Surviving paralytic polio can be a life-changing experience. Individuals may be permanently physically disabled to varying degrees. Others remember the fear and isolation.3 Some continue to campaign for polio eradication or disability rights.
This categorised alphabetical list contains only those people with a firm and uncontested diagnosis made while still alive.
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Alda, AlanAlan Alda |
1936– |
An actor most famous for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the television series M*A*S*H. Alda contracted polio at age seven, during an epidemic. His parents administered a painful treatment, developed by Sister Elizabeth Kenny, in which hot woollen blankets were applied to the limbs and the muscles were stretched by massage.4 |
| Barrymore, LionelLionel Barrymore |
1878–1954 |
A stage, radio and film actor, Barrymore caught polio in the mid 1930s, which left him using a wheelchair.5 |
| Davies, MarionMarion Davies |
1897–1961 |
An actress who had a relationship with William Randolph Hearst. She caught polio in the 1940s, which affected one of her legs.6 |
| Drury, JamesJames Drury |
1934– |
Drury is well known for his portrayal of the title role in the weekly television series, The Virginian. He survived a bout of polio at the age of 10.7 |
| Farrow, MiaMia Farrow |
1945– |
An actress who was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2000, and campaigns in the fight against polio. Farrow collapsed on her ninth birthday and was diagnosed with polio two days later. She was in hospital for eight months, where an iron lung maintained her breathing.8 |
| Ferrer, MelMel Ferrer |
1917– |
In the early 1940s, Ferrer's career as an actor, film director and Broadway producer was stalled when he caught polio. Ferrer was ill for a year and resumed work in radio instead of theatre.910 |
| Kirk, PhyllisPhyllis Kirk |
1929–2006 |
An actress best known for her role as the heroine in the 3-D film House of Wax. Kirk had polio as a child.11 |
| Knef, HildegardHildegard Knef |
1925–2002 |
After a bout with polio in 1932 Knef went on to become an actress, singer and writer.12 |
| Lupino, IdaIda Lupino |
1918–1995 |
A film actress and director, Lupino caught polio in June 1934 and was affected for only a few days.13 |
| Phillips, PegPeg Phillips |
1918–2002 |
An actress who survived a polio infection she caught as an adult.14 |
| Rooney, TimTim Rooney |
1947–2006 |
Actor and voice actor Tim Rooney is the second son of actor Mickey Rooney. He caught polio as a child and was paralysed for two years.15 |
| Russo, GianniGianni Russo |
1943– |
An actor best known for his role as Carlo Rizzi in the 1972 movie The Godfather. He caught polio, aged seven, and spent five years in a state hospital. Russo says, "I made a novena that if I ever walked again, I'd light five candles for St. Anthony every day."16 |
| Sutherland, DonaldDonald Sutherland |
1935– |
Sutherland caught polio as a child and developed a love of reading while bedridden. He went on to become an accomplished actor, and has appeared in over 130 films.17 |
| Thaxter, PhyllisPhyllis Thaxter |
1921– |
Thaxter caught polio in 1952. The disease took a toll on her career as an actress, to which she made a slow return—often taking roles that would accommodate a physical challenge.18 |
| Verdon, GwenGwen Verdon |
1925–2000 |
An actress and dancer on Broadway and in films. Verdon was encouraged to dance by her mother, a dance teacher, as therapy for her polio-afflicted legs.19 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Bisz, Daisy RichardsDaisy Richards Bisz |
1909–2007 |
After a bout of polio as an infant, Bisz went on to become one of Florida's first female attorneys, eventually winning a number of cases against Cuban leader Fidel Castro.20 |
| Cabela, Richard N.Richard N. Cabela |
1936– |
An entrepreneur and founder of the outdoor retailer Cabela's. He has stated that his business was inspired by his bout with polio and a deep love of fishing and hunting.21 |
| Dawkins, PetePete Dawkins |
1938– |
Former Heisman Trophy winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army Brigadier General, and Republican candidate for Senate, Dawkins contracted polio at age eleven.22 |
| Drabinsky, GarthGarth Drabinsky |
1949– |
Canadian theatrical producer, contracted polio at age three, and was left with a limp in his left leg.23 |
| Fisher, Richard B.Richard B. Fisher |
1936–2004 |
Chairman emeritus of the securities firm Morgan Stanley, he had to use a cane as a result of polio.24 |
| Mars, Franklin ClarenceFranklin Clarence Mars |
1884–1934 |
Founded the Mars confectionery company. After catching polio as a child and finding that he could not play like other children, Mars helped his mother in the kitchen. This led to selling candy after school and, eventually, his own company.25 |
| Steiff, MargareteMargarete Steiff |
1847–1909 |
