9 Celebrities With Ulcerative Colitis Who’ve Spoken Out

The Imagine Dragons front man, known for hit songs like "Radioactive," "Thunder," and "Believer” was diagnosed with UC at age 20. Reynolds has also revealed that he deals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), another chronic inflammatory condition that can be associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

To tame his inflammation, Reynolds is careful about what he eats. “I went on an anti-inflammatory diet. Everyone is different,” he says. “What works for me is a lot of fish, chicken, rice, and vegetables. I’ll avoid bread, dairy, and sugar. I eat fruit and get natural sugar, but I avoid anything that’s processed.”

Working with a nutritionist to develop a personalized plan is important. He also says that he recommends people struggling with inflammation look to reduce stress in their life.

"Do things every day that will de-stress your life. Treat yourself to whatever shuts your mind off,” he says. “My priority in life is my health. If my health isn’t there, I can’t do anything — I can’t be a good dad, a good musician, a good husband. I can’t stress the need to de-stress enough.”

But Anderson never let UC keep her from her love of food and cooking. Instead, she paid attention to her diet and monitored how her body responded to different foods.

“I started noticing certain things that I wanted to do or really stay away from, or different ways I wanted to prepare food. That was when I was 19. I'm 48 now, so I don't even think about it. I just cook the way I cook, and thankfully it's worked out,” she said.

Amy Brenneman, a fixture of prime-time television in shows like Judging Amy, Grey's Anatomy, The Leftovers, and Private Practice, has used her fame to bring awareness to inflammatory bowel diseases, including UC.

The late Shinzo Abe not only made history as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister; he was also notable for UC self-advocacy. Abe twice resigned from his post leading the world’s third-largest economy because of complications of ulcerative colitis, which he was diagnosed with in adolescence.

Mesalamine (Asacol) treatment allowed Abe to return to the political stage and serve as prime minister from 2012 to 2020. When complications from ulcerative colitis threatened his health in June 2020, Abe decided to step down again.

The five-time Olympic rowing gold medalist Sir Steve Redgrave is one of the most accomplished athletes in the world. As he was training for the Barcelona Olympic games, he was diagnosed with UC and suffered from severe flare-ups.

With the help of his medical doctor wife, Redgrave was diagnosed with UC in 1992 and received treatment. He went on to successfully compete until his retirement after the 2000 Sydney Olympic games.

Redgrave is also one of many famous people who support the organization, and he helps bring awareness to UC as one of Crohn’s and Colitis UK’s ambassadors. “I know the impact of these diseases — it’s important to have good information, understanding, and support,” he says.

Reviews of his medical records indicate that he may have suffered from UC, and some reports show he was diagnosed as a child. Other reports on his health indicate that he may have had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rather than UC.

The Scottish soccer player Darren Fletcher used to be a star for one of the world’s most famous teams, Manchester United. The midfielder struggled to maintain his celebrity while battling UC. Diagnosed in 2011, he had to sit out part of a season before returning to the field in September 2012. Then in January 2013, Fletcher successfully underwent surgery to get his UC under control, which allowed him to keep playing until 2019.

Fletcher has supported United for Colitis, an initiative set up by professional soccer players to raise awareness and funds for those living with IBD, and delivered gifts to young IBD patients at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

“I talk to children and they tell me it’s easier for them to explain to their friends at school if they can say, I’ve got the same illness as Darren Fletcher,” Fletcher told Crohn’s and Colitis UK. “I’ve come through it and got back to playing professional football after suffering with it for so long, and I think that gives people hope.”

When he’s not busy creating some of America’s favorite sitcoms, such as Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and Mom, the producer and writer Chuck Lorre has also contended with health problems.

The Takeaway

• Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that impacts more than five million people worldwide.
• Many celebrities, including musicians, actors, athletes, and politicians, have used their high-profile statuses to raise awareness about UC.
• The stories and struggles of others with UC can help diminish feelings of isolation in people with the condition and provide insight on how to discuss next steps with a healthcare provider.