Depressed? 135 Famous People Who Struggled With Depression

July 7th, 2008 by William

People often wonder how the rich and famous could possibly suffer depressions, but the fact that they do clearly proves that depression often results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Many of the people on this list had everything they could possibly want, but they still suffered bouts of depression. Everyone on this list had their depression confirmed in one way or another, be it through biography, interview, or some other manner. On to the list:

Ansel AdamsPhotographer

John Adams2nd President of the United States

Drew BarrymoreActress, “ET”, “Charlie’s Angels”

Maurice BenardActor, “General Hospital”

Mary Kay BergmanVoice over actress, “South Park”, committed suicide in 1999

Halle BerryActress, “Monster’s Ball”, “Catwoman”

Lorena BobbittCut off her husband’s penis

Lorraine BraccoActress, “Sopranos”

Terry BradshawFormer Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback

Zach Braff Zack Braff Actor, “Scrubs”

Russell BrandActor, Comedian, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”

Issac Brock“Modest Mouse” frontman

Delta BurkeActress, “Designing Women”

Barbara BushWife of former President George H.W. Bush

Melanie CFormer “Spice Girl” -”Sporty Spice”

Truman CapoteAuthor, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

Drew CareyActor, “Drew Carey Show”, “Price Is Right” host

Karen CarpenterSinger, “The Carpenters”

Jim CarreyActor, “Ace Ventura”, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”

Helena Bonham CarterActress, “Fight Club”, “Sweeney Todd”

Mark David ChapmanAssassinated John Lennon

Seung-Hui ChoKilled 32 people and himself at Virginia Tech in 2007

Frederic ChopinClassical music composer

Christine ChubbuckTV news reporter, committed suicide during a live broadcast

Winston ChurchillFormer Prime Minister of the UK

Grover Cleveland22nd and 24th President of the United States

Kurt CobainLead singer of “Nirvana”, committed suicide in 1994

Calvin Coolidge30th President of the United States

Sheryl CrowSinger, “All I Wanna Do”

Adrianne CurryModel/actress, “Surreal Life- Season 4″

Rodney DangerfieldActor, comedian, “Caddyshack”

Bobby DarinSinger, “Splish Splash”

Charles DarwinEnglish naturalist, came up with the theory of evolution

Ellen DeGeneresComedian, talk show host

John DenverFolk singer-songwriter, “Rocky Mountain High”

Princess Diana1st wife of Prince Charles, known for her charity work

Charles DickensNovelist, “A Christmas Carol”

Emily DickinsonPoet, she published fewer than a dozen of her nearly 1,800 poems

Micky DolenzDrummer for the “Monkees”

Kirsten DunstActress, “Bring It On”, “Spider-Man” film series

Queen Elizabeth IIQueen of England

Colin FarrellActor, “Alexander”, “Miami Vice”

Dodi Al-FayedFilm producer, Princess Diana’s boyfriend

Betty FordFormer first lady, founder of the Betty Ford Center

Harrison FordActor, “Indiana Jones” movie series

Jaimee FoxworthActress, “Family Matters”

Dennis FranzActor, “NYPD Blue”

Greta GarboSilent film actress, “The Temptress”

Judy GarlandActress, “Wizard of Oz”

Janeane GarofaloActress, stand-up comedian, “The Truth About Cats & Dogs”

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34 Comments, add yours

34 Responses to “Depressed? 135 Famous People Who Struggled With Depression”

On July 7th 2008, sarah wrote:

some of thse people didn’t make me feel better that i have ahd depression issues…i mean…assassins?? and murderers? why not more positive people!

make me feel less nuts please!
On July 8th 2008, passerby wrote:

Abraham Lincoln
On July 8th 2008, Melanie wrote:

Sarah, as someone who has also suffered from depression, I recognize myself in your comment: focusing on the bad! There are many more successful entertainers, poets, musicians, humanitarians and world leaders on this list than murderers.

