Chris Martin is the lead singer/songwriter for Coldplay. After many years of having tinnitus, he reached a point where he realized that he should take action. Unfortunately, he waited too long.
Did you know that tinnitus affects more than 50 million people in the United States? At Treble Health, we know that sometimes you may feel completely alone with your tinnitus; you may even wonder why you, of all people, have it. Though some people who have tinnitus don’t suffer from it as seriously as others, it can still be challenging to manage and live with. We believe it’s important for people with tinnitus to know that there is a community out there that stands with them. Some people have not only suffered from tinnitus but have also managed to achieve success and live their lives again.
The tinnitus community is large and wide and even made up of several actors, musicians, and other famous people that you’d never guess! So in this blog, we’ll take a look at 15 celebrities with tinnitus.
Dr. Ben discusses actors, musicians, and more, that have all experienced tinnitus
Sylvester Stallone
The first celebrity on our list is none other than Sylvester Stallone. Stallone has been featured in famous movies like Rambo, Demolition Man, and Rocky. These movies, and many more of his, involved heavy hits and loud explosions. Because of his movie career, it should not come as a surprise that he developed tinnitus. One of his films, Cop Land, even went as far as to detail his character having tinnitus. Numerous scenes from the film showed him suffering from tinnitus and hearing loss, something Stallone wanted to portray in the movie.
Steve Martin
Now, Steve Martin may be a little bit of a surprise. The former host of Saturday Night Live and star of Cheaper By The Dozen and Only Murders In The Building experienced tinnitus after shooting a loud scene when he was filming the movie the Three Amigos. How Martin developed tinnitus is another example of how loud noise can cause ringing in the ears. When he was later asked about his tinnitus, Martin replied, “you just get used to it.”
Ronald Reagan
Yes, even presidents can get tinnitus! The 40th president of the United States developed his tinnitus when he was still a Hollywood star, well before he turned to politics. Reagan said that as an actor, he was around loud noises, including a gunshot near his ear when filming a movie that likely caused his tinnitus. In addition to tinnitus, Reagan also experienced hearing loss. As a result, he notably wore hearing aids while serving his eight years in office.
Halle Berry
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Unfortunately, Halle Berry was in an abusive relationship, experiencing blunt trauma to her head after being hit. As a result of the abuse she suffered, she lost her hearing and developed tinnitus. It’s known that getting hit in the side of the head, being in a car accident, or having similar head traumas can damage the eardrum or even the hearing nerve and the cochlea. Though tinnitus can change over time, hearing difficulties often stay the same.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves, who you’ve probably seen in The Matrix, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, or John Wick, reported having tinnitus in his left ear. However, when later asked about his condition, he explained that it no longer bothers him. This shows that if you have ringing in the ear, it’s not permanent, and it often gets better or easier to manage.
Rush Limbaugh
Though Rush Limbaugh may be a controversial political radio host, he is also well known for being a celebrity with tinnitus. Due to his hearing loss, Rush Limbaugh also had a cochlear implant.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is a famous actress and renowned singer. She has also previously explained that she’d had tinnitus since childhood. After becoming an actress and working on many different projects, Streisand sought the help of an audiologist who helped her learn how to manage her tinnitus. She is an excellent example of how someone with tinnitus can develop management strategies and therapies to reduce the effects of tinnitus.
Robert Redford
Robert Redford is a well-known actor and celebrity who experienced hearing loss and accompanying tinnitus while filming “All Is Lost.”
William Shatner
After a loud explosion while on set at Star Trek, William Shatner experienced bothersome tinnitus that lasted for several years. Fortunately, he successfully managed his tinnitus to the point that now he doesn’t even think about it unless people ask him. So we made a full dedicated article about William Shatner’s tinnitus journey and his contributions to the American Tinnitus Association.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is one of the best guitar players of all time. After playing countless live shows, being hooked up to loudspeakers, and being on stage for many years, it’s no surprise that Clapton has experienced tinnitus. Clapton, who also has hearing loss, has expressed how important it is for those who work around loud noise and music to use hearing protection. As audiologists, we echo that statement by saying that if you or someone you love is around loud noise frequently, please use quality earplugs that can save your hearing over time. Clapton still plays today, and he does take an extra effort to protect his hearing by using earplugs and custom in-ear monitors for musicians.
Bob Dylan
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Yes, Bob Dylan, one of the most successful musicians of all time, has tinnitus. Though now, it does not seem to bother him too much, which shows that through hard work and certain remedies, you, too, can effectively manage your tinnitus.
Bono
Bono is the famous frontman for the Irish rock band U2 and also developed tinnitus. When asked about his tinnitus, he described it as if there’s an insect in your ear, but if you scratch it, it won’t disappear.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne is a world-famous musician with the band Black Sabbath. Their music is heavy, loud, and metal, and if you’ve ever been to a show or even listened to music in that genre, you know it’s loud! So it came as no surprise when Osborne revealed that he has tinnitus and hearing issues. When asked about his tinnitus, he describes it as “A constant ringing in my ears, which has also made me somewhat deaf or conveniently deaf, as Sharon calls it. It’s like this weeee in my head all the time. Should have worn earplugs, I guess.”
Chris Martin
Chris Martin is the lead singer/songwriter for Coldplay. After many years of having tinnitus, he reached a point where he realized that he should take action. Unfortunately, he waited too long. After some years of still playing loud music while having bothersome tinnitus, he reached a point where his tinnitus became unbearable. Martin said of his condition, “Looking after your ears is, unfortunately, something you don’t think about until there’s a problem.” Today, Martin still plays and ensures that he and his band have great hearing protection. In response to his tinnitus, Martin has volunteered with groups like the Action on Hearing Loss campaign and other philanthropic efforts to help make a change.
Will.I.Am
The final celebrity on our list is musician Will.I.Am. The star of the Black Eyed Peas has shared that he has bothersome tinnitus.
If you are experiencing tinnitus, it’s vital to know that you’re not alone! If you’re in need of help for tinnitus, click here to get started with Treble Health.
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