A toy maker and founder of the Steiff Company, know for its teddy bear. She contracted polio, aged 18 months, and lost the use of her legs and had only partial use of her right arm.26 |
| Stein, Charles FrancisCharles Francis Stein |
1933–2006 |
A Baltimore, Maryland lawyer and prominent sail boat racing skipper, he contracted polio while at college and spent months in an iron lung.27 |
| Washington, DennisDennis Washington |
1934– |
A businessman and founder of The Washington Companies. He caught polio when he was eight and fortunately recovered well.28 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Adepitan, AdrianAdrian Adepitan |
1973– |
A television presenter and wheelchair basketball player, Adepitan caught polio, aged six months, in Nigeria. His left side is weakened, especially his left leg.34 |
| Atalla, AshAsh Atalla |
1972– |
A television producer best known for the comedy series The Office. While living in Cairo Atalla caught polio from polluted water; he was six months old. He uses a wheelchair and claims that, although he gets "patronised all the time", he has never "experienced prejudice because of it".3536 |
| Coppola, Francis FordFrancis Ford Coppola |
1939– |
A film director, producer, and screenwriter. He recalls, "When I was nine I was confined to a room for over a year with polio, and because polio is a child's illness, they kept every other kid away from me. I remember being pinned to this bed, and longing for friends and company."37 |
| Cullen, BillBill Cullen |
1920–1990 |
A radio and television personality, best known as a game show host. Cullen caught polio, aged 18 months, which left him with a permanent limp. He credits this with leading him to a career on radio, where his limp would not be seen.38 |
| Dante, JoeJoe Dante |
1946– |
A film director and producer. He had a bout with polio, aged seven.39 |
| Drabinsky, GarthGarth Drabinsky |
1949– |
Drabinsky caught polio at age six, which temporarily paralysed his left leg. He became a film and theatrical producer, and believes his experience with polio "galvanised [his] spirit and sense of determination".40 |
| Laws, JohnJohn Laws |
1935– |
Radio presenter John Laws contracted polio twice: as a boy and as a young man.3 |
| Onley, DavidDavid Onley |
|
A television reporter and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. He received the Clarke Institute's 1996 "Courage to Come Back" Award for his battle with polio.41 |
| Packer, KerryKerry Packer |
1937–2005 |
A publishing, media and gaming tycoon who owned the Australian Nine Network. He caught polio as a child, spent nine months in an iron lung, and consequently fell behind at school.42 |
| Roizman, OwenOwen Roizman |
1936– |
Roizman caught polio at age 13, which ended his dream to be a professional baseball player. He became a cinematographer and has been nominated for five Oscars.43 |
| Smith, StacyStacy Smith |
|
A news anchor on KDKA-TV, Pennsylvania. He caught polio, aged six months, and was completely paralysed for a time. He now walks with a limp.44 |
| Starkey, DavidDavid Starkey |
1945– |
Radio and television presenter and English historian, Starkey was born with two club feet and caught polio as an infant. He recalls, "I spent a lot of my infancy in hospital and actually started school in a wheelchair with this enormous plaster, and then into a surgical boot and callipers, none of which helps assimilation with other children."45 |
| Steagall, RedRed Steagall |
1937– |
Later a radio and television personality, Steagall worked as a rodeo bull rider until he contracted polio at age 15. He began playing guitar as part of his recovery, and has recorded over 200 songs in various genres.46 |
| Yu, RonnyRonny Yu |
1950– |
A film director, producer and writer. Yu caught polio, aged eight months. During his slow recovery he developed fantasy worlds to cope with his loneliness.47 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Blyton, CareyCarey Blyton |
1932–2002 |
A composer and writer best known for his song Bananas In Pyjamas. Blyton contracted polio in 1947 and learned to play the piano during his two-year convalescence to "demonstrate that the illness wouldn't get the better of him."48 |
| Boswell, ConneeConnee Boswell |
1907–1976 |
A jazz singer who performed with her sisters as "The Boswell Sisters". She caught polio, aged three, and was left with partially paralysed legs. Boswell used a wheelchair for most of her life.49 |
| Collins, JudyJudy Collins |
1939– |
As a child, singer-songwriter Judy Collins spent several months in hospital recovering from bout with polio. Collins later became a representative for UNICEF and has worked to promote polio vaccination programmes.50 |
| Davis, CeDellCeDell Davis |
born 1927 |
A blues guitarist and singer. After a bout with polio at age nine crippled his hands Davis learned to play the guitar upside down, using a butter knife to help fret the strings, producing a similar sound to a slide guitar.51 |
