15 Famous People With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

15 Famous People With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

*Originally published by Diana K in November 2023 and Updated by Vanessa R in February October 2024

The adverse exposure of a growing child (fetus), neonatal, and pediatric to alcohol by their mother leads to a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a condition in the spectrum of disorders under fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This condition occurs when mothers consume alcohol excessively during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol syndrome can be diagnosed through three findings. These findings are characteristic facial anomalies, intrauterine growth restriction and having failed to have catch-up growth, and some CNS involvement. CNS involvement includes cognitive impairment, learning disabilities, or behavioral abnormalities.

In the United States, studies have shown that fetal alcohol syndrome ranges from six to nine cases per 1000. Whereas, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder ranges from 24 to 48 in 1000. High-risk populations such as people living with low socioeconomic status, and racial and ethnic minorities are prone to these disorders.

There have been several famous people who suffer from FAS. From politicians like Bernie Sanders to renowned celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, many famous people have this condition. Here are the 15 Famous People With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:

1. Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon at the premiere of Sing, 2016 Toronto Film Festival. Author; GabboT. Wikimedia

Witherspoon was born on 22^nd March 1976, to her parents John and Mary Elizabeth Witherspoon. She was born with fetal alcohol syndrome as her mother drank excessively while pregnant with her. While the prevalence of FAS is less common in Reese Witherspoon, she does have fetal alcohol syndrome.

Looking at her, no one can suspect that she has FAS based on her performances in films such as The Man in the Moon and Legally Blonde. However, Reese has a thin upper lip, a malformed skull, and learning problems, all of which are classical symptoms of FAS.

Read 15 Famous People And Celebrities Gap Teeth.

2. Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders. Author; Gage Skidmore. Wikimedia

Born on 8^th September 1941, Bernard Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving as the senior US Senator from Vermont since 2007. From 1991 to 2007, Bernie Sanders served as the US representative for the state’s at-large congressional district. He is currently the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history.

Earlier in his career, there were several rumors that Sanders was born with FAS. However, he has never come out to refute these rumors. His party and himself have been supporting people living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome for a very long time.

3. Peter Bowers

Peter Bowers is a renowned DJ who also suffers from FAS. During an interview with the BBC, DJ Peter Bowers discussed his difficulties with learning and loneliness after being diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Bowers revealed that he had learning problems as a child as a result of his mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy. He also has the typical characteristics of this condition such as small eyes and a thin upper lip. Despite all these issues, Bowers has never kept a grudge against his mother, and he has overcome the effects of FAS to become one of the world’s most famous DJs.

4. Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, Yes Man premiere, 2008. Author; Ian Smith. Wikimedia

James Eugene Carrey is a renowned Canadian-American comedian, performer, and artist who is famously known as Jim Carrey. Carrey is known for his energetic slapstick performances. He rose to prominence in 1990 after winning a part in the American sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1990–1994).

He is also well-recognized in films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber (all 1994). Jim Carrey told a Hollywood reporter in 2018 that his mother was addicted to pain medication and was an alcoholic. This is believed to have caused FAS in him as he has classical features like involuntary facial contortions, joint deformities, and uncontrolled sporadic seizures.

5. Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who was born on 23^rd July 1989. At the age of twelve, he shot to stardom as Harry Potter in the film series of the same name. He has won numerous awards and nominations throughout his career.

Although he initially waited until he was 19 to completely disclose his struggles with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome side effects, actor Daniel Radcliffe is now perhaps the most vocal about the effects of FAS in the public eye. He made this revelation of FAS as well as his other condition, dyspraxia to the Daily Mail newspaper tabloid. Dyspraxia is a coordination disorder that caused the Harry Potter star to have difficulty tying his shoes and writing correctly.

6. Morgan Fawcett

Morgan Fawcett is a 19-year-old Tlingit flute player with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). People cannot believe that Morgan has this disability due to his philanthropic ventures. He has three studio albums, a public speaking career, and a non-profit organization named One Heart Creations.

Morgan was identified with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders when he was 15 years old. He always teaches others about FASD, both Native Youth and people all over the world. Morgan has spoken at school assemblies, colleges, community colleges, hospitals, churches, and other venues to raise the consciousness of FASD.

