Famous Men Who’ve Had Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer doesn’t discriminate.
According to cancer.org, 1 in 7 men will develop prostate cancer. This statistic is staggering, and one that often leads men to ask: if prostate cancer is so common, why do I feel so alone in my struggle?
It is important to know that you are not the only person who feels this way, and you are not alone. Prostate cancer affects men of all ages, races, and backgrounds.
In fact, many famous men have also struggled with prostate cancer. Below you’ll find a list of talented, and very different, men who have battled prostate cancer.
7 Famous Men Who Have Prostate Cancer
Roger Moore
That’s right, even James Bond himself had prostate cancer.
Born in 1927, Moore began his acting career in the early 1950s, a career that didn’t take off until he was cast in the television series The Saint, which ran from 1962 – 1969. Moore then went on to play the role of charismatic British spy, Bond; James Bond, from 1973-1985.
For twelve years his cool, classy demeanor captured the attention of audiences everywhere, making him the longest-running Bond actor to this day.
In 1993, Moore was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is in remission after undergoing a radical prostatectomy the same year.
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Sir Ian McKellen
Born in 1939, Sir Ian McKellen has lead an illustrious acting career that spans nearly fifty-five years, and ranges from the stage to the silver screen.
Best known for his roles in X-Men and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, McKellen is also an LGBT activist and humanitarian. In 1991, he was knighted for his services to the performing arts, and has won a slew of awards including six Laurence Olivier Awards and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Cambridge University.
In 2006, Sir Ian McKellen was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the time his condition was revealed to the public, in 2012, he had been living with prostate cancer for six years, monitoring the disease through “active surveillance.”
James Brown
The “Godfather of Soul” was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. He was successfully treated the same year.
A lively performer, Brown gained the public’s attention in the late 1950s as a member of the band The Flames, and rose to fame in the 1960s with the success of hits like “It’s A Man’s World” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.”
Born in 1933, Brown made a name for himself not only by pioneering the brand of music known as “funk” in the 1970s, but through his education advocacy and civil rights activism, as well as his tumultuous personal life.
Brown passed away on December 25, 2006, due to congestive heart failure at the age of 73.
Frank Zappa
Musician, composer, recording engineer, songwriter, record producer, and film director Frank Zappa began his career in the early 1960s composing the soundtracks for the films Run Home Slow and The World’s Greatest Sinner.
He didn’t gain notoriety, however, until the 1966 “Mothers of Invention” album Freak Out! was released.
In 1979, Zappa went solo, releasing two projects that reflected his array of musical tastes: a rock-oriented album (The Man From Utopia), and an album of his original classical composition performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Zappa was also politically active, speaking out and encouraging his fans to vote.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990 a disease that, unfortunately, was detected too late to be considered operable. He passed away in 1993, but his influence remains widespread and is referenced in many works of art and science.
Robert De Niro
Now a cancer survivor, De Niro received his prostate cancer diagnosis in October of 2003 with prostate cancer. He underwent surgery in December of the same year, and is currently healthy in remission.
His acting career began fifty-one years ago, and since then he has appeared in over one hundred films. He’s the winner of two Academy Award and nominated for seven, De Niro has solidified his place as one of the Hollywood greats.
In addition to starring, producing, and directing films, De Niro is a father to six children, a political activist, and a humanitarian. He is 71 years old.
Charlton Heston
Actor Charlton Heston, best known for his roles in Ben Hur, Planet of the Apes, and The Ten Commandments, was born on October 4, 1923. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1944, serving as an aerial gunner and radio operator in the Aleutian Islands.
He began his acting career in 1950 and won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1960, for his role in Ben Hur. He was also a Civil Rights supporter and a political activist.
In 1998, Heston was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The cancer went into remission after he underwent radiation therapy the same year. Heston passed away in April of 2008 due to complications from pneumonia.
Johnny Ramone
John William Cummings was born in 1948, and is better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone.
The native New Yorker songwriter and guitarist was a founding member of the famous punk band, The Ramones. He was known for his fast and energetic style, that to this day remains a major influence in punk rock.
In addition to his music, Johnny Ramone made guest appearances in several films and television shows, including a voiceover for The Simpsons.
He passed away on September 15, 2004, after a long five-year battle with prostate cancer.
Posthumously, Rolling Stone ranked Ramon as one of the “Top 100 Guitarists of All Time” and Time magazine listed him as one of the “10 Best Electric Guitarist of All Time.”
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These Famous Men Had One Thing in Common
Despite their fame, their struggles with prostate cancer were – and are – as unique as their wide range of talents.
Prostate cancer does not affect a specific type of men, rather, it is a disease that can prey upon any man.
Like these celebrities, you’re unique. Your medical history and family history are unique.
So why would you have to pay the same insurance premiums for the same coverage as other high-risk clients? We look at you as an individual, and we make sure that your individual needs are covered in your life insurance policy.
Shouldn’t your life insurance policy be as unique as you are? Contact us today for a free quote.