| DePreist, JamesJames DePreist |
born 1936 |
Conductor James DePreist contracted polio in 1962 while on tour in Bangkok. Instead of using crutches and braces he conducts sitting down.52 |
| , DonovanDonovan |
1946– |
Folk singer-songwriter and guitarist Donovan contracted polio, aged four, from the vaccine he was given. This left him with a limp and feeling excluded. However, he says "I kind of look back on it and think it was positive for me because it made me withdraw from my pals and realise I was different."53 |
| Dury, IanIan Dury |
1942–2000 |
A rock and roll singer and songwriter, leader of the band "Ian Dury and the Blockheads". His hand and leg were left shrivelled by a bout with polio at age seven. He has campaigned with UNICEF to eradicate polio.54 |
| Flanders, MichaelMichael Flanders |
1922–1975 |
An actor, broadcaster, and writer and performer of comic songs, often in partnership with Donald Swann. He contracted polio in 1943 while serving in the Royal Navy, and required a wheelchair for the rest of his life.55 |
| Fournier, PierrePierre Fournier |
1906–1986 |
Later a cellist, as a child, Fournier began playing the piano. In 1915 he had a mild case of polio, and lost dexterity in his legs and feet. No longer able to master the use of the piano pedals he turned to playing the cello.56 |
| Haden, CharlieCharlie Haden |
1937– |
Haden, a renowned jazz double bassist, began singing in his family's band as a toddler. After a bout with polio at age 15 paralysed his vocal cords and throat, he took up the bass guitar.5758 |
| Vibration, IsraelIsrael Vibration |
|
This reggae band was formed after the three founding members met at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston, Jamaica in the 1950s.56 Member Albert "Apple Gabriel" Craig said of his bout with polio, "It take a lot from me outta life, but at the same time it give me much more in life".59 |
| Joseph, WaldrenWaldren Joseph |
1918–2004 |
Trombonist Waldren "Frog" Joseph had polio as an infant, which left him with a permanent limp. He began playing music during his recovery.60 |
| Lawrence, MarjorieMarjorie Lawrence |
1909–1979 |
A soprano whose battle with polio and, subsequently, depression at the height of her career, is the subject of the 1955 film Interrupted Melody.61 |
| Marshall, LoisLois Marshall |
1924–1997 |
Marshall, a soprano, caught polio, aged two, and required many operations over ten years to help fix her legs.62 |
| McGhee, BrownieBrownie McGhee |
1915–1996 |
A folk-blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaborations with harmonica player Sonny Terry. When McGee was paralysed due to polio as a child, he constructed a pushcart to get around. The cart was propelled with a stick by his younger brother, Granville "Stick" McGhee.63 |
| Mitchell, JoniJoni Mitchell |
1943– |
A musician, songwriter and painter. Mitchell started singing at age nine while in hospital recovering from polio.64 |
| Parlan, HoraceHorace Parlan |
1931– |
A jazz pianist. He caught polio as a child, which paralysed the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand.65 |
| Perlman, ItzhakItzhak Perlman |
1945– |
A virtuoso violinist. He caught polio, aged four. Perlman requires braces and crutches to walk, and plays the violin sitting down.66 |
| Peterson, RayRay Peterson |
1939–2005 |
Best known for his hit pop music song Tell Laura I Love Her, Peterson started singing while hospitalised with polio.67 |
| Pomus, DocDoc Pomus |
1925–1991 |
A blues singer and songwriter. He caught polio as a child, which left him in braces and using crutches. Later, a fall down stairs left him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.6869 |
| Sanborn, DavidDavid Sanborn |
1945– |
A jazz saxophonist. He caught polio, aged three, and had to spend one year in an iron lung, followed by two years in bed. He was advised to learn a wind instrument to help with his recovery. Sanborn is now affected by post-polio syndrome.70 |
| Shore, DinahDinah Shore |
1916–1994 |
A big band singer, actress and talk show host. Shore caught polio, aged 18 months, which left her right leg crippled. She recovered strength through massage, swimming and tennis.71 |
| Sylvia, Sylvia Syms (singer)Sylvia Syms (singer) Sylvia |
1917–1992 |
A cabaret and jazz singer, Syms had polio as a child.72 |
| Tebaldi, RenataRenata Tebaldi |
1922–2004 |
Tebaldi, a soprano, contracted polio at age three, which caused her difficulty walking. During this experience she discovered music, which she said saved her life.73 |
| Young, NeilNeil Young |
1945– |
A singer-songwriter and guitarist. He caught polio, aged five, during the epidemic of 1951.74 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Andersen, Elmer L.Elmer L. Andersen |
1909–2004 |
A businessman and former governor of Minnesota. He caught polio, aged nine, and was confined to bed. Andersen eventually made a good recovery but in his eighties, he was affected by post-polio syndrome. He believed that polio had a positive psychological impact on him and increased his determination.75 |