And sometimes depression gets the better of people, and I’m glad they included some of those people on this list. I think it’s important to have a stark reminder that depression is a SERIOUS illness that can’t be ignored. Depression isn’t all about celebrities spending a week at a luxurious “spa” whining about their lives; it affects real people in very real ways.
On July 8th 2008, Godwhacker wrote:

Serial killers and mass murderers might be infamous, but they are not “famous”.
On July 9th 2008, DontRewardSelfishness wrote:

Seung-Hui Cho, Mark David Chapman, etc do NOT belong on that list.

You are listing the greats from history, they should not be compared to those who are only in our consciousness because they selfishly inflicted their problems onto innocent people.
On July 9th 2008, Joe wrote:

You know…the top paragraph really got me thinking…maybe these people didn’t have everything they could have wanted and that played a part in the depression.

I believe in chemical imbalances and I think that is truly a player in depression. But I also think a big player in depression are our soul and spiritual needs. Everyone is on a different path concerning these things but I believe they at least just as important as the material things these people were able to attain. Just a thought…
On July 19th 2008, Marisa wrote:

If you haven’t been depressed even once in your life, you’re not human.
On July 30th 2008, Justine wrote:

I couldn’t agree more that depression has a biological element to it — as well as an external one — and I don’t think it’s either/or, but each can feed into the other into the other into the other…I think many times the feeling comes first, and then we search for a reason to justify it, rather than vice-versa. And whatever kind of reason the mind wants to find, it will find.

Re: the “wealthy and famous” part. I know it was just a toss-off kind of line but I have to say: Studies show that once people pass a certain financial point in which their needs for stability are met, money actually plays no difference in whether or not they are ‘happy’. As for fame — often a person’s intense drive to become famous in the first place is a sign that something is missing inside them, and fame itself brings along so many dangers (people sell you out, use you, bitch about you, invade your space, if you’re working your days are overscheduled down to the last second esp. if you’re promoting something, & of course the constant drugs & partying & temptation until you’re in rehab for the seventh time, etc. etc. and next thing you know you’re just another crazy lonely has-been) that if anything it makes happiness more complicated, since it makes it way too easy to get what you want right that moment instead of what you actually need to be happy….some people to love who love you (love is hard) and something meaningful to do with your days (finding purposeful work takes a lot of trial & error, which is hard, and then the work itself, even when you enjoy it, is hard)…and then you have to be disciplined and self-aware enough not to fuck it all up for the pleasures of the moment (wrong party/wrong drug/wrong person/wrong sex/wrong thing or time to quit) or because deep down you don’t think you’re worth it or too scared to really try, so you keep sabotaging yourself. And this is assuming your brain chemicals either aren’t wonky, or have been properly tweaked.

If happiness was easy, everybody would have it….
On October 26th 2008, Winston wrote:

I’ve reached the top class of career and I’m suicidal now since I pushed career so much and loses the other sides of life. I’ve been living under high pressure of corporate world, trying to get relationship with woman that pleases my eye but deep down inside I’m wrecked. The root cause of all these is my failed marriage. Just admitting that the failed marriage is the source of all these makes me feel better.

I got to conclusion that chasing material things is not the good revenge for my failed marriage.

Depression is there to give us a sign that there’s something wrong with our life and we need to change. Change itself can bring more depression though but it’s like a narrow gate that we have to go through to reach the promise land.
On November 30th 2008, George Hinojosa wrote:

i have dealt with depression for two years now. i only looked at this site because i needed to write about something for my psychology class and i chose depression. its the hardest thing that i have ever had to deal with. depression i mean. its like a haze that you cant escape. most of you guys are wrong in what you say. yeah maybe not having everything you want can make you feel bad but its pretty stupid to say that that should be a reason for them not having depression. the main reason for depression is stress and thats caused by a large number of things. and studies now show that genes have a lot to do with it as well. i cant believe more famous people aren’t on this list. they have to deal with so much more shit then regular people. sure they have financial stability but that can only go so far. depression sucks. get help for it as soon as you can.
On December 17th 2008, Mortician of Ideology wrote:

Seung-Hui Cho, Mark David Chapman don’t need to be on your list. But they are on that list and I don’t think they should be removed because they provide comparison and contrast. If it were all “good people” then what would the point be? Seung-Hui Cho reminded me of the depths of pain that many of the others also felt. Circumstances and outcomes differ but the pain is the same. He is the monster that makes the others more heroic.
On January 10th 2009, MONALISA wrote:

DEPRESSION IS NOTHING BUT GLORIFIED SELF PITY. PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO GET OVER THEMSELVES AND FIND A WAY TO BE GRATEFUL FOR EVEN BEING ALIVE. IF YOU CAN FIND GRATITUDE IN EVERY EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T HAVE TIME TO SIT AROUND FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF.
On February 6th 2009, K.C wrote:

Monalisa needs her head examined or is just very ignorant. I don’t have it but my husband does and it is devastating. Both his sibblings have it as well. All very educated and had great careers and lost everything to depression.

