 1990. Paul Martin Sr., Canada's Minister of Health and Welfare, had strong personal reasons for wanting the vaccination program to continue. He himself had contracted polio in 1907, and his son, Paul Martin Jr., the current Prime Minister, had overcome the disease in 1946. Thus, Martin decided to continue the mass vaccinations, and Canada's confidence in the Salk vaccine renewed confidence around the world.

Alan Alda - actor, writer, director

Alan Toy - actor/activist/writer

Ann Adams - (1937-1992) artist (by mouth)

Annette Kellerman - (1886-1975) Australian marathon swimmer and actress

Arthur Guyton - (1919-2003) doctor

Ben Bradlee - former editor for the Washington Post

Bhagwat Subramanya Chandrasekhar - Cricket Champion from India

Bill Cullen - (1920-1990) game show host

Brooks Stevens - (1911-1995) "creative genius" at Harley Davidson

Buddy Daley - Baseball All-Star (1959 and 1960)

Cathy Rigby's -

CeDell Davis - Jazz Guitarist

Charles E. Bennett - (1911-2003) longtime US Congressman, Florida

Christopher Templeton - actress

Claudius - (10 B.C. to 54 A.D.) Emperor of Rome

David Sanborn - saxophonist

Dennis Washington - businessman and entrepreneur

Dick Cabela - outdoorsman and founder of "Cabela's"

Dinah Shore - (1916-1994): singer

Dorothea Lange - (1895-1965): photographer

Dr. Albert Sabin - (1906-1993

Dr. Jonas Salk - (1914-1995),

Ed Roberts - (1939-1995) Father of the Independent Living Movement

Edna Marie Moore - (1930-1989) Texas artist

Egbert Hamilton Walker - (1899-1991) Smithsonian Institute Botanist

Eleanor Abbott - designed the game CandyLand

Elizabeth Twistington Higgins - (1923-1990): MBE, English ballet dancer and artist

Elmer L. Andersen - (1910-2005): former Minnesota Governor, businessman

Ethelda Blaibtrey - (1902-1978): olympic gold medalist for swimming

Francis Ford Coppola - director

Frank Mars - (1883-1933): founded M&M Mars chocolate company

Frida Kahlo - (1907-1954): Mexican painter

Georgia Coleman - (1912-1940): olympic diver

Gini Laurie - (1913-1989)

Harold Brooks-Baker - (1933-2005): publisher

Henrietta Wyeth Hurd - (1907-1997): artist

Henry Holden - actor, comedian, athlete, activist

Hildegard Knef - (1925-2002): German actress, singer, writer

Horace Parlan - pianist

Hugh Gregory Gallagher - author and historian

Ida Louise Anderson - (1900-1941): broadcast radio pioneer

Ida Lupino - (1917-1995): London-born actress, director, screenwriter

Itzhak Perlman - internationally acclaimed violinist

J. Robert Oppenheimer - (1904-1967): physicist and teacher

James DePriest - musician, composer, arranger and conductor

James Drury - actor, "The Virginian"

Jean Chrétien - former Prime Minister of Canada

Jerome Solon Felder - (1925-1991): songwriter, Doc Pomus

John East - (1931-1986): US Senator

John Hager - Lieutenant Governor, Virginia

John Prestwich - MBE, longest respirator user (Guinness Book of World Records)

Joni Mitchell - singer

Joseph (Joey) Velez - (1925-2002): Golden Gloves Boxer

Judith E. Heumann - pioneer in Independent Living Movement

Julius (Julie) Bort - (1922-1996) boxer

Julius Robert Oppenheimer -

Justin Dart - activist

Katie Eastman -

Lauro Halstead - doctor (physiatrist)

Lionel Barrymore - (1878-1954): actor

Lis Hartel - Danish equestrian

Lois Catherine Marshall - (1924-1997): Canadian singer in the 50s and 60s

Lord Snowden - photographer, UK (Princess Margaret's former husband)

Margaret "Peg" Phillips - (1918-2002): actress (Ruth-Anne on "Northern Exposure")

Margarete Steiff - (1847-1909): German seamstress who founded Steiff Teddy Bears

Marion Davies - (1897-1961): actress

Marjorie Lawrence - world famous dramatic opera singer:

Martin Milner - actor

Mary Francis - (1924-2000)

Mel Ferrar - actor

Nyla Thompson - mouth artist

Oscar G. Heirlihy - Radio and TV Pioneer, Newfoundland

Owen Roizman - cinematographer, 5 Oscar nominations and Lifetime Achievement Award

Paul Winchell - ventriloquist and inventor

Peter Preston - British writer and Guardian editor, 1975 through 1995

Ray Ewry - (1873-1937) Track & Field Olympic Champion

Ray Peterson - singer

Renata Ersilia Clotilde Tebaldi - Italian Opera Singer

Ruma - ancient Syrian

Shelley Mann - Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer

Siptah - Egyptian Pharaoh (lived 20 years around 1200 BC)

Sir John Cotesworth Slessor - (1897-1979): British Marshall in the RAF in World War II

Sir Julian Critchley - (1930-2000): journalist, author and member of the House of Commons

Sir Walter Scott - (1771-1832): father of historical fiction

Steve Harley - British musician

Tanaquil Le Clercq - (1929-2000): ballet dancer

Tenley Albright - doctor and olympic gold medalist for figure skating

Tony Gould - author (UK)

Victor Woodrow Wertz - (1925-1983): Baseball All-Star

Wah Ming Chang - sculptor, artist, master of special effects

Walter "Buddy" Davis - Broad Jump Olympic Champion, Basketball

Walter Jackson - (1938-1983) lead singer of the "Velvetones"

William Alexander Gadsby - NHL, Hall of Fame (1970)

William Orville Douglas - (1898-1980): Associate Justice, US Supreme Court

Wilma Rudolph - (1940-1994): athlete, olympic gold medalist