nadakathu nadathavergal

Acting

Actress Marion Davies caught polio as an adult.

Actors Donald Sutherland (above) and Alan Alda both played the role of Hawkeye Pierce and both had polio as children.
Name
Life
Comments
Alda, AlanAlan Alda
1936 born 1936
An actor most famous for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the television series M*A*S*H. Alda contracted polio at age seven, during an epidemic. His parents administered a painful treatment, developed by Sister Elizabeth Kenny, in which hot woollen blankets were applied to the limbs and the muscles were stretched by massage.[4]
Barrymore, LionelLionel Barrymore
1878–1954
A stage, radio and film actor, Barrymore contracted polio in the mid 1930s, which left him using a wheelchair.[5]
Davies, MarionMarion Davies
1897–1961
An actress who had a relationship with William Randolph Hearst. She caught polio in the 1940s, which affected one of her legs.[6]
Drury, JamesJames Drury
1934 born 1936
Drury is well known for his portrayal of the title role in the weekly television series, The Virginian. He survived a bout of polio at the age of 10.[7]
Farrow, MiaMia Farrow
1945 born 1945
An actress who was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2000, and campaigns in the fight against polio. Farrow collapsed on her ninth birthday and was diagnosed with polio two days later. She was in hospital for eight months, where an iron lung maintained her breathing.[8]
Ferrer, MelMel Ferrer
1917–2008
In the early 1940s, Ferrer's career as an actor, film director and Broadway producer was stalled when he contracted polio. Ferrer was ill for a year and resumed work in radio instead of theatre.[9][10]
Kirk, PhyllisPhyllis Kirk
1929–2006
An actress best known for her role as the heroine in the 3-D film House of Wax. Kirk had polio as a child.[11]
Knef, HildegardHildegard Knef
1925–2002
After a bout with polio in 1932 Knef went on to become an actress, singer and writer.[12]
Lupino, IdaIda Lupino
1918–1995
A film actress and director, Lupino caught polio in June 1934 and was affected for only a few days.[13]
Phillips, PegPeg Phillips
1918–2002
An actress who survived a polio infection she caught as an adult.[14]
Rooney, TimTim Rooney
1947–2006
Actor and voice actor Tim Rooney is the second son of actor Mickey Rooney. He contracted polio as a child and was paralysed for two years.[15]
Russo, GianniGianni Russo
1943 born 1943
An actor best known for his role as Carlo Rizzi in the 1972 movie The Godfather. He contracted polio at age seven, and spent five years in a state hospital. Russo says, "I made a novena that if I ever walked again, I'd light five candles for St. Anthony every day."[16]
Sutherland, DonaldDonald Sutherland
1935 born 1935
Sutherland contracted polio as a child and developed a love of reading while bedridden. He went on to become an accomplished actor, and has appeared in over 130 films.[17]
Thaxter, PhyllisPhyllis Thaxter
1921 born 1921
Thaxter contracted polio in 1952. The disease took a toll on her career as an actress, to which she made a slow return—often taking roles that would accommodate a physical challenge.[18]
Verdon, GwenGwen Verdon
1925–2000
An actress and dancer on Broadway and in films. Verdon was encouraged to dance by her mother, a dance teacher, as therapy for her polio-afflicted legs.[19]

[edit] Business

Toymaker Margarete Steiff was paralysed as an infant.
Name
Life
Comments
Bisz, Daisy RichardsDaisy Richards Bisz
1909–2007
After a bout of polio as an infant, Bisz went on to become one of Florida's first female attorneys, eventually winning a number of cases against Cuban leader Fidel Castro.[20]
Cabela, Richard N.Richard N. Cabela
1936 born 1936
An entrepreneur and founder of the outdoor retailer Cabela's. He has stated that his business was inspired by his bout with polio and a deep love of fishing and hunting.[21]
Dawkins, PetePete Dawkins
1938 born 1938
Former Heisman Trophy winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army Brigadier General, and Republican candidate for Senate, Dawkins contracted polio at age eleven.[22]
Drabinsky, GarthGarth Drabinsky
1949 born 1949
Canadian theatrical producer, contracted polio at age three, and was left with a limp in his left leg.[23]
Fisher, Richard B.Richard B. Fisher
1936–2004
Chairman emeritus of the securities firm Morgan Stanley, he had to use a cane as a result of polio.[24]
Mars, Franklin ClarenceFranklin Clarence Mars
1884–1934
Founded the Mars confectionery company. After contracting polio as a child and unable to play like other children, Mars helped his mother in the kitchen. This led to selling candy after school and, eventually, his own company.[25]
Steiff, MargareteMargarete Steiff
1847–1909
A toy maker and founder of the Steiff Company, known for its teddy bear. She contracted polio, aged 18 months, and lost the use of her legs and had only partial use of her right arm.[26]
Stein, Charles FrancisCharles Francis Stein
1933–2006
A Baltimore, Maryland lawyer and prominent sail boat racing skipper, he contracted polio while at college and spent months in an iron lung.[27]
Washington, DennisDennis Washington
1934 born 1934
A businessman and founder of The Washington Companies. He contracted polio when he was eight and recovered well.[28]

