15 Famous People With Marfan Syndrome


 

*Originally published by Kennedy on March 2023 and Updated by Ian S in March 2024

Marfan Syndrome which is abbreviated as MFS is a medical condition that is described as a spectrum of disorders that is caused by a heritable genetic defect of connective tissue. This defect of connective tissue has an autosomal dominant mode of transmission. The condition causes some distinct clinical problems in the musculoskeletal, cardiac, and ocular systems.

Some of the symptoms presented by people suffering from Marfan Syndrome include being tall and thin, with long arms, fingers, legs, and toes. MFS patients also have more flexible joints than normal as well as abnormally curved spines. These patients also get exposed to various complications that involve the heart, aorta, increased risk of mitral valve prolapse, and aortic aneurysm.

Other parts like the lungs, bones, and the cover of the spinal cord are usually commonly affected by this condition. The best thing is that the severity of these symptoms is variable in individuals. There are several famous people who were speculated to suffer from MFS and others are confirmed to be suffering from the condition.

Here are the 15 Famous People With Marfan Syndrome:

1. Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln in Color. Author; IceKoldKube. Wikimedia

The 16th president of the United States of America from 1861 until his assistant was suspected to have Marfan Syndrome. Born on 12th February 1809 to a poor family, Abraham Lincoln was self-taught to become a lawyer as well as serve as the president.

As time went by, it is believed that his health kept on deteriorating which could be confirmed by his photos. He started losing weight and appeared to have muscle wasting with many believing that it was caused by mercury poisoning from blue mass pills. However, the speculations of suffering from Marfan Syndrome were never confirmed even after his death.

2. Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone was an iconic figure in rock and roll history, known for his gentle nature. He was born Jeffry Ross Hyman on May 19, 1951, and was the lead singer and songwriter of the punk rock band The Ramones. He was a band member from its inception in 1974. Along with Johnny Ramone, Joey was one of the two original members who never left the band. He played a crucial role in the establishment and development of punk rock, which led to the revitalization and flourishing of various musical styles that followed.
Joey had a distinctive appearance due to Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder. In 2001, he passed away at the age of 49 after being diagnosed with lymphoma.

Read Top 10 Famous People Born On October 21st.

3. Arik Einstein

Arik Einstein D499-097 taken by Israel Government Press Office. Author; Yaakov Saar. Wikimedia

Arieh Lieb “Arik” Einstein was a renowned Israeli singer, actor, comedian, and screenwriter who was born on 3rd January 1939. Arik was the pioneer of Israeli rock music and got recognized as the “voice of Israel”. He is also regarded as the most popular, and influential Israeli artist of all time.

However, Arik also suffered from Marfan Syndrome which persisted later in his life. He was suffering from near-sightedness which worsened when he got involved in a major car accident. Arik died at the age of 74 when he suffered a thoracic aortic aneurysm which is a classical feature of Marfan Syndrome.

4. Bradford Cox

Born on 15th May 1982, Bradford James Cox is a popular American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band, Deerhunter.

Bradford was born with Marfan Syndrome but lives a normal life without any complications brought about by the condition. However, he was once hospitalized after he was hit by a car in December 2014.

5. Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps. Author; Agência Brasil Fotografias. Wikimedia

Michael Fred Phelps is a former American competitive swimmer who is regarded as the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time. He has a total of twenty-eight medals in his whole successful career.

Michael Phelps was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when he was in the sixth. He also suffers from Marfan Syndrome but leads a healthy life with his family.

6. Isaiah Austin

Born on 25th October 1993, Isaiah Charles Austin is a former professional basketball player. He participated in college basketball for two years at Baylor University. In 2014, he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome which prevented him from entering the NBA.

However, he was cleared to continue playing basketball in 2016 until his retirement in 2021. Isaiah is partially blind in his right eye which began when he suffered a spontaneous retinal detachment in middle school. He kept this condition a secret till he revealed it to his teammates on 17th January 2014.

Also, read 15 Most Famous People from The 1800s.

7. Javier Botet

Javier Botet. Author; Festival de Cinema de Sitges 2019. Wikimedia

Born on 30th July 1977, Javier Botet Lopez is a Spanish actor who usually casts in creature roles. Some of the roles he has played include portraying Tristana Medeiros in the REC franchise.

Javier was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome at the age of five. This condition causes hyperlaxity of some body tissues thus making Javier have extremely long and fine fingers. He is also tall, and thin, standing at 6 feet 7 inches, and weighs 56 kilograms.

8. Austin Carlile

Austin Robert Carlile is a musician as well as a baseball coach from Pensacola, Florida. His rise to dominance began when he was the lead vocalist of Mice & Men but later left to coach a youth baseball team in Costa Rica. During his high school period, Austin was an athlete but suffered a lot from the effects of Marfan Syndrome.

He had several surgeries that made him opt for music rather than athletics.  In December 2016, Austin was also forced to leave his band due to the effects he had on his vocals due to the condition. His mother died due to an aneurysm caused by an undiagnosed Marfan Syndrome which Austin inherited.

9. Jonathan Jeanne

Jonathan Jeanne. Author; Timan. Wikimedia

Born on 3rd July 1997, Jonathan Josue Jeanne is a French basketball player. He plays for the Poitiers Basket 86 team which is in the French NM1 league.

