9 Celebrities Battling Rheumatoid Arthritis

Paula Abdul, famous for her lively performances, dealt with health issues during her career. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2005 and osteoarthritis in 2015. Despite these challenges, she stays active with exercises like Zumba. In a 2020 commercial for Voltaren arthritis gel, she emphasized staying active. Abdul loves walking while listening to music, finding it crucial for her happiness and health.

Aida Turturro, known for her role in 'The Sopranos,' has been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis since she was 12. Despite facing challenges, she's been an advocate for RA awareness and support. Turturro, who portrayed Tony Soprano's sister Janice, earned Emmy nominations for her performance in the series. She told 'USA Today', "I have good days and bad days. Mornings tend to be the hardest times to get going."

Kathleen Turner, known for her captivating performances on stage and screen, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1992. Despite this, the two-time Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee has been vocal about RA to support others. Turner shared her struggles with the condition in her memoir, 'Send Yourself Roses,' revealing how it affected her sex life and led to alcohol reliance. However, she found relief through exercise, particularly Pilates, which she credited with turning her health around. As she told the UK’s Daily Mail, "‘Pilates, baby! Twice a week. Pilates saved my life."

In April 2021, Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on 'Dancing With the Stars', took a break from cohosting 'The Talk' to focus on her health due to rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. She later left the show altogether. Inaba believes in openly discussing her challenges to help build supportive communities, as she shared on her website, Carrie Ann Conversations.

At the height of his career, James Coburn, famous for movies like 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Our Man Flint,' had to deal with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes joint pain. But later in life, he came back strong, winning an Oscar for his role in "Affliction." Coburn said he found relief from his pain through fasting and a supplement called methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). His arthritis had twisted his hand and caused him a lot of pain. He passed away in 2002 at 74 years old.

In late November 2018, Danielle Staub, a star of 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey,' opened up about her battle with rheumatoid arthritis. She had kept her diagnosis secret but decided to share it when she noticed changes in her appearance from the treatments. Staub explained to Bravo’s 'The Daily Dish', “I was blown up and bloated...People just assume whatever they want...No, I gained 20 pounds last season 'cause they had put me on a regime of prednisone and chemotherapy."

This Canadian actor, writer, and director, recognized for portraying the cheerleader Grace Bowman on 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' and for her work on the acclaimed 2022 film 'The Fallout', revealed her health condition in 2015. She disclosed that she had been living with rheumatoid arthritis since her teenage years, partnering with an educational initiative to raise awareness. In 2015, she also tied the knot with actor Tyler Hilton, and in 2019, they welcomed a daughter together.

Known for her roles on 'The Middle' and 'Grey’s Anatomy', Bannon was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at 15. While most with RA develop symptoms later in life, a childhood version, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), can occur. At diagnosis, Bannon struggled with daily tasks due to pain. She partnered with the Arthritis Foundation to raise awareness and shared videos of her daily arthritis treatment on Instagram.

Everyone loves Lucille Ball, right? But did you know that when she was only 17 and trying to become a model, she had a lot of pain? Doctors thought she might have had rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes joint pain. Despite this, she became famous for her red hair and funny acting in the TV show 'I Love Lucy' during the 1950s. Lucille was one of the first famous people to support the Arthritis Foundation. Sadly, she died from heart problems when she was 78 years old in 1989