[edit] Disability rights activists

Judith Heumann had to take legal action to be allowed to become a teacher.
Name
Life
Comments
Dart, Jr., Justin WhitlockJustin Whitlock Dart, Jr.
1930–2002
An activist who helped pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A bout of polio at age 18 left him using a wheelchair.[29]
Ducharme, TheresaTheresa Ducharme
1945–2004
A crusader for equality of disabled people, Ducharme contracted polio in 1953. The disease left her a quadriplegic and dependent on a respirator for the rest of her life.[30]
Gallagher , HughHugh Gallagher
1933–2004
Author and disability rights advocate, Hugh Gallagher contracted polio at college and subsequently required a wheelchair due to lower-body paralysis. He aided the drafting of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.[31]
Heumann, JudithJudith Heumann
1947 born 1947
Heumann contracted polio when she was 18 months old, and is unable to walk. She became a disability rights activist, co-founding the World Institute on Disability, and served as Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services during the Clinton Administration.[32]
Roberts, EdEd Roberts
1939–1995
A disability rights activist who co-founded the World Institute on Disability and was the first severely disabled student to attend the University of California, Berkeley. At age 14 Roberts contracted polio; he was paralysed and in an iron lung within 24 hours. When told he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life, he "decided to be an artichoke...a little prickly on the outside but with a big heart."[33]

[edit] Film, television and radio

Director Francis Ford Coppola's childhood was interrupted by polio for over a year.

Television presenter David Onley found his employers to be supportive in accommodating his extra needs.
Name
Life
Comments
Adepitan, AdrianAdrian Adepitan
1973 born 1973
A television presenter and wheelchair basketball player, Adepitan caught polio, aged six months, in Nigeria. His left side is weakened, especially his left leg.[34]
Atalla, AshAsh Atalla
1972 born 1972
A television producer best known for the comedy series The Office. While living in Cairo Atalla contracted polio from polluted water when he was six months old. He uses a wheelchair and claims that, although he gets "patronised all the time", he has never "experienced prejudice because of it".[35][36]
Coppola, Francis FordFrancis Ford Coppola
1939 born 1939
A film director, producer, and screenwriter. He recalls, "When I was nine I was confined to a room for over a year with polio, and because polio is a child's illness, they kept every other kid away from me. I remember being pinned to this bed, and longing for friends and company."[37]
Cullen, BillBill Cullen
1920–1990
A radio and television personality, best known as a game show host. Cullen caught polio at the age of 18 months, leaving him with a permanent limp. He credits this with leading him to a career on radio, where his limp would be hidden.[38]
Dante, JoeJoe Dante
1946 born 1946
A film director and producer. He had a bout with polio, aged seven.[39]
Drabinsky, GarthGarth Drabinsky
1949 born 1949
Drabinsky contracted polio at age six, which temporarily paralysed his left leg. He became a film and theatrical producer, and believes his experience with polio "galvanised [his] spirit and sense of determination".[40]
Laws, JohnJohn Laws
1935 born 1935
Radio presenter John Laws contracted polio twice: as a boy and as a young man.[3]
Onley, DavidDavid Onley
A television reporter and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. He received the Clarke Institute's 1996 "Courage to Come Back" Award for his battle with polio.[41]
Packer, KerryKerry Packer
1937–2005
A publishing, media and gaming tycoon who owned the Australian Nine Network. He contracted polio as a child, spent nine months in an iron lung, and consequently fell behind at school.[42]
Roizman, OwenOwen Roizman
1936 born 1936
Roizman contracted polio at age 13, which ended his dream to be a professional baseball player. He became a cinematographer and has been nominated for five Oscars.[43]
Smith, StacyStacy Smith
A news anchor on KDKA-TV, Pennsylvania. He contracted polio at the age of six months, and was completely paralysed for a time, and now walks with a limp.[44]
Starkey, DavidDavid Starkey
1945 born 1945
Radio and television presenter and English historian, Starkey was born with two club feet and caught polio as an infant. He recalls, "I spent a lot of my infancy in hospital and actually started school in a wheelchair with this enormous plaster, and then into a surgical boot and callipers, none of which helps assimilation with other children."[45]
Steagall, RedRed Steagall
1937 born 1937
Later a radio and television personality, Steagall worked as a rodeo bull rider until he contracted polio at age 15. He began playing guitar as part of his recovery, and has recorded over 200 songs in various genres.[46]
Yu, RonnyRonny Yu
1950 born 1950
A film director, producer and writer. Yu contracted polio, aged eight months. During his slow recovery he developed fantasy worlds to cope with his loneliness.[47]

[edit] Music

Saxophonist David Sanborn spent a year in an iron lung.

