The Most Famous Person with ALS, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the person with ALS you think is the most famous!

Updated on May 5, 2024 07:11

Identifying the most famous individuals with ALS can shine a light on how various personalities contribute to awareness and understanding of the disease. Through their public or private battles, these notable figures can inspire and educate others, sparking conversations and potentially increasing funding for research. As they navigate their challenges, their stories can provide hope and strength to others facing similar difficulties. On this interactive site, you play a crucial role in helping to recognize and honor these influential individuals by voting for who you believe stands out the most. Your participation not only affects the rankings but also amplifies the recognition of their impactful stories. Each vote contributes to a broader awareness, making a significant difference in how ALS is perceived and addressed globally.

Who Is the Most Famous Person with ALS?

1

78
votes
NASA · Public domain

Stephen Hawking

British theoretical physicist and cosmologist known for his work on black holes and the origins of the universe. He was diagnosed with ALS at age 21 and lived with the disease for over 50 years, becoming one of the most famous advocates for ALS awareness.
Stephen Hawking in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous disabled athlete
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous cosmologist
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous PhDs
- Position 5 of 10 in Most famous Atheist
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous Brit
- Position 8 of 10 in Most famous astronomer of all time
2

30
votes
University Archives—Columbiana Library, Columbia University. · Public domain

Lou Gehrig

American professional baseball player who played for the New York Yankees. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1939 and retired from baseball shortly after. His farewell speech at Yankee Stadium is considered one of the most memorable moments in sports history.
Lou Gehrig in other rankings
- Position 5 of 10 in Most famous baseball player of all time
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous MLB player
3

32
votes

Jason Becker

American guitarist and composer known for his work with David Lee Roth and his solo career. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1991 and has since lost the ability to play guitar, but continues to compose music using a computer.
4

14
votes

Morrie Schwartz

American sociology professor and author who was diagnosed with ALS in the 1990s. His memoir "Tuesdays with Morrie" was a bestseller and inspired a television movie.
5

15
votes

O.J. Brigance

American former professional football player who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and has since become an advocate for ALS research and awareness.
6

7
votes
David W. Carmichael · CC BY-SA 3.0

Mao Asada

Japanese figure skater who won three world championships and an Olympic silver medal. She announced her retirement from skating in 2017, citing her struggle with ALS in her family.
Mao Asada in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most beautiful figure skater
7

14
votes

Steven Wells

British music journalist and author who wrote for NME and other publications. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and continued to write until his death in 2009.
8

5
votes

Jake · CC BY 2.0

Don Revie

English football manager and player who led Leeds United to multiple titles in the 1960s and 70s. He was diagnosed with ALS in 1987 and died two years later.
9

12
votes

Rilke Schulein

German footballer who played for Werder Bremen and the German national team. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2009 and retired from football shortly after.
10

0
votes

Hiromi Uehara

Japanese jazz pianist and composer known for her virtuosic playing style. She announced in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with ALS and would be retiring from performing.

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Ranking factors for famous person with ALS

Awareness and Advocacy

The impact and influence a person has had in raising awareness about ALS, educating people, and advocating for research, treatment, and support for individuals with ALS.
Public Recognition

The level of public recognition and fame the person achieved through their career or other endeavors. This can include factors like media coverage, awards, popularity, and the size of their fan base.
Achievements and Contributions

The person's achievements and contributions to their respective field or society as a whole. This could include accomplishments in areas such as sports, entertainment, science, business, or any other field.
Impact on the ALS Community

The specific impact the person has had on the ALS community, including their efforts to improve the lives of those living with ALS, support organizations, fundraising, and initiatives that have directly benefited the ALS community.
Overall Reach and Influence

The person's overall reach and influence, which can be measured through factors like social media following, engagement, and the ability to mobilize support and resources for ALS-related causes.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous person with ALS. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or ALS patient is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1726 views
205 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each ALS patient once every 24 hours. The rank of each ALS patient is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous person with als

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, it causes muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing, and eventually leads to paralysis. Many famous people have been diagnosed with ALS, including physicist Stephen Hawking, baseball player Lou Gehrig, and musician Jason Becker. These individuals have brought awareness to the disease and have inspired others to fight for a cure. Despite ongoing research and clinical trials, there is currently no cure for ALS. However, organizations such as the ALS Association and ALS Therapy Development Institute are dedicated to raising funds and awareness for ALS research in hopes of finding a cure. Through polls and rankings on StrawPoll, we can continue to raise awareness and support for those affected by ALS.