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9 celebrities with multiple sclerosis who have opened up about the disease

From Selma Blair to Christina Applegate, these celebrities have opened up about their experience with multiple sclerosis. (Photos via Getty Images)
From Selma Blair to Christina Applegate, these celebrities have opened up about their experience with multiple sclerosis. (Photos via Getty Images)

On Monday, Nov. 14, Christina Applegate accepted her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — her first public appearance since revealing her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.

Applegate is one of several celebrities who have opened up about their MS diagnosis and journey.

MS is an autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system and causes symptoms like numbness, tremors, vision problems, slurred speech and mobility issues.

Below, we've gathered a list of nine celebrities who have openly discussed the ups and downs of their experiences since being diagnosed with MS.

US actress Christina Applegate speaks during her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, on November 14, 2022. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
Christina Applegate was diagnosed with MS in 2021. (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Christina Applegate

When she was diagnosed with MS in 2021, Applegate received an outpouring of support.

Netflix temporarily halted filming of the final season of her hit series "Dead to Me" so the actress could have time to process the news and decide how to move forward.

In the end, she felt it was important to finish the project. However, she described the process of filming with her symptoms as "torture," and speculated that she may not act again.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Selma Blair attends the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Selma Blair received her MS diagnosis in 2018 after spending years in pain. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Selma Blair

Selma Blair received her MS diagnosis in 2018 after spending years in pain.

She received a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy in 2019. In 2021, she announced that her disease was in remission.

In 2022, Blair appeared on season 31 of "Dancing with the Stars." After several performances, she departed the show due to concerns related to her illness.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: Jack Osbourne attends the 26th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Jack Osbourne was diagnosed with MS in 2012 at the age of 26. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Jack Osbourne

Jack Osbourne, television personality and son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, was diagnosed with MS in 2012 at the age of 26.

Only a few weeks after the birth of his daughter, Osbourne experienced numbness in his leg and problems with his vision — key warning signs of MS.

He has since become an MS advocate and released a web series called "You Don't Know Jack About MS" to discuss common misconceptions about the disease.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 27: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Jamie-Lynn Sigler visits People Now on February 27, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
Jamie-Lynn Sigler kept her MS diagnosis a secret for 15 years. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, most famous for her performances on "The Sopranos" and "Mob Town," was diagnosed with MS in 2002 at the age of 20.

She kept her diagnosis a secret for 15 years because she was told that revealing it would damage her career.

Sigler is now an active part of the MS community and received the Medal of Hope Award at the 2017 Race to Erase MS Gala.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 28: Montel Williams attends the 89th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade supporting Marine Toys For Tots on November 28, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Montel Williams was diagnosed with MS in 1999 at age 43. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Montel Williams

During the first several years of his 17-season tenure as host of "The Montel Williams Show," Williams spent much of his time in pain, not knowing that his struggle was due to MS.

He received his diagnosis in 1999 at age 43 and has become a vocal MS advocate.

In particular, he is a strong supporter of medicinal marijuana, which he says has been key to his ability to manage the disease.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Art Alexakis of Everclear performs at The Whisky on December 01, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Art Alexakis didn't know he was suffering from MS until he was in a car accident in 2017. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Art Alexakis

Art Alexakis, lead singer of Everclear, didn't know he was suffering from MS until he was in a car accident in 2017.

Two weeks later, a strange sensation in his arm sent him back to the doctor, where an MRI revealed that he had MS.

He originally kept his diagnosis private, but he ultimately decided to share it because he wanted to encourage people experiencing symptoms to see their doctors.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 29: Emma Caulfield Ford attends the Marvel Studios' 'Black Widow' Fan Event at the El Capitan Theatre on June 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)
Emma Caulfield Ford opened up about her condition in October 2022. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)

Emma Caulfield Ford

Like many other celebrities living with MS, Emma Caulfield Ford initially chose to keep her diagnosis a secret.

Ford, who starred on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "WandaVision," was concerned that her MS diagnosis would affect her career.

She opened up about her condition in October 2022, saying that she wanted to be honest before filming her new series "Agatha: Coven of Chaos."

Rachel Miner discovered she had MS in 2010. (Photo by Amy Graves/WireImage)
Rachel Miner discovered she had MS in 2010. (Photo by Amy Graves/WireImage)

Rachel Miner

Actress Rachel Miner is a familiar face to sci-fi and soap opera fans alike, but her onscreen appearances have been limited in recent years due to her MS diagnosis.

Miner discovered she had MS in 2010 when she went to the doctor with numbness in her limbs.

Since then, she has become the executive director of the charitable organization Random Acts.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24:  Joan Didion attends The American Theatre Wing's 2012 Annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel on September 24, 2012 in New York City.  (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Joan Didion received her MS diagnosis in 1972. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Joan Didion

As an acclaimed writer, Joan Didion never shied away from sharing her personal struggles. Her essays and memoirs covered sensitive topics like her husband’s death and her experience with MS.

Didion received her diagnosis in 1972 after experiencing partial blindness, which she discussed in the essay "After the Diagnosis: Living with Multiple Sclerosis."

In 2021, she passed away at the age of 87 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.

The bottom line

Although MS is incurable and can be debilitating, treatments offer an element of hope.

As many of these celebrities have shown, it is possible to not only survive, but thrive in the face of a MS diagnosis.

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