Brenda Blackmon is an African-American anchor based in New York City. She has been nominated for 15 Emmy Awards and won four.
In 2008 her daughter Kelle was diagnosed with lupus and Brenda founded The Kelly fund for Lupus Inc.
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (10 December 1830 to 15 May 1886), was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry.
In 1862 she she wrote 365 poems, in later years she grew so reclusive that she often communicated with her family by dropping notes down through the floorboards.
The possible reasons for Dickinson's insistence on privacy continue to fascinate literary scholars. One paper suggests that physical illness: headaches, poor eyesight, rashes and finally lupus, was the key.
Under normal circumstances a celebrity link to lupus would be posted here when the celebrity has spoken of it. In the case of historical figures such as Beethoven that’s not possible so this is based on research by others using reported symptoms/medical history etc.
Ayda Field
Gwen Field, mother of Ayda Field (who is married to Robbie Williams) has lupus. As well as lupus Gwen also suffers from Parkinsons and cervical cancer.
During lockdown in May 2020 Ayda revealed more devastating news. "My mum in January was diagnosed with Stage 2 Cervical Cancer and it had spread outside the cervix and was a very aggressive tumour so alongside her Parkinson's and her Lupus was this cancer battle and because the cancer was so big they decided that she needed to immediately go into chemo and radiation daily and have surgery," Ayda explained.
“When the pandemic hit it was very scary because my mum with Lupus and Parkinson's and cancer, at 70 years old is prime for some bad things happening so she was going to the hospital every day for these treatments and I just remember every day thinking 'Is she going to pick something up? Is this where it all ends?'" she added.
Yūko Gotō
Yūko Gotō a Japanese voice actress and singer. In direct contrast to her cute-and-vulnerable moé typecasting, Yūko in real life is a devotee of biker culture who dresses and acts as such when not working, right down to her motorcycle.
This is parodied in the 23rd episode of Lucky Star, in which she appears as a masculine Bōsōzoku-styled character of herself called Gotouza, a nickname given to her by fellow voice actor Tomokazu Sugita.
In 2012, she announced that she is suffering from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and systemic lupus erythematosus. .
Melissa Joan Hart
Actor Melissa, internationally known for playing Sabrina the teenage witch, is an Ambassador for Lupus LA.
She explained her support for lupus saying “I had no clue what lupus was. I had just celebrated my wedding and was in the process of making new friends. I became fast friends with my dear friend Kellie Martin and learned that she had lost her only sister to this autoimmune disease. This news absolutely devastated me. All through my life I have thanked God for keeping my family safe and healthy, unable to imagine my life if I was ever to lose one of them. I wanted her to know that I was not only willing to be there for her as a friend, but that I would try to help in any way possible.”
Click here for a video of Melissa talking about lupus and why she supports lupus causes.
Sally Hawkins
Sally Hawkins, an English actress, is the recipient of numerous accolades including a Golden Globe Award and the Silver Bear for Best Actress and has been nominated for two Academy Awards.
Sally appeared in many films including: Star Wars, Godzilla, Paddington, the shape of water, Jane Eyre and Made in Dagenham. Also in TV programmes such as: Casualty, the Hollow Crown and Little Britain.
In 2018 Sally revealed that she has lupus. "I do get quite tired, but I don't let it stop me. I've been very lucky with it, for the most part. It comes in waves. I'm not crippled with it, like some people. I just have to be aware and take it steady."
Carrie Ann Inaba
Carrie Ann Inaba is an American television personality, dancer, choreographer, actress, and singer. She is best known for her work on ABC TV's Dancing with the Stars, as Fook Yu in Austin Powers in Goldmember, and as a current co-host of the CBS Daytime talk show, The Talk.
In September 2019 Carrie Ann said that she only recently learned she had lupus as her doctor forgot to tell her. “It’s so weird," she said. "I was diagnosed with autoimmune six years ago, but my doctor didn’t tell me I had lupus,” she continued. “I was having a colonoscopy and I saw my chart [read] lupus and I was like, ‘This is not my chart,’ and they were like, ‘You have lupus.’”
“So my doctor had forgotten to tell me,” she added.
Read Carrie Ann’s blog the Invisible Warrior.
Sam Jay
Samaria Johnson better known as Sam Jay, is an American comedian and writer. She is best known as a writer for Saturday Night Live (2017–present), her Netflix comedy special 3 in the Morning (2020), and as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO comedy series PAUSE with Sam Jay (2021–present).
Sam was diagnosed with lupus aged 20, a disease that had mother died from, she says:
“I just got really sick out the blue, and I didn't know what was going on with me., I felt like I had a flu. And then it was like I was incapacitated. I couldn't go from my bed to the bathroom without being out of breath. I couldn't shower. And then I went to the doctor”
Click here for the full interview with Sam talking about lupus and how it affects her.
Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV
Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV (born April 12, 1947) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and diplomat who is currently serving as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He is a great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I (co-founder of Johnson & Johnson). Alongside his brother, Christopher, he is the owner of the New York Jets of the National Football League.
Johnson became involved in charitable organizations full-time in the 1980s. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His family has been affected by both lupus and juvenile diabetes, which motivated Johnson to take a role in raising funds to prevent, treat, and cure autoimmune diseases.
He has led efforts on Capitol Hill and at the National Institutes of Health to increase research funding for these diseases and personally contributed to causes related to diabetes, after his daughter, Casey, was diagnosed with the disease. He started a research foundation, the Alliance for Lupus Research, after his daughter Jaime was found to have lupus.
Jo Koy
Joseph Glenn Herbert, known professionally as Jo Koy, is an American stand-up comic. His sister, Rowena, was diagnosed with lupus and Raynaud’s phenomenon in 2013 after suffering from symptoms for 15 years.
Jo who is an Ambassador for lupus, has pledged to raise awareness and funds so researchers can identify better treatments and hopefully find a cure for the disease.
Katherine Ryan
Katherine Ryan is a Canadian comedian, writer, presenter and actress based in the UK. Katherine was diagnosed with lupus in 2008.
"While working in an office job, she said she broke out in ‘open sores on my face that were undeniable - you really couldn't look away from them. I was really ill, really run-down, really nauseous every day, I had joint pain for almost six months. I would go to these doctors and they would say, "Oh I don't know" then I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus".
Maurissa Tancharoen
Maurissa Tancharoen is an American television producer/writer, actress, singer, lyricist and dancer. She is an executive producer and writer for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and has also worked on the series Oliver Beene, Drop Dead Diva and Spartacus.
Maurissa has lupus and said "I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was fifteen years old. Over the years it has run the gamut on me - skin, joints, lungs, brain, and kidneys. I’ve survived every time thanks to advancements in lupus treatments made possible through extensive research, trials and funding".
Jade Thirlwall Little Mix
Jade Thirlwall’s mother, Norma, has lupus.
On Mother’s Day during the Covid19 lockdown Jade said, “my mam has lupus making her high risk, meaning none of her loved ones can see her today. But that didn’t stop us having a wine together on FaceTime and me as usual asking for help with easy tasks in life like boiling potatoes”.
