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Celebrities with dyslexia

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    Dyslexia is getting attention thanks to celebrities speaking about it. Speechify was also founded by a dyslexic! Here's a list of celebrities with dyslexia.

    People in elementary school, high school, and even college can struggle with dyslexia. The good news is that there are lots of shining examples of people who are able to not only survive but also thrive with dyslexia. There are have been lots of successful entertainment professionals with dyslexia who have won a Grammy, an Oscar, an Academy Award, and even an Emmy Award. Some of the top examples of celebrities who have been successful with this condition include:

    Jennifer Aniston

    Jennifer Aniston is one of the most successful actresses of our generation, and she lives with dyslexia. She is best-known for playing the role of Rachel Green, from the sitcom Friends, who had an on-again off-again relationship with the character Ross, played by David Schwimmer. In addition, Jennifer Aniston can be seen in Office Space, where she plays a spunky waitress. She is a well-known advocate for people who live with dyslexia.

    Steven Spielberg

    Another famous individual from the entertainment industry with dyslexia is Steven Spielberg. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest directors of all-time, and he has directed some of the highest-grossing movies of the modern generation. As a filmmaker, he is known for his script writing, his special effects, and his ability to keep the audience engrossed in what is happening on screen from the start of the movie until the end. He has set a shining example for anyone looking to pursue a career in entertainment, and he also has dyslexia.

    Cher

    Cher is one of the most famous pop singers, and she is known as one of the few singers to have a hit in five different decades. She was successful in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and even the 00s. She is known for songs such as Black Lady, If I Could Turn Back Time, and Believe. She also has dyslexia, but she has not let that hold her back. She continues to tour even to this day, even though she has reached an advanced age.

    Whoopi Goldberg

    Whoopi Goldberg is one of the most recognizable TV personalities, and she has dyslexia. Most people know her from The View, but her face can be seen on TV in a number of capacities. Her earnestness and endearing personality have made her popular among people of all generations, and many people don’t realize that she has dyslexia as well.

    Henry Winkler

    Henry Winkler is one of the most recognizable actors of his generation. He can be seen on TV shows, in movies, and is even a guest host on talk shows from time to time. While he has dyslexia, he does not let that slow him down, and he has been able to overcome it to enjoy a very successful career in the entertainment industry.

    Muhammad Ali

    Muhammad Ali is one of the most famous boxers of all time, and he is known for having dyslexia. Even though he does not set foot in the ring anymore, he is still a strong advocate and example for people who live with all sorts of disabilities. He is living proof that someone can have dyslexia and still enjoy a successful career as an athlete.

    Richard Branson

    Richard Branson is one of the most successful businessmen of modern times. He has started numerous companies throughout countless industries—and no matter where he has worked, he has been successful. Some would even argue that his businesses have changed the world, and he has done it all even though he has dyslexia. There are lots of businessmen who would love to follow in his footsteps and become a billionaire, even without dyslexia.

    Tom Cruise

    Tom Cruise is known from his Mission Impossible films and his Top Gun films. He also has dyslexia. He is one of the most recognizable actors of his generation, and many people do not realize that he does a lot of his own stunts. He has made a successful career in Hollywood for himself even though he has dyslexia, which is proof that someone can have this disorder and still do anything they put their mind to.

    Jay Leno

    Jay Leno is one of the most recognizable talk show hosts and comedians of all time. He is known for his late night sketches and the funny interviews he does with celebrities of all backgrounds. Many people do not realize that he also has dyslexia, but he has been able to build a successful show and brand that shows people they can host talk shows even with learning differences and lead a long career like Jay Leno.

    Jamie Oliver

    Jamie Oliver is one of the best cooks on the face of the Earth. He also does a tremendous amount of charity work for people all over the world. He can regularly be found cooking meals for people of underprivileged backgrounds, and he has had to overcome dyslexia in order to do all he has accomplished. Now, he is a well-respected chef and advocate, with an ability to bring out tons of flavors in his dishes.

    Keira Knightley

    Keira Knightley is one of the most successful actresses of the modern generation. She can be found in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, along with numerous others, and she has had to build an acting career for herself despite being diagnosed with dyslexia. While it was a problem for her when she was younger, she worked hard to overcome it while setting an example for others.

    Anderson Cooper

    Anderson Cooper is one of the most well-respected news hosts on TV. He is known as the host of Anderson Cooper 360, but he is also known to host New Year’s Eve parties on TV in Times Square. While his opinions are widely regarded as on-point, and he is well-respected by others in the field, he has had to overcome dyslexia as well.

    John Lennon

    John Lennon, the singer-songwriter of the Beatles who was assassinated at a young age, is also believed to have had dyslexia. Despite his learning issues, he was able to lead the most successful pop and rock band of all-time. During his time, he was also an advocate for people with learning differences and disorders, advocating for those in need.

    Dyslexia is tough to diagnose

    Clearly, there are many people who have dyslexia and have gone on to enjoy very successful careers. From Salma Hayek to Steve Jobs (the founder of Apple), and from Walt Disney to Holly Willoughby, countless people have lived with dyslexia and been able to still be successful. While dyslexia can lead to mental health issues and learning difficulties, there have been numerous children’s books and research papers written about dyslexia to help people learn more and not feel ashamed for this common learning disability.

