Stories About People of Note

Brain tumours are more common than most people think. Many 'notable people' have faced their own battle with the disease. In the spirit of awareness-raising, we share the following information about 'people of note' who have had a primary brain tumour at some time in their lives, as confirmed by publicly released information.

Brain tumours don’t discriminate; they affect people of all ages and backgrounds. They can affect vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. Its effects are physical, emotional, financial, and last a lifetime.

Every day 27 Canadians are diagnosed with a brain tumour, that’s more than one person every hour. We are here to help everyone as we work together towards a cure.

News About 'People of Note' and Brain Tumours

• Actor Edward Hermann died from brain cancer on December 31, 2014, see our post.
   
• Former Edmonton Oilers Assistant Coach Wayne Fleming died of a brain tumour on March  25, 2013, see our post.
   
• Valerie Harper announced her battle with a brain cancer on March 6, 2013. See our short post about this.
   
• In 2012, Sheryl Crow announced her diagnosis of a meningioma (non-malignant) brain tumour. We posted here about it and then again here.
   
• Also in 2012, Canada lost two athletic-greats to disease: former Montreal Expo Gary Carter and former CFL fullback Warren Hudson. Tragically they passed away on the same day in 2012. Read our post from that day.

Other 'People of Note' Affected by a Brain Tumour*

• Gerry Pencer: Former Chief Executive Officer of Cott Beverages. After his diagnosis of a gliobastoma brain tumour, the Pencer family became philanthropists in support of brain tumor research and patient care. (1945 - 1998)
  
  
• Tom Cheek: Radio broadcaster who announced Major League Baseball games for the Toronto Blue Jays (1939–2005)
   
• Ted Kennedy: United States Senator, diagnosed with gliosblastoma multiforme (1932–2009)
   
• Marshall McLuhan: Renowned educator and communications theorist (1911–1980)
   
• Mark Ruffalo:  American film actor. The operation to remove his non-malignant (acoustic neuroma) tumor caused him temporary partial paralysis
   
• Scott Hamilton: Figure skater and Olympic gold medalist, diagnosed with a pituitary tumour
   
• George Gershwin: Jazz and classical music composer; co-writer of stage musicals and film scores. Diagnosed with an astrocytoma (1898–1937)
   
• Kate Reid:  Canadian actor  (1930–1993)
   
• Elizabeth Taylor:  Academy Award–winning actor. Diagnosed with a meningioma, non-malignant brain tumour. (1932–2011)
   
• Michelle Stafford:  American actor, known for playing Phyllis Summers Abbott Newman on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, diagnosed with a non-maligant brain tumour at age 18.

*This is not meant to be a complete list of all people of note. It has been compiled simply to show the wide impact of the disease.