7. Joaquin Phoenix

Actor Joaquin Phoenix at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival 2018. Author; Harald Krichel. Wikimedia

Joaquin Rafael Phoenix is an actor from the United States who was born on 28^th October 1974. He rose to prominence through independent films for portraying dark and unconventional characters.

He has won several awards, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globes. The New York Times named Joaquin one of the greatest actors of the twenty-first century in 2020. He is also speculated to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome.

8. Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV in Phoenix, Arizona. Author; Gage Skidmore. Wikimedia

Born on 23^rd June 1956, Randall Darius Jackson is an American musician, record executive, and television presenter. He is best known for his role as a judge on American Idol from 2002 to 2013.

Randy Jackson is among the famous people who are suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. He also underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost 54 kilograms, but also developed type 2 diabetes.

9. Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan is a Hindi cinema actor from India. He has played a range of roles and is well-known for his dancing abilities. He is one of India’s highest-paid actors and has received numerous awards, including six Filmfare Awards, four of which were for Best Actor.

Roshan felt isolated as a kid because he was born with an extra thumb fused to his right hand, which caused some of his classmates to avoid him. He has stammered since he was six years old, which caused him major problems at school as he had to feign injury and illness to escape oral exams. He benefited from regular speech therapy.

10. Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs BookCon 2018 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City. Author; Rhododendrites. Wikimedia

Scott Leo Taye Diggs who was born on 2^nd January 1971 is an American stage and film actor. He is renowned for several roles he has played in top films since he debuted in his career. Diggs is thought to be suffering from FAS which has not affected his life a lot.

FAS is not a condition to demonize people with but we should embrace them the way they are. However, mothers are supposed to be advised well to consider living a healthy life during pregnancy.

11. Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson’s struggles with alcoholism stem in part from his challenging upbringing, suggest some observers. The renowned actor has checked into rehabilitation centers several times since the 1990s to find sobriety. Jackson also exhibits certain emotional volatility and facial features that align with common fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) markers.

Educational posters show classic FAS facial traits – several of which Jackson shares noticeably. The actor is also known for intense, unpredictable behaviors on set and in his personal relationships. While the roots causes are complex, both fans and behavior analysts speculate Jackson’s tendencies echo FAS-related impacts which can amplify mood instability over a lifetime. His ongoing transparency around addiction may come from recognizing these inherent vulnerabilities.

12.Charlize Theron

Fuzheado, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Charlize Theron’s case might surprise many, given her remarkable beauty, but she was indeed born with fetal alcohol syndrome, attributed to her father’s alcoholism. While it’s her mother who carried her in the womb, the absence of concrete evidence that her mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy doesn’t exclude the possibility of FAS.

Pregnancy involves both parents, and if the father’s alcohol consumption is significant enough, it could impact the fetus upon conception, emphasizing the importance for both parents to abstain from alcohol when planning to conceive, as advised by physicians.

13. Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson, daughter of renowned actress Goldie Hawn, shows multiple outward signs of someone living with FAS struggles. Further concerning, the pregnant actress has made public missteps about consuming alcohol during pregnancy – which originally triggered her own condition.

Hudson’s erratic behaviors, unstable relationships, and impulsivity echo the turbulent lives of her mother Goldie and celebrity stepfather as well. Experts speculate that Hawn’s admitted drinking while carrying baby Kate may have even contributed to Kate’s complicated birth and the painful divorce between Hawn and Bill Hudson soon after.

14. Madonna

chrisweger, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Madonna’s distinct facial features and extremes in artistic expression outwardly exhibit markers of possible FAS. As she’s aged under public scrutiny, the star extends her bold, unpredictable artistic brand into her ever-colorful personal life and relationships as well.

While undoubtedly successful, Madonna does have a long-documented history of attention-seeking behaviors, control issues, and emotional intensity tied to the personality manifestation of FAS brain changes.

15. Macaulay Culkin

Child actor Macaulay Culkin shows possible FAS indicators in his small chin and jaw size. Significant alcoholism in the troubled Culkin family even before his birth likely contributed to Culkin’s lifelong struggles.

Like many child stars and comedians, Culkin copes and redirects difficult FAS-related attention and behavioral challenges into his prolific acting career – now focused on productive comedy outlets.

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