Celebrities with Celiac Disease

We love our celebrities and enjoy comparing ourselves to them.

As celiac disease is now found in a growing number of homes due to better detection methods, more and more celebrities are admitting to the public that they, too, must now embrace a gluten-free lifestyle.

Let us begin with Elizabeth Hasselbeck:

Elizabeth Hasselbeck , co-host since 2002, of the daytime talk show, “The View” and one time contestant on “Survivor, The Australian Outback” is one the most famous celiac celebrities. She has created much needed publicity and therefore awareness of the disease due to the reaction to her new diet book, The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide, currently one of the most talked about books of the year. The book has made several best seller lists. Part of the controversy around this book is the plagiarism claim against it by Susan Hassett, a Cape Cod author.

Hasselback, married to former football star Tim Hasselbeck, first became aware of an intestinal problem during her sophomore year at college. Afterwards, everything she seemed to eat upset her stomach.

But when in the outback, on the television show Survivor, she found that all her symptoms disappeared only to return when her normal diet was resumed. In 2002, she diagnosed herself as a sufferer of celiac disease. It was only eight years after her first symptoms appeared that she was finally confirmed as a celiac by the Director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, Dr. Peter Green.

Jane Swift:

Jane Swift, the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, is one of the few known political celebrities with celiac disease. She was the youngest women ever to be elected in her state to the State Senate. She was 25 at the time. She served there for five years.

Swift was diagnosed with celiac disease towards the end of her first term of office, after suffering for about a year. Her need to stick to a gluten-free diet has helped spread understanding for the disease in the political arena as her aids always call ahead to ensure that there are some gluten-free options available at political events where she must appear.

Joseph Calleja (Joe C, Kid Rock’s sidekick):

Unfortunately Joseph Calleja, the 3 foot 9 inch sidekick to Kid Rock, was not as lucky. Joe C, as he was known, died in 2000 at the age of 26 from complications as a result of celiac disease which he suffered from since childhood.

Keith Olbermann:

Keith Olbermann, another one of show biz’s celebrities, is an American anchor, sportscaster and political commentator who hosts MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Since 2007, he has also served as the co-host of NVC’s Football Night in America. His biography reveals that he has a mild case of celiac disease and therefore eats gluten-free.

In May 2005, he held a charity auction telethon where he raised thousands of dollars for the Celiac Sprue Asociation as well increasing celiac disease awareness.

Heidi Collins

CNN Anchor Heidi Collins has been a member of the CNN team since 2002.Both Collins and her son were diagnosed with the celiac disease in 2006. Since then, she has become an active spokesperson for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Susie Essman

Susie Essman another of show business’ celebrities, is an American comedienne and actress. Her latest role is “Susie Green” on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusaism.

Essman was diagnosed as a celiac in 2002.”The good thing,” about the disease quips the comedienne, “is that I don’t have to worry about my weight anymore.”

Katherine, Duchess of Kent

Katharine, the Duchess of Kent is the wife of Price Edward the Duke of Kent and the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth.

The Duchess suffered for years from chronic ill health but it wasn’t until 1999 that she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Once placed on a gluten-free diet she completely recovered and has since worked with various charities.

Mickey Redmon

Mickey Redmon, a former top pro hockey player, now does sports commentary for Fox Sports Detroit.

Redmon is another one of the celebrities who has been diagnosed with celiac disease. His desire to stick to his gluten-free diet has put a crimp on his professional life. He either has to bring his own hot plate, utensils and gluten-free food and prepare it himself or not travel with the team on their road trips.

Sarah Vowell

Sarah Jane Vowell is and American author, journalist, humorist and commentator. Both she and her twin sister suffer from celiac disease.

Jennifer Esposito

Jennifer Esposito is an American actress and dancer who is best known as Stacey in Spin City and Andrea in Samantha Who?

She was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2002.

Thom Hartmann

Thom Hartmann is a psychotherapist, author and political commentator. He is host of a nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, which boasts between 1.5-3 million listeners.

According to the Associated Press, Hartmann, a known celiac, eats lunch every day at a 100% gluten-free fish-fry joint in Portland, Oregon.

POSSIBLE CELIAC DISEASE SUFFERERS

There have also been many celebrities who have been tied to gluten-free diets and celiac disease. These include :

Former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy,

Victoria Beckham of Posh Spice,	Terence Stump, Actor	Lady Antonia Frasier, Author,	Amanda Donohoe Actress	Goldie Hawn Actress	Juliette Lewis Actress

We sincerely hope that many more celebrities will own up to having celiac disease and therefore take away the secrecy surrounding the disease. We will be very happy to add them to this site.



5 Responsesto “Celebrities with Celiac Disease”

1. Courteny says:

   July 24, 2010 at 9:45 pm

   Drew Breeze also has celiac! He is a quarterback, and won the superbowl last year!