    Unfortunately, the disorder can be tough to diagnose because there are many kids who do not know how to voice that they think something is wrong. Some of the top signs of dyslexia include:

    • A hesitance to read or write in class due to problems interpreting letters.
    • A tendency to fall behind peers academically because of learning difficulties.
    • Issues developing friendships because of academic issues that spill over into the social world.
    • Taking longer to finish assignments that other people seem to get quickly.
    • A hesitancy for kids to talk about school because of the problems that go along with it.

    There are many examples of people with dyslexia who have gone out to become successful NFL and Olympic athletes. Even The Fonz, a TV character, had dyslexia. Therefore, kids tons of role models they can look up to.

    There are also helpful learning tools, such as Speechify, that can make it easier for people with dyslexia to learn and keep up with their peers. This is a text-to-speech program that can take written text and verbalize it, making it easier for people with dyslexia to understand and complete their assignments. With numerous resources available today, it is possible for people with dyslexia to get the help they need.

    Show sources

    If you want to learn more about celebrities who have dyslexia, you can take a look at some helpful information here:

    https://www.helenarkell.org.uk/about-dyslexia/famous-dyslexics.php

    https://blog.ongig.com/diversity-and-inclusion/famous-people-with-dyslexia/

    https://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/dyslexia-faq/

    Frequently asked questions

    Some of the most common questions people ask about celebrities with dyslexia include:

    Are dyslexic people smart?

    Yes, it is entirely possible for people with dyslexia to be smart. Some people incorrectly believe that people with dyslexia are not smart because they often struggle in school. In reality, people with dyslexia only struggle in school because they have a hard time learning material that a lot of kids find easy. Once people with dyslexia are given the resources they need to learn the material in a manner that makes sense to them, it is obvious that they are smart. That is why there are so many people who have dyslexia and are still very successful in life.

    What artist has dyslexia?

    There are many famous artists who had dyslexia (or are currently living with it). One of the most famous examples is Pablo Picasso. Picasso is famous for his cubism, which means that his subjects often look like they were taken apart and put back together in a way that does not make a lot of sense. In reality, his work made sense to him. It might look flipped around or twisted backwards, but his unique artistic vision allowed him to shine a light on what life is like for someone who has dyslexia. This makes him one of the most successful people in the world with dyslexia. He was simply showing the world what it was like to live with this disorder.

    Can dyslexics be geniuses?

    Yes. It is entirely possible for someone to have dyslexia and be a genius. Furthermore, there are some people who believe that individuals with dyslexia often have hidden talents that the rest of the world might not realize because they may access parts of their brains that the average person cannot. One of the most famous people in the world with dyslexia was Albert Einstein, whose contributions to physics are well-known. He had dyslexia, and he is obviously a genius.

    Can dyslexic people be actors?

    Yes. A person with dyslexia can absolutely be an actor or an actress. For example, Jennifer Anniston is one of the most famous actresses in the world. She has had a long and successful acting career both in the TV screen and in numerous movies. She has dyslexia, and she is a well-known advocate for dyslexia awareness, helping people learn how to overcome dyslexia and be successful, just like her.

    Who is a famous person with dyslexia?

    There are plenty of famous people who have had dyslexia, but many people do not realize that there are prior presidents who have had dyslexia. This shows that someone can have dyslexia and still ascend to be one of the biggest leaders of the free world. For example, John F. Kennedy, who served in World War II and as President of the United States from 1961-1963, struggled with dyslexia. In addition, many people believe George Washington, the general who commanded the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and was the first President of the United States, was believed to have had dyslexia.

    Which actor is dyslexic?

    There are a lot of actors who have struggled with dyslexia and gone on to have very successful careers. One example is Orlando Bloom, who has starred in some of the biggest movie series to ever grace the silver screen. For example, he is well-known as a major player in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series and the Lord of the Rings movie series. He has dyslexia, and he is living proof that someone with this learning disorder can still make it in Hollywood.

    What does dyslexia mean?

    Dyslexia is a common learning disorder that can present differently in different people. It is an overarching term that means that someone has a hard time with reading, writing, spelling, and other subjects. It can impact their ability to keep up with their peers, and it can go undiagnosed for a long time because kids are often hesitant to open up about their learning experience or because they have a hard time verbalizing what is happening in their studies. Now, there are tools that can make it easier for kids to overcome this disorder, manage the symptoms, and still find academic success.

    What is the percentage of dyslexics in the US?

    It can be difficult to say what percentage of people in the United States are living with dyslexia, but information from Yale University indicates that about one in five of all people in the United States could be living with this disorder. In addition, some believe that the condition represents between 80 and 90 percent of all people in the United States who deal with a learning disability. Now that the disorder is better known, there are more resources available for people who have issues with dyslexia.

    Who is the most famous person afflicted with dyslexia?

    It is difficult to say who the most famous person is to have ever had dyslexia. There are plenty of options from which to choose. For example, many people would argue that Albert Einstein is the most famous person to have ever had dyslexia. However, there are plenty of other options, as well. Many people live their entire lives with dyslexia and never reveal it—but as a light is shined on this disorder, other people, including prior presidents (such as George W. Bush) have revealed that they have the disorder as well. This inspires kids to ask for help when they need it, making a major difference in their lives.

    Cliff Weitzman

    Cliff Weitzman

    Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

    Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify

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