If you or a loved one had it, you may better understand the hell theses poor people go through. Have some empathy because you never know what life may bring you or a family member in the future!

Get educated!

K.C.
On February 8th 2009, KAY wrote:

MONALISA—GET A GRIP OF REAL LIFE. MAYBE YOU THINK THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU NEED HELP. I AM BI-POLAR AND IF YOU REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS NOT A REAL DISORDER, EDUCATE YOURSELF, BEFORE YOU SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED YOURSELF. BI-POLAR IS AS REAL AS HYPERTENSION– WOULD YOU SAY THESE PEOPLE JUST THINK THEY HAVE HYPERTENSION (I HOPE NOT- EDUCATE AND MEDICATE TO FEEL AS NORMAL AS YOU CAN.) IF PEOPLE WITH HYPERTENSION DID NOT TAKE THEIR MEDS THEY COULD HAVE A MYCARDIAL INFARCTION OR A CVA). DO NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT–BY THE WAY WHAT DO YOU KNOW !!!!!JUST WHAT I THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT!! ARE YOU BLONDE HEADED??????
On February 24th 2009, john wrote:

While I agree that Mona Lisa lacks insight into mental illness, I was equally ignorant before experiencing two months of mania and the following three months of debilitating depression (Bipolar 1) for the first time about six years ago. Although it’s frustrating that something which is, now, so clear to us is completely misunderstood by the public at large, we are only feeding into unjust stigmas by losing it (like “crazy people”) with ignorant commentators. Throwing another trite and unsupported stereotype into the mix (blondes) diplays hypocracy, if we are hoping that the public will look at mental illness with objectivity, rather than unsubstantiated prejudice.
On February 25th 2009, sean wrote:

I think the point in putting murderers in the mix is to show that depression doesn’t discriminate. It also demonstrates the range of responses to depression.

Maybe those who didn’t take responsibility for it and take actions, ended up committing suicide or murder. The message may be that there are things you can do about it. Despite having an illness, you might be able to have a fulfilling life anyway. Or ignore it and lean towards one of the more undesirables on the list.
On April 3rd 2009, Just a good bloke trying to help wrote:

Hey, for what it’s worth… I use to think ‘Depression’ was a load of nonsense…

I now know that it is a real illness. If not wanting to get out of bed, if not wanting to socialise with either friends, family or collegues, if not having the inclination to go to work, if not believing in yourself anymore, if not having the confidence to do what was once a natural thing to do, If allowing people to intimidate or control you and if feeling absolutely useless has now become ‘normal’ to you…’YOU ARE DEPRESSED’… I’m working my way through these feeling, (believe me they are so alien to me and what my normal ‘positive’ outlook on life was) I find it really difficult to overcome them. Just when I start to hit a ‘high’ and things start to come together, what would normally be a minor setback becomes a major test again to see if I can get through it or plunge into the depression mode again…. Honestly, as I said before, I use to say to people who were going through this to MTFU and move on…. but now I have a massive amount of empathy for anyone in this situation…
On April 6th 2009, meh wrote:

I’m depressed. Killed in a wreck. Divorced. Crushed pelvis. Nerve damage. Lost all $ and on disability. Made lots of $ after growing up poor. Back to poor makes me feel like a real loser. I had accomplished “the american dream” then lost it all. I live in swrious pain all day every day. I lie in bed in tears from pain and depression.
I’m depressed.
meh
On April 13th 2009, steven wrote:

On January 10th 2009, MONALISA wrote:

DEPRESSION IS NOTHING BUT GLORIFIED SELF PITY. PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO GET OVER THEMSELVES AND FIND A WAY TO BE GRATEFUL FOR EVEN BEING ALIVE. IF YOU CAN FIND GRATITUDE IN EVERY EXPERIENCE YOU WON’T HAVE TIME TO SIT AROUND FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF.”