In 2017, Jonathan was considered as a possible NBA Draft first-round pick, but he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome.

That same year, Jonathan was undrafted because of his sudden development. He stands at 2.18 meters tall which helps him to play the power forward and center positions roles.

10. Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan Mellet, born on 5th June 1995, is an Australian singer-songwriter, actor, and renowned YouTuber. He came to the limelight as a singer on YouTube and in an Australian talent competition. Troye Sivan also suffers from a mild form of Marfan Syndrome which has not affected him that much.

11. Robert Johnson

Robert Leroy Johnson, an influential American blues musician and songwriter, made landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 that showcased his remarkable singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent, leaving an enduring impact on subsequent generations of musicians.

Despite a recording career lasting only seven months, he is hailed as a master of the blues, particularly the Delta blues style, and a pivotal figure in 20th-century music. Recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as possibly “the first ever rock star,” Johnson’s life was characterized by limited commercial success during his lifetime.

Only two recording sessions produced 29 songs, defining his entire recorded output. His poorly documented life and death contributed to legends, notably the tale of selling his soul to the devil for musical success at a crossroads.

Johnson’s influence grew posthumously, with a 1961 collection, “King of the Delta Blues Singers,” introducing his work to a broader audience and inspiring musicians like Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, and Robert Plant.

Renewed interest in his life led to comprehensive biographies and documentaries, shedding light on the complexities surrounding his legacy. In 2006, speculation arose about Johnson possibly having Marfan syndrome, impacting his guitar playing and contributing to his untimely death from aortic dissection, based on photographic evidence showing unusual physical features.

12. Sergei Rachmaninoff

Sergei Rachmaninov

Unknown authorUnknown author, probably Mario Nunes Vais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor widely regarded as one of the finest pianists of his time and a preeminent representative of Russian Romanticism in classical music.

His compositions, notably for the piano, are renowned for their melodicism, expressiveness, contrapuntal textures, and rich orchestral colors, blending early influences from fellow Russian composers with his distinctive personal style.

Born into a musical family, Rachmaninoff began piano lessons at age four and studied at the Moscow Conservatory. Despite a disastrous premiere of his First Symphony that led to a four-year depression, he rebounded with the well-received Piano Concerto No. 2 in 1901 and went on to conduct at the Bolshoi Theatre before relocating to Dresden and touring the United States as a renowned pianist.

Rachmaninoff’s towering stature, long limbs, and distinctive physical features have led some to suggest he may have had Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that could explain minor ailments he experienced throughout his life, including back pain, arthritis, and eye strain.

However, an analysis proposed he may have had acromegaly instead, potentially accounting for his periods of depression and the stiffness in his hands.

13. John Tavener

Sir John Tavener was an acclaimed English composer renowned for his extensive output of choral religious works, including “The Lamb,” “The Protecting Veil,” and “Song for Athene.”

He first gained prominence with his cantata “The Whale” in 1968, hailed as a significant musical discovery. Tavener’s compositions, such as “The Protecting Veil” and “Song for Athene,” which was sung at Princess Diana’s funeral, gained him widespread popularity and critical acclaim.

He was knighted in 2000 for his services to music and received various honors. Notably, Tavener was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, in 1990.

14. Flo Hyman

Flora Jean “Flo” Hyman was an American volleyball player and Olympic silver medalist who achieved global popularity due to her exceptional talent and charismatic presence.

She played professionally in Japan and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1988 for her pioneering role in the sport. Tragically, Hyman’s sudden death at age 31 was initially attributed to a heart attack. However, an autopsy revealed that she had suffered from undiagnosed Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that caused a fatal aortic dissection.

Despite her height, nearsightedness, long arms, and large hands, Hyman exhibited few other physical symptoms of the condition, which led to the rupture of a dime-sized weak spot in her aorta.

15. Vincent Schiavelli

Vincent Schiavelli and Allyce Beasley on the red carpet at the 39th Annual Emmy Awards, September 20, 1987

photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Vincent Schiavelli was an American character actor renowned for his memorable supporting roles in numerous films and TV shows. Instantly recognizable with his distinctive sad-faced features, Schiavelli was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, during childhood.

Despite this condition, he carved out a successful acting career, portraying iconic characters like Fredrickson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Mr. Vargas in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and the Subway Ghost in “Ghost.”

Schiavelli’s unique appearance and talent made him a beloved presence on screen, cementing his status as a legendary character actor.

There is no specific surgical procedure to cure Marfan syndrome (MFS); however, certain medical and surgical interventions may improve certain symptoms of the syndrome. Before attempting a spinal reconstruction for scoliosis, any signs of aortic dilatation must be corrected medically or surgically. Any indication of imminent cardiac compromise would preclude surgical intervention until the problem was resolved.

The majority of MFS medical therapy has been aimed at preventing cardiovascular compromise, which is the most common cause of death in this patient group. To decrease stress on the aortic and mitral valves, as well as the aortic root, beta-blockers, and afterload-reducing agents are used.

Read 20 Famous People & Celebrities with Crohn’s Disease.

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