| Beazley, KimKim Beazley |
1948– |
Former leader of the Australian Labor Party. He caught polio, aged five.76 |
| Bennett, Charles EdwardCharles Edward Bennett |
1910–2003 |
Former member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida. He caught polio during World War II in the Philippines. Bennett walked with a cane.77 |
| Bjelke-Petersen, JohJoh Bjelke-Petersen |
1911–2005 |
Queensland, Australia's longest serving Premier, Joh contracted polio at age nine, which left him with a limp.78 |
| Boyles, Harlan E.Harlan E. Boyles |
1929–2003 |
A North Carolina politician, Boyles had hoped to become a farmer, but was struck by polio as a teenager. After spending a year in hospital he went into public service instead.7980 |
| Cohen, SteveSteve Cohen |
1949– |
A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives. He was unfortunate to miss out on the 1954 Salk vaccine trials that his paediatrician father was helping with and that his brother benefited from — he was not in the appropriate age-group. Cohen caught polio that year, aged five, and was ill for three months. He still walks with a limp and has problems with his balance.81 |
| Critchley, JulianJulian Critchley |
1930–2000 |
A writer, broadcaster and Conservative Member of Parliament. He caught polio in his youth and was much later affected by paralysis from post-polio syndrome.82 |
| Dail, Charles C.Charles C. Dail |
1909–1968 |
Elected Mayor of San Diego in 1955, Dail, who had had polio, helped to establish the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.83 |
| Diarmada, Seán MacSeán Mac Diarmada |
1883–1916 |
Although he was left lame after a bout of polio in 1911, Mac Diarmada was involved in several Irish separatist organisations including Sinn Féin and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and was one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.84 |
| East, John PorterJohn Porter East |
1931–1986 |
A Republican United States senator from the state of North Carolina. He caught polio in 1955 while serving as a lieutenant in the United States Marines.85 |
| Hager, John H.John H. Hager |
1936– |
Politician and former Senior Vice President of American Tobacco Company. He caught polio from his son's oral vaccination, which left his legs paralysed.86 |
| Martin, Paul Edgar PhilippePaul Edgar Philippe Martin |
1938– |
Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006. He caught polio in 1946, which paralysed his throat, and took almost a year to fully recover.8788 |
| , Paul Joseph JamesPaul Joseph James |
1903–1992 |
A politician, and father of Paul Martin (the former Prime Minister of Canada). He caught polio in 1907 and was left with a slight limp. Martin was Minister of Health and Welfare when the Salk vaccine was conducting field trials. His personal family experience of polio made him determined to continue the trial, even after a setback where 79 children caught polio from the vaccine.8788 |
| McNamara, RobertRobert McNamara |
1916– |
A business executive and former United States Secretary of Defense. Both McNamara and his wife caught polio in August 1945. He was in hospital for a couple of months but his wife was badly affected and remained there for nine months. His career change from Harvard professor to the Ford Motor Company was made in order to pay for her hospital bills.89 |
| Padaca, GraceGrace Padaca |
1963– |
Grace Padaca is the current governor of the northern Philippines province of Isabela. A bout of polio at age three left her using crutches; Padaca often declares: "My weakness is my strength".90 |
| Paulus, NormaNorma Paulus |
1933– |
A politician from the state of Oregon, Paulus caught polio at age nineteen. After her recovery, she moved to Salem where she became a legal secretary.91 |
| Royle, AnthonyAnthony Royle |
1927–2001 |
Prior to his run as a Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Richmond, Surrey, Royle, the Baron Fanshawe of Richmond, was an officer in the SAS. In 1950, he shipped out for Korea. En route, he contracted polio and had to be left in Malaysia where spent a year fighting for his life in an iron lung. He survived, but the disease left him with a permanent limp.92 |
| Scheuer, James H.James H. Scheuer |
1920–2005 |
Scheuer was a millionaire real-estate developer and served 13 terms (1965 to 1993) as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. During World War II he served as an Army Air Force flight instructor, after which he developed symptoms of polio and used a cane for the rest of his life.93 |
| Skelton, IkeIke Skelton |
1931– |
A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri since 1977, Skelton developed polio as a child. During his recovery he developed a love of history.94 In 2004 Skelton sponsored a resolution honouring the life and legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.95 |