Cecil 'Skelly' Spence of Israel Vibration, a band founded by three polio survivors.

Singer-songwriter Neil Young contracted polio during an epidemic in the summer of 1951.
Name
Life
Comments
Blyton, CareyCarey Blyton
1932–2002
A composer and writer best known for his song Bananas In Pyjamas. Blyton contracted polio in 1947 and learned to play the piano during his two-year convalescence to "demonstrate that the illness wouldn't get the better of him."[48]
Boswell, ConneeConnee Boswell
1907–1976
A jazz singer who performed with her sisters as "The Boswell Sisters". She contracted polio, aged three, and was left with partially paralysed legs. Boswell used a wheelchair for most of her life.[49]
Collins, JudyJudy Collins
1939 born 1939
As a child, singer-songwriter Judy Collins spent several months in hospital recovering from bout with polio. Collins later became a representative for UNICEF and has worked to promote polio vaccination programmes.[50]
Davis, CeDellCeDell Davis
born 1927
A blues guitarist and singer. After a bout with polio at age nine crippled his hands Davis learned to play the guitar upside down, using a butter knife to help fret the strings, producing a similar sound to a slide guitar.[51]
DePreist, JamesJames DePreist
born 1936
Conductor James DePreist contracted polio in 1962 while on tour in Bangkok. Instead of using crutches and braces he conducts sitting down.[52]
, DonovanDonovan
1946 born 1946
Folk singer-songwriter and guitarist Donovan contracted polio, aged four, from the vaccine he was given. This left him with a limp and feeling excluded. However, he says "I kind of look back on it and think it was positive for me because it made me withdraw from my pals and realise I was different."[53]
Dury, IanIan Dury
1942–2000
A rock and roll singer and songwriter, leader of the band "Ian Dury and the Blockheads". His hand and leg were left shrivelled by a bout with polio at age seven. He has campaigned with UNICEF to eradicate polio.[54]
Flanders, MichaelMichael Flanders
1922–1975
An actor, broadcaster, and writer and performer of comic songs, often in partnership with Donald Swann. He contracted polio in 1943 while serving in the Royal Navy, and required a wheelchair for the rest of his life.[55]
Fournier, PierrePierre Fournier
1906–1986
Fournier, later a cellist, began playing the piano as a child. In 1915 he had a mild case of polio, and lost dexterity in his legs and feet. No longer able to master the use of the piano pedals he turned to playing the cello.[56]
Haden, CharlieCharlie Haden
1937 born 1937
Haden, a renowned jazz double bassist, began singing in his family's band as a toddler. After a bout with polio at age 15 paralysed his vocal cords and throat, he took up the bass guitar.[57][58]
Joseph, WaldrenWaldren Joseph
1918–2004
Trombonist Waldren "Frog" Joseph had polio as an infant, which left him with a permanent limp. He began playing music during his recovery.[59]
Lawrence, MarjorieMarjorie Lawrence
1909–1979
A soprano whose battle with polio and, subsequently, depression at the height of her career, is the subject of the 1955 film Interrupted Melody.[60]
Marshall, LoisLois Marshall
1924–1997
Marshall, a soprano, contracted polio at age two and required many operations over ten years to help fix her legs.[61]
McGhee, BrownieBrownie McGhee
1915–1996
A folk-blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaborations with harmonica player Sonny Terry. When McGee was paralysed due to polio as a child, he constructed a pushcart to get around. The cart was propelled with a stick by his younger brother, Granville "Stick" McGhee.[62]
Mitchell, JoniJoni Mitchell
1943 born 1943
A musician, songwriter and painter. Mitchell started singing at age nine while in hospital recovering from polio.[63]
Parlan, HoraceHorace Parlan
1931 born 1931
A jazz pianist. He contracted polio as a child, which paralysed the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand.[64]
Perlman, ItzhakItzhak Perlman
1945 born 1945
A virtuoso violinist. He contracted polio at the age of four. Perlman requires braces and crutches to walk, and plays the violin seated.[65]
Peterson, RayRay Peterson
1939–2005
Best known for his hit pop music song Tell Laura I Love Her, Peterson started singing while hospitalised with polio.[66]
Pomus, DocDoc Pomus
1925–1991
A blues singer and songwriter. He contracted polio as a child, which left him in braces and using crutches. Later, a fall down stairs left him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.[67][68]
Sanborn, DavidDavid Sanborn
1945 born 1945
A jazz saxophonist. He contracted polio, aged three, and spent one year in an iron lung, followed by two years in bed. He was advised to learn a wind instrument to help with his recovery. Sanborn is now affected by post-polio syndrome.[69]
Shore, DinahDinah Shore
1916–1994
A big band singer, actress and talk show host. Shore contracted polio, aged 18 months, which left her right leg crippled. She recovered strength through massage, swimming and tennis.[70]
Syms, SylviaSylvia Syms
1917–1992
A cabaret and jazz singer, Syms had polio as a child.[71]
Tebaldi, RenataRenata Tebaldi
1922–2004
Tebaldi, a soprano, contracted polio at age three, which caused her difficulty walking. During this experience she discovered music, which she said saved her life.[72]
Vibration, IsraelIsrael Vibration
This reggae band was formed after the three founding members met at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre in Kingston, Jamaica in the 1950s.[56] Member Albert "Apple Gabriel" Craig said of his bout with polio, "It take a lot from me outta life, but at the same time it give me much more in life".[73]
Young, NeilNeil Young
1945 born 1945
A singer-songwriter and guitarist. He caught polio at age five, during the epidemic of 1951.[74]

