Ten Celebs Who Have Asthma

Asthma is a scary and even life-threatening disease, as many of its 12 million sufferers know. But with the right medicine and lifestyle changes, people with asthma can do anything, from acting to singing to sports. Here are ten stars who prove that’s true:

Diane Keaton

The 66-year-old actress has lived with asthma for years but hasn’t let it stop her. In fact, in one of her movies, “The Lemon Sisters,” she played an asthmatic cat lover who couldn’t bear to bid farewell to her pets (cats shed dander, which aggravates asthma.) “Those cats need me!” she shouts hysterically. (In general, asthmatics are better off not getting pets in the first place.)

David Beckham The supreme soccer hunk, 36, was private about his asthma for a long time, until he was snapped a few years ago using an inhaler. Afterwards, he said he was happy that the news of his condition would encourage other asthmatics to take part in sports. (As with any sports or exercise program, see your doctor first.)

Sharon Stone The actress, 53, has had more than her share of medical troubles. In 2000, she suffered a brain hemorrhage that left her bedridden for eight months. She also had three miscarriages. And she’s been living with asthma. But all those problems are nothing next to the love she feels for her three sons. “I am so free,” she said in a recent interview. “So blessed.”

Bono As you might expect from the crusading rock star, Bono, 51, got in a tussle about the right of asthmatics to live smoke-free (smoke is an aggravating factor for asthmatics.) One of his children suffered from asthma, and after Bono discovered that fireplace smoke drifted into his posh Manhattan penthouse, he asked the building to ban the use of fireplaces. Sure enough, his request had merit: a safety study disclosed unsafe levels of smoke billowing from the chimneys near the $14.5 million apartment.

Morgan Fairchild The actress, 62, familiar to viewers of classic prime-time soaps like “Dallas” and “Flamingo Road,” goes beyond her own health interests in trying to make the world a better place. Fairchild, an asthmatic, raises funds on behalf of AIDS research and environmental protection.

Alice Cooper He still looks scary onstage, but when he’s not screaming his head off, Alice is just plain Vince Fournier, 64, an avid golfer and rumored Republican. In his autobiography, Cooper recounted how he suffered from asthma as a child in Michigan. In hopes of improving his condition, Alice’s family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Today, the rocker has his condition under control. Ironically, though, Phoenix now routinely issues bad-air day warnings because of all the exhaust in the crowded metropolitan area. Asthmatics should always stay indoors as much as possible when warnings like that are issued

Jason Alexander Suffering from asthma as a child, Alexander, 52, nonetheless went on to become one of the most iconic characters on “Seinfeld” as well as (even more impressively) a musical-comedy star on Broadway. Belting out songs is physically tough for anybody, but Alexander’s proved that managing your asthma doesn’t prevent you from doing exactly what you want. Today, he does public-service announcements on asthma for The Will Rogers Institute.

Ricki Lake The former talk-show host didn’t come in first late last year on “Dancing With The Stars,” but she wowed everyone with her fluid grace. Ricki, 43, who was 100 pounds heavier when she got her big break In “Hairspray,” has adult-onset asthma. Although it’s not known what caused Ricki’s asthma, weight in general is a risk factor. But with making a big lifestyle change like her weight lost, Ricki’s obviously not letting her asthma limit her.

Billy Joel Joel, 62, seemed to be doing fine for years with his asthma. But a few years ago, he was forced to cancel a concert with Elton John because of a severe attack. Joel is nothing if not a showbiz trouper, so everyone knew it was a serious attack indeed. We don’t know exactly why the attack occurred, but the incident shows that asthma, while manageable, always has to be watched.

Martin Scorsese The veteran director, whose latest movie, “Hugo”, wowed the critics, had a severe case of asthma as a child growing up in Queens. As a result, Scorsese, 69, spent a lot of time either in the movie theater or watching films on TV. Lucky for us, because that’s where he began to learn his craft. If at all possible, though, it’s best for asthmatics to get out and exercise within reason. Be sure to check with your doctor about what’s right for you.