Successful People Thought to have Disabilities

Tom Cruise Tom Cruise is unable to read due to severe dyslexia. He memorizes his lines by listening to them on tape. “Just wanna serve my country,be the best fighter pilot in the navy, Sir.”

Tom Cruise’s road was never paved. It was always full of potholes, and he jumped over all of them. Don Sempon US movie producer

Thomas Alva Edison Edison could not read until he was 12 years old. He had very poor writing skills. His inventions included the telegraph, telephone and electric generator. He also improved the light bulb and produced a practical, incandescent, electric light. He is known as the “father of electric light.”

George Washington First President of the United States George Washington was unable to spell and had very poor grammar usage. His brother suggested that surveying in the back woods might be an appropriate career for him.

Jay Leno Comedian, Tonight Show Host Jay Leno has mild dyslexia. “One thing about mildly dyslexic people-they’re good at setting everything else aside to pursue one goal. I go five nights a week every week, no days off, no sick days. Can you wear thin that way? Maybe.”

James Earl Jones Actor, Spokesman James Earl Jones is an actor. He’s been in several movies. He is currently the spokesman for Verizon. He stuttered between the ages of 6 and 14. Although he does not stutter now, he does not consider himself “cured.” His feeling is that once you are a stutterer, you are always a stutterer. James Earl Jones was the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars

“I feel no flattery when people speak of my voice. I’m simply grateful that I found a way to work around my impairment. Once a stutterer, always a stutterer.” James Earl Jones

Billy Bob Thornton Actor Billy Bob Thornton has both dyslexia and ADD. He learns his lines by having friends repeatedly read them aloud. He was diagnosed in his 30s.

Whoopi Goldberg Actress, Comedian Whoopi Goldberg has stared in numerous movies, including Ghost, Sister Act, and The Color Purple, (for which she won a Best Actress Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination.) She currently stars in Whoopi’s Littleburg on Nick Jr. Whoopi Goldberg is learning disabled.

Robin Williams Actor, comedian Robin Williams has been successful in both television and movies. He was Mork from Ork in the hit series “Mork and Mindy” from He has had roles in numerous movies, including Good Morning Vietnam, The Fisher King, Dead Poet’s Society, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Aladdin. Robin Williams has ADHD.

Walt Disney Cartoonist Walt Disney was not successful in school. He became a famous cartoonist, inventing characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto. It is a myth that Walt suffered from dyslexia. Any problems that he had in school were probably tied to his intense work schedule and the fact that he had to get up very early to deliver newspapers for his father.

Albert Einstein Famous Scientist Albert Einstein did not speak until the age of 3. His teachers considered him to be mentally slow, unsociable and a dreamer. He developed the theory of relativity. Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics in It is a myth that Albert Einstein was learning disabled.

Albert EinsteinNelson RockefellerGalileo Thomas EdisonSylvester StalloneMozart Gen. George PattonWright BrothersLeonardo da Vinci John F. KennedyCherWhoppi Goldberg Bruce JennerGen. WestmorelandTom Cruise Eddie RickenbackerCharles SchwabHenry Winkler Harry BelafonteDanny GloverF. Scott Fitzgerald Walt DisneyJohn LennonRobin Williams Steve McQueenGreg LouganisLouis Pasteur George C. ScottWinston ChruchillWerner von Braun Tom SmothersHenry FordDwight D. Eisenhower Suzanne SomersRobert KennedyLindsay Wagner Jules VerneGeorge Bernard ShawAlexander Graham Bell "Magic Johnson"BeethovenWoodrow Wilson Carl LewisHans Christian AndersonWrigley Famous People With Attention Deficit and Learning Disorders (Although, not all these famous people have been "officially diagnosed" they have exhibited many of the signs of ADD, ADHD & LD). childdevelopmentinfo.com/disorders/famous.shtml

Although, not all these famous people have been "officially diagnosed," they have exhibited many of the signsof ADD, AD/HD & LD. The point of this list is to inspire those of us who have similar challenges. We thank the Kitty PettyADD/LD Institute for this valuable contribution to One A.D.D. Place. Some of these may be a repeat from the previous slide. Albert Einstein Galileo Mozart Wright Brothers Leonardo da Vinci Cher Bruce Jenner Tom Cruise Charles Schwab Henry Winkler Danny Glover Walt Disney John Lennon Greg Louganis Winston Churchill Henry Ford Stephen Hawkings Jules Verne Alexander Graham Bell Woodrow Wilson Hans Christian Anderson Nelson Rockefeller Thomas Edison Gen. George Patton Agatha Christie John F. Kennedy Whoopi Goldberg Rodin Thomas Thoreau David H. Murdock Dustin Hoffman Pete Rose Russell White Jason Kidd Russell Varian Robin Williams Louis Pasteur Werner von Braun Dwight D. Eisenhower Robert Kennedy Luci Baines Johnson Nugent George Bush's children Prince Charles Gen. Westmoreland Eddie Rickenbacker Gregory Boyington Harry Belafonte F. Scott Fitzgerald Mariel Hemingway Steve McQueen George C. Scott Tom Smothers Suzanne Somers Lindsay Wagner George Bernard Shaw Beethoven Carl Lewis Jackie Stewart "Magic" Johnson Weyerhauser family Wrigley John Corcoran Sylvester Stallone

These are just a few web sites about learning disabilities. There are many more

Many successful people struggle with disabilities. They have learned to overcome them, or at least work around them.

We all have strengths and weaknesses.

With hard work, patience, and perseverance, we can all be successful.