| Wade, Baron Wade, DonaldDonald Wade, Baron Wade |
1904–1988 |
A British solicitor who later became a Liberal Party MP, Wade suffered from polio as a child.96 |
| Watson, Arthur C.Arthur C. Watson |
1909–1984 |
A prominent Natchitoches, Louisiana civic leader, and chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Watson lost the use of both legs when he caught polio at the age of 19 months.97 |
| Woods, GavinGavin Woods |
1947– |
Gavin Woods is a South African political figure who contracted polio as a baby. He overcame the many obstacles posed by the effects of the disease to become a member of parliament, among other achievements.98 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Clarke, Arthur C.Arthur C. Clarke |
1917–2008 |
A science-fiction author and inventor. He contracted polio in February 1962, which confined him to bed for months. In 1988, he was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome.99 |
| DuMont, Allen B.Allen B. DuMont |
1901–1965 |
A scientist, inventor, and television pioneer, DuMont developed polio at age 11. While recovering from polio he began experimenting with electronics by building a radio transmitter and receiver out of an oatmeal box.100 |
| Erickson, Milton H.Milton H. Erickson |
1901–1980 |
A psychiatrist who was influential in the modern practice of hypnosis and psychotherapy. He caught polio, aged 17, and was almost completely paralysed for a time. Erickson regarded his lengthy recovery as a learning experience. Later, post-polio syndrome paralysed his legs and an arm.101 |
| Guyton, ArthurArthur Guyton |
1919–2003 |
A physiologist noted for his work on cardiology. He caught polio in 1946 during his final year of medical residency training. Guyton's shoulders, left arm and right leg were paralysed. During nine months of recovery, he built many devices to aid the handicapped, for which he received a Presidential Citation. He remained severely crippled and could only walk with difficulty.102 |
| Little, William JohnWilliam John Little |
1810–1894 |
Little was the founder of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital of London and the first to identify cerebral palsy. Around age two, Little was infected with poliomyelitis, from which he developed a deformed foot. He decided to go into the medical profession with the intention of finding a cure for his foot.103104 |
| MacGill, ElsieElsie MacGill |
1905–1980 |
The first female aircraft designer in the world, MacGill was afflicted with polio at the age of 24. Although her disability brought an end to her dream of becoming a pilot, she insisted on going on all flight tests in order to best assess her aircraft designs.105 |
| Midgley, Jr., ThomasThomas Midgley, Jr. |
1889–1944 |
A mechanical engineer and chemist, Midgley developed chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and held over a hundred patents. He contracted polio at age 51, which left him severely disabled, and caused him to lose a leg. To help himself get out of bed, Midgley designed a system of ropes and pulleys; he died of strangulation in 1944 after becoming tangled in the ropes of his contraption.106 |
| Morrison, PhilipPhilip Morrison |
1915–2005 |
A physicist and protégé of Robert Oppenheimer, Morrison worked on the Manhattan Project early in his career. He contracted polio at the age of four, which left him partly handicapped, but also stimulated a love of science.107 |
| Noether, MaxMax Noether |
1844-1921 |
"One of the finest mathematicians of the nineteenth century", Noether studied algebraic geometry. He contracted polio at the age of 14 which left him permanently handicapped.108 |
| Rue, RosemaryRosemary Rue |
1928–2004 |
A physician, Rue contracted polio from a patient in 1954 (she was the last person in Oxford, England to get the disease). The disease left her with one useless leg but motivated her to become a champion for women in medicine.109 |
| Schwartz, LaurentLaurent Schwartz |
1915–2002 |
Schwartz, a mathematician, had a childhood brush with polio.110 |
| Siebert, FlorenceFlorence Siebert |
1897–1991 |
Siebert contracted polio as a young child, and was left with a slight limp. She went on to develop the Tuberculin antigen used in the standard Tuberculosis test.111 |
| Whipple, Fred LawrenceFred Lawrence Whipple |
1906–2004 |
Whipple became an astronomer after a mild bout of polio thwarted his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. He is best known for his "dirty snowball" model of comets.112 |
| Whyte, William FooteWilliam Foote Whyte |
1914–2000 |
A sociologist, Whyte's specialty was his study of Boston's North End gangs. He caught polio in 1943. After two years of rehabilitation at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, Whyte continued his field research; conducting all of his interviews with the aid of braces, crutches and cane.113 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Albright, TenleyTenley Albright |