The truth is there are more than two forms of depression. Clinical depression can be extremely dangerous to the person who has it, and can cause suicide while standard depression that we all get now and then can be conquered mentally. Those who have never had clinical depression often find it hard to understand that it is much different, and extremely painful.
On April 20th 2009, regis wrote:

if it wasnt for depression or bypolar the evolution of science, music. politics and everything under the umbrella would not have been. without struggle the mind cant creatively think. thankyou all who struggle with this so called illness if it wasnt for you i dont know where i’de be. remember this is not an ilness it is a talent.
On April 22nd 2009, Gil wrote:

Clinical depression might be real… but Im sure most of the people who claim to have it are not “clinically depressed” and probably are either addicted to the medication, OR believe because they are depressed due to normal life situations they somehow need medication. Pharmacies pretty much run america.
On April 25th 2009, Laura wrote:

I have been depressed for 25 years, and only in the last 6 years has it started to subside, however not all the way. For people to say being depressed is just self pity have never felt the all comsuming pain and disconnection. Noone wants to be this way. It is absolute hell to live through. You just cant “snap out of it”. I feel it to a lesser degree almost every day and believe me, nobody would choose to feel empty and alone for no reason. Anyone who looks down on depressed people and doesn’t understand what their problem is should just thank God they have never been down to that level.
On April 26th 2009, lemby wrote:

I agree with the previous comment —–>>>>
On April 26th 2009, lemby wrote:

“Anyone who looks down on depressed people and doesn’t understand what their problem is should just thank God they have never been down to that level.”
On April 28th 2009, ingham wrote:

It makes me incredibly sad to see people classifying other human beings as “monsters” or “bad people”, even if their acts appeared horrible.

These people were born the same as everyone else. The question I ask is: how could our society let them feel so isolated, so marginalised, so hateful, that they decided to do these things?

By being judgmental, by only seeing what’s on the surface, we are only adding to the hurt and anger experienced by people who are truly depressed.

One cure for depression, that many don’t recognise the value of, is love. Compassion, understanding, and faith in others. It’s simple, and everyone can give it. We all have a duty to prevent others from being depressed, because one day you might find yourself in that position, and you’ll be crying for help.

Best wishes to you all.
On June 2nd 2009, Stew wrote:

It would have been uninteresting to have featured 135 average joes who struggled with depression but the fact remains that depression is no respecter of persons – rich, poor, politically high or low, socially high or low, sane or manic, low or high achievers, etc. That means we walk by them everyday, we talk to them everyday, we see them on all media; the person next to you could be depress. The speed of modern living causes an overload that some just can handle. It doesn’t help that there are personality types immuned to depression who are also crass & inhumane.
On July 1st 2009, Trying wrote:

Thanks for all the comments. I have been feeling pretty down for a while and I’m not really sure what it is. Depression runs in my family so I’m a little scared. But reading this, not that much the pictures, made me feel a little better.
On July 6th 2009, Senip wrote:

DontRewardSelfishness, you penis, this list isnt about the world greats, its a list of people who suffered from depression

MONLISA, educate yourself before making stupid comments like that. Well said KAY.
On July 25th 2009, sandy wrote:

I was reading in search of hope, I suffer from depression from time to time and what bothers me the most is the lack of energy, so many responsabilities and so little energy. how do you manage that?
I am single mom, and no family support

any ideas or advise will be appreciated
On August 23rd 2009, S wrote:

also me !!
On September 20th 2009, Nicholas wrote:

MONALISA, until you get a clue as to what depression is about, don’t make absurd blanket comments acting like you know what you are talking about. Some people do feel sorry for themselves which is a problem, but depression can involve so much more than that.
On September 21st 2009, alicia wrote:

They say 135 and then they show 50. That’s a bit odd!
On November 2nd 2009, bootsie wrote:

Beethoven
On November 21st 2009, t m white wrote:

dont forget mary todd