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Manic Stricken Bipolars are in the good company of many well-known athletes, writers, actors and musicians Reprinted from Joy Ikelman's Bipolar Page BELOW IS A LIST of deceased individuals from the 20th century who had a confirmed (not speculated) diagnosis of manic depression. The information comes from biographies, autobiographies, printed articles, interviews, documentaries and obituaries. Alvin Ailey, 1931-1989, dancer, choreographer Neal Cassady, 1926-1968, writer Phil Graham, owner, Washington Post Graham Greene, 1904-1991, writer Peter Gregg, 1940-1980, team owner and manager, race car driver Abbie Hoffman, 1936-1989, writer, political activist Phyllis Hyman, 1949-1995, musician, vocalist Randall Jarrell, 1914-1965, poet Jane Kenyon, 1940-1995, poet Otto Klemperer, 1885-1973, musician, conductor Frances Lear, 1923-1996, writer, editor, women's rights activist Vivien Leigh, 1913-1967, actor Robert Lowell, 1917-1977, poet Burgess Meredith, 1908-1997, actor, director Norman Wexler, 1926-1999, screenwriter, playwright Virginia Woolf, 1882-1941, writer Bert Yancey, 1938-1994, athlete These individuals have publicly stated that they have experienced manic depression in their lives. Buzz Aldrin, astronaut Shelley Beattie, athlete (bodybuilding, sailing), artist Ned Beatty, actor Robert Boorstin, writer, special assistant to President Clinton, State Department Art Buchwald, writer, humorist Tim Burton, artist, movie director Dick Cavett, writer, media personality Francis Ford Coppola, director John Daly, athlete (golf) Ray Davies, musician Kitty Dukakis, former First Lady of Massachusetts Patty Duke (Anna Duke Pearce), actor, writer Thomas Eagleton, lawyer, former U.S. senator Carrie Fisher, writer, actor Larry Flynt, magazine publisher Connie Francis, actor, musician Kit Gingrich, Newt's Mom Linda Hamilton, actor Margot Kidder, actor Kristy McNichol, actor Jimmie Piersall, athlete (baseball), sports announcer Charley Pride, musician Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), musician Axl Rose, musician Frances Sherwood, writer Gordon Sumner (Sting), musician, composer Jean-Claude Van Damme, athlete (martial arts), actor Sol Wachtler, judge, writer Tom Waits, musician, composer Brian Wilson, musician (Beach Boys), composer, arranger Jonathan Winters, comedian, actor, writer, artist Luther Wright, athlete (basketball) [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]