Did you know that Winston Churchill—someone widely regarded as being among the most influential people in British history—used to stutter? Similar was the case of King George VI who actually had to seek the help of a speech therapist to enable him to speak to his Empire. Stuttering is a common speech impediment suffered by millions around the globe. Speech plays a vital role in human communication and stuttering can indeed impede a person’s ability to communicate. However, throughout history people have proved time and again that it is not only possible to be able to communicate well despite suffering from a stutter, but also perfectly feasible to achieve excellence in one’s field despite the impediment. As a young boy, American country music singer and songwriter Mel Tillis used to stutter. He worked hard to overcome this challenge and went on to become a highly accomplished singer! It might surprise you that James Earl Jones, often referred to as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors also used to stutter as a child. These famous people are proof that a stutter need not dampen your spirit or hamper your career in any way! Read on for more information about famous people who stutter.
Sam Neill(Actor, Winegrower)
14 September 1947
New Zealander,British
Noel Gallagher(Guitarist, Musician, Singer-songwriter, Singer)
29 May 1967
British
Marc Almond(Singer, Songwriter, Singer-songwriter)
09 July 1957
British
Bill Walton(Basketball player)
05 November 1952
American
Greg Louganis(Platform diver, Autobiographer, Diver, Coach)
29 January 1960
American
John Stossel(Television presenter, Journalist, Writer)
06 March 1947
American
Gareth Gates(Singer, Singer-songwriter)
12 July 1984
British
Michael Spinks(Boxer)
13 July 1956
American
Malcolm Fraser(Politician)
21 May 1930
Australian
Austin Pendleton(Actor, Playwright, Writer, Stage actor, Television actor, Theatre director)
27 March 1940
American
Ron Harper(Basketball player, Basketball coach)
20 January 1964
American
John Melendez(Actor, Screenwriter)
04 October 1965
American
Walter Annenberg(Art collector, Diplomat, Publisher, Businessperson)
13 March 1908
American
Sidney Gottlieb(Chemist, Psychiatrist)
03 August 1918
American
Kenneth Tynan(Diarist, Theatre critic, Screenwriter)
02 April 1927
British
Harley Earl(Designer, Automotive designer)
22 November 1893
American
Ken Venturi(Golfer)
15 May 1931
American
Megan Washington(Singer, Songwriter)
07 January 1986
Australian
Adam Michnik(Journalist, Writer, Trade unionist)
17 October 1946
Polish
Bruce Oldfield(Fashion designer)
14 July 1950
British
Edward Hoagland