1935– |
The first American female figure skating world champion and Olympic champion. She caught polio, aged 11, and was isolated in hospital for a while. Albright later became a surgeon and helped with the international polio eradication effort through the World Health Assembly.114115 |
| Blackman, BobBob Blackman |
1918–2000 |
After a bout of polio during his first year of college ended his football-playing career, Blackman became a college football head coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.116 |
| Bleibtrey, EtheldaEthelda Bleibtrey |
1902–1978 |
A triple Olympic gold medallist in the freestyle swimming events. At age 16, she took up swimming to help recover from a bout of polio. Shortly afterwards, Bleibtrey competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.117 |
| Chandrasekhar, BhagwatBhagwat Chandrasekhar |
1945– |
A cricketer who specialised in leg spin. At age five his right arm was withered by a bout of polio. Chandrasekhar used his right hand for bowling which led to his distinctive style.118 |
| Davis, Walter "Buddy"Walter "Buddy" Davis |
1931– |
An Olympic gold medallist in the high jump, and later a basketball player in the NBA. He caught polio, aged nine, and could not walk for three years.119 |
| Davis, W. HarryW. Harry Davis |
1923–2006 |
Stricken with polio at age three, Davis was left crippled from the waist down until he was five.120 He recovered but his legs remained slightly different lengths. Davis went on to become a successful amateur boxing coach and served on the U.S. Olympic boxing committee. He was also an executive, a civil rights leader, and campaigned as Minneapolis's first black mayoral candidate in 1971.121 |
| Dore, DavidDavid Dore |
1940– |
Dore served as the head of the Canadian Figure Skating Association for 17 years. He was introduced to figure skating as a child while recovering from polio.122 |
| Ewry, RayRay Ewry |
1873–1937 |
Track and field athlete Ray Ewry caught polio as a child, which left him using a wheelchair for a while. He devised his own exercises to strengthen his legs. Ewry went on to become one of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time, winning 10 gold medals in standing jump events.119123 |
| Gadsby, BillBill Gadsby |
1926– |
A former ice hockey defenceman in the NHL, Gadsby contracted polio at age 24 while at a training camp. Fortunately, he was able to recover quickly and his hockey season was uninterrupted.124 |
| Grant, BudBud Grant |
1927– |
The long-time former American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. He caught polio as a child, leaving one leg shortened. He was advised to take up sport as therapy.125 |
| Hartel, LisLis Hartel |
1921– |
An Olympic dressage silver medallist. She caught polio, aged 23, while pregnant. Hartel was left permanently paralysed below the knees but was able to compete again after three years of rehabilitation.126 |
| Hinson, LarryLarry Hinson |
1944– |
A professional golfer, Hinston's left arm was affected by a bout with polio as a boy, but it never hindered his golf game.127 |
| Konrads, JohnJohn Konrads |
1942– |
An Olympic freestyle swimmer in the 1950s and 1960s, Konrads caught a mild case of polio while swimming at the community pool.128129 |
| Mann, ShelleyShelley Mann |
1937– |
Mann caught polio, aged six, and took up swimming to aid her recovery. At the 1956 Summer Olympics she won gold and silver medals in butterfly events.130 |
| Nicklaus, JackJack Nicklaus |
1940– |
A professional golfer who has won many major golf championships. He caught polio, aged 13. Nicklaus was affected with stiffness, pain and weight loss over two weeks. He recovered without any paralysis but believes he may have post-polio syndrome, which makes his joints sore. His sister Marilyn also caught polio, possibly from him, and was less fortunate – she was unable to walk for a year.131 |
| Rudolph, WilmaWilma Rudolph |
1940–1994 |
A track and field athlete, Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals at the Olympic Games. At age four, she contracted polio and lost the use of her left leg. After five years of massage and exercises, she managed to walk again without her leg braces. By the time she was a teenager, Rudolph was faster than the boys in her neighbourhood were. Rudolph won a bronze medal, aged 16, at the 1956 Summer Olympics and three gold medals in the 1960 Summer Olympics.132 |
| Soares, JoeJoe Soares |
~1959– |
Soares contracted polio as an infant in Portugal, resulting in his use of a wheelchair. At age four, he was sent, alone, from his island home in the Azores to Lisbon. There he underwent surgery and spent six months in a body cast.133 Soares became a well known wheelchair rugby player and coach. His story is, in part, the subject of the 2005 documentary film, Murderball.134 |
| Wertz, VicVic Wertz |
1925–1983 |
A Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He caught non-paralytic polio during August 1955 and was in hospital for 20 days.135136 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Colin Banks, Colin Banks |
1932–2002 |
A graphic designer and typographer, Banks is well known for his British Telecom and Royal Mail branding designs. He went into the graphic design business after a bout of polio left him with a permanent limp and put an end to his promising career as a long-distance runner.137 |
| Chang, WahWah Chang |
1917–2003 |
A designer, sculptor, and artist best known for his film props. He caught polio, aged 21, which paralysed his legs for nine months. Using leg braces and crutches, he started walking again. Chang was affected by post-polio syndrome in 1992.138139140 |
| Flugelman, BertBert Flugelman |
1923– |
Flugelman contracted polio at the age of 28, which left him partly crippled. His disability actually motivated him to move from painting to a more physically demanding career as a sculptor.141 |
| Gores, LandisLandis Gores |
1919–1991 |
An architect, Gores was struck with polio in 1951, which left him in a wheelchair. He went on to design several buildings in the area of New Canaan, Connecticut.142 |
| Kahlo, FridaFrida Kahlo |
1907–1954 |
A painter who was the subject of a 2002 movie starring Salma Hayek. She caught polio, aged six, and spent several months in bed. Kahlo was left with a deformed and shortened right leg.143 |
| Lange, DorotheaDorothea Lange |
1895–1965 |
A photographer and photojournalist most noted for her picture Migrant Mother. She caught polio, aged seven, and was left with a withered right lower leg and a limp. Lang said, "It was perhaps the most important thing that happened to me. It formed me, guided, instructed me, helped me, and humiliated me. All those things at once. I've never gotten over it and am aware of the force and power of it."144145 |
| LeClerq, TanaquilTanaquil LeClerq |
1929–2000 |
Tanaquil LeClerq was a prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet. She was forced to give up dancing when she contracted polio in Copenhagen in 1956 and was paralysed from the waist down.14656 |
| Lewis, MaudMaud Lewis |
1903–1970 |
Lewis caught polio as a child, which severely reduced her mobility; she could only raise her neck with great difficulty. Despite barely being able to hold a paintbrush, she became a well known Folk artist.147 |
| Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, AntonyAntony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon |
1930– |
A photographer and documentary filmmaker, Snowdon caught polio at age 16. He was married to The Princess Margaret from 1960 to 1978, and established the Snowdon Award Scheme in 1981 to financially help disabled students.148 |
| Nuttgens, PatrickPatrick Nuttgens |
1930–2004 |
An architect and academic. At age 12 he caught polio, which paralysed him from the chest down. He remained in hospital for two years and thereafter required a back brace or surgical belt.149 |
| Spear, RuskinRuskin Spear |
1911–1990 |
Ruskin Spear, famous for his paintings of London, was disabled by polio as a child and attended Brook Green School for afflicted children; where he first displayed a talent for art. He became a successful painter and went on to teach at the Royal College of Art.150 |
| Stevens, BrooksBrooks Stevens |
1911–1995 |
An industrial designer. He caught polio, aged eight, and had difficulty walking for a time. He retained a limp and some stiffness. Some symptoms returned in old-age, causing him to require a wheelchair.151 |
| Weston, HaroldHarold Weston |
1894–1972 |
After a bout with polio in childhood, Weston graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and became an influential modernist painter.152 |
| Wyeth, HenrietteHenriette Wyeth |
1907–1997 |
A portrait artist. She caught polio as a child, which crippled her right hand. She compensated by holding the paint brush between her first and second fingers.153 |
| Name |
Life |
Comments |
| Beresford, J. D.J. D. Beresford |
1873–1947 |
A writer who is remembered for his early science fiction. He was crippled by polio in childhood.154 |
| Bradlee, Benjamin C.Benjamin C. Bradlee |
1921– |
The vice president and former executive editor of The Washington Post. He caught polio, aged 14, and was paralysed for several months. Bradlee believes the experience made him a different person.155 |
| Breakwell, SpikeSpike Breakwell |
1968– |
A comedian, best known for co-writing the Beginners' Guides column in The Times magazine. He caught polio, aged four months, after receiving the oral polio vaccine. He was in a coma for two weeks and is now a wheelchair-user.156 |
| Briggs, Joe BobJoe Bob Briggs |
1953– |
Film critic, writer and actor, Briggs contracted polio in childhood and was left with a pronounced limp.157 |
| Brooks-Baker, HaroldHarold Brooks-Baker |
1933–2005 |
A financier, journalist and publisher especially concerning the British aristocracy. He was affected by polio for much of his life.158 |
| Cockburn, PatrickPatrick Cockburn |
1950– |
A journalist whose memoir, The Broken Boy recalls his childhood in 1950s Ireland when he caught polio, aged six.159 |
| Creasey, JohnJohn Creasey |
1908–1973 |
Creasey contracted polio in childhood, and had to re-learn to walk at age six. He went on to become an accomplished author, publishing 560 books under several different pseudonyms.160 |
| Crompton, RichmalRichmal Crompton |
1890–1969 |
A writer most famous for her Just William humorous short stories. She caught polio in 1923 and lost the use of her right leg. When it became physically too hard to continue her teaching career she gave it up to concentrate on writing.161 Crompton believed that she had "a much more interesting life because of [her polio attack]".162 |
| Kriegel, LeonardLeonard Kriegel |
1933– |
An author who's work include essays and memoirs on the subject of disability. He caught polio, aged eleven, which left him without the use of his legs.163 |
| Levi, PeterPeter Levi |
1931–2000 |
After battling polio as a teenager,164 Levi went on to become—among other things—a professor of poetry at Oxford, a Jesuit priest, and the author of over 40 books. |
| Marshall, AlanAlan Marshall |
1902–1984 |
A writer best known for his autobiography I Can Jump Puddles. He caught polio, aged six, and walked with crutches afterwards.165 |
| Miles, RosalindRosalind Miles |
1943– |
An author of fiction and non-fiction books. She caught polio, aged four, and spent several months in an iron lung.166 |
| Preston, PeterPeter Preston |
1938– |
A journalist and former editor of The Guardian. He caught polio shortly after his dad, who died in a couple of days. Preston needed an iron lung to survive and was frequently in hospital for the next 18 months. His limbs were permanently affected as a result.167 |
| Quick, John HerbertJohn Herbert Quick |
1861–1925 |
A writer best known for his trilogy on Iowa pioneers: Vandemark's Folly, The Hawkeye and The Invisible Woman. Childhood polio deformed his feet restricting him indoors where he developed a love of reading.168 |
| Ramakrishnan, H.H. Ramakrishnan |
1941– |
A journalist and speaker on disabled rights. Ramakrishna was paralysed by polio, aged two, and walks with leg braces.169 |
| Sampter, JessieJessie Sampter |
1883–1938 |
A Zionist educator, poet and pioneer. She caught polio, aged thirteen, and was confined to bed for months. The illness left her fingers crippled and her spine curved.170 |
| Shell, MarcMarc Shell |
1947– |
Currently Irving Babbitt Professor of Comparative Literature and Professor of English at Harvard University, Shell's books in disability studies include works about paralysis and stuttering. Salk's vaccine came too late. September 1953: He began first grade at Van Horne School in Montreal. October 14: He contracted polio. It was the same day that the foundation backed Jonas Salk's proposal to test his vaccine.56 |
| Sidhwa, BapsiBapsi Sidhwa |
1938– |
An author, most noted for her novel Cracking India, which tells of the partition of India through the eyes of a young girl affected with polio. Sidhwa caught polio, aged two, which paralysed her leg and led to several operations. Doctors advised her parents not to send her to school; she had a lonely childhood, filled with reading.171172 |
| Swanton, E. W.E. W. Swanton |
1907–2000 |
Well known cricket writer and broadcaster E.W. Swanton developed polio while held as a POW in the forced labour camps of the Thai-Burma railway during World War II.173 He was left with a withered left shoulder and upper arm.174 |
| Tonks, RosemaryRosemary Tonks |
1932– |
Tonks, a poet, was paralysed by polio for two months.175 |
| Tyerman, DonaldDonald Tyerman |
1908–1981 |
A journalist and editor of The Economist. Tynerman contracted polio at the age of three, which left his legs completely paralysed.176 He was eventually able to walk with the assistance of leg callipers and walking sticks, and once said that "The ambition and pride of the disabled, as I have some reason to know, is to stand on their own feet."177 |
| Waller, LeslieLeslie Waller |
1923–2007 |
The author of several crime novels and movie novelisations, Waller contracted polio as a child and read avidly during his recovery.178 |
| Watson, EmmettEmmett Watson |
1918–2001 |
A newspaper columnist based in Seattle, Washington. In 1946 Watson survived a bout with polio; he got the disease while working as a sportswriter for the Seattle Star.179 |
| Wilson, Robert AntonRobert Anton Wilson |
1932–2007 |
A writer best known as the co-author of The Illuminatus! Trilogy. He caught polio, aged four, and was treated by the method devised by Sister Elizabeth Kenny. In later years, he was affected with post-polio syndrome and was an advocate of the medical use of marijuana to treat his symptoms.180 |
Itzhak Perlman, a polio survivor, plays the violin sitting down.
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