[edit] Politics

Kim Beazley was hospitalised with polio as a child.

Former senator John Porter East contracted polio in 1955 while serving as a lieutenant in the United States Marines.

Robert McNamara's career was changed when both he and his wife contracted polio.
Name
Life
Comments
Andersen, Elmer L.Elmer L. Andersen
1909–2004
A businessman and former governor of Minnesota. He contracted polio, aged nine, and was confined to bed. Andersen eventually made a good recovery but in his eighties, he was affected by post-polio syndrome. He believed that polio had a positive psychological impact on him and increased his determination.[75]
Beazley, KimKim Beazley
1948 born 1948
Former leader of the Australian Labor Party. He contracted polio, aged five.[76]
Bennett, Charles EdwardCharles Edward Bennett
1910–2003
Former member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida. He contracted polio during World War II in the Philippines. Bennett walked with a cane.[77]
Bjelke-Petersen, JohJoh Bjelke-Petersen
1911–2005
Queensland, Australia's longest serving Premier, Joh contracted polio at age nine, which left him with a limp.[78]
Boyles, Harlan E.Harlan E. Boyles
1929–2003
A North Carolina politician, Boyles had hoped to become a farmer, but was struck by polio as a teenager. After spending a year in hospital he went into public service instead.[79][80]
Cohen, SteveSteve Cohen
1949 born 1949
A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives. He was unfortunate to miss out on the 1954 Salk vaccine trials that his paediatrician father was helping with and that his brother benefited from—he was not in the appropriate age-group. Cohen caught polio that year, aged five, and was ill for three months. He still walks with a limp and has problems with his balance.[81]
Critchley, JulianJulian Critchley
1930–2000
A writer, broadcaster and Conservative Member of Parliament. He contracted polio in his youth and was much later affected by paralysis from post-polio syndrome.[82]
Dail, Charles C.Charles C. Dail
1909–1968
Elected Mayor of San Diego in 1955, Dail, who had had polio, helped to establish the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.[83]
Diarmada, Seán MacSeán Mac Diarmada
1883–1916
Although he was left lame after a bout of polio in 1911, Mac Diarmada was involved in several Irish separatist organisations including Sinn Féin and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and was one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.[84]
East, John PorterJohn Porter East
1931–1986
A Republican United States senator from the state of North Carolina. He caught polio in 1955 while serving as a lieutenant in the United States Marines.[85]
Hager, John H.John H. Hager
1936 born 1936
Politician and former Senior Vice President of American Tobacco Company. He caught polio from his son's oral vaccination, which left his legs paralysed.[86]
Martin, Paul Edgar PhilippePaul Edgar Philippe Martin
1938 born 1938
Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006. He caught polio in 1946, which paralysed his throat, and took almost a year to fully recover.[87][88]
, Paul Joseph JamesPaul Joseph James
1903–1992
A politician, and father of Paul Martin (the former Prime Minister of Canada). He contracted polio in 1907 and was left with a slight limp. Martin was Minister of Health and Welfare when the Salk vaccine was conducting field trials. His personal family experience of polio made him determined to continue the trial, even after a setback where 79 children caught polio from the vaccine.[87][88]
McNamara, RobertRobert McNamara
1916 1916–2009
A business executive and former United States Secretary of Defense. Both McNamara and his wife contracted polio in August 1945. He was in hospital for a couple of months but his wife was badly affected and remained there for nine months. His career change from Harvard professor to the Ford Motor Company was made to pay her hospital bills.[89]
Padaca, GraceGrace Padaca
1963 born 1963
Grace Padaca is the current governor of the northern Philippines province of Isabela. A bout of polio at age three left her using crutches; Padaca often declares: "My weakness is my strength".[90]
Paulus, NormaNorma Paulus
1933 born 1933
A politician from the state of Oregon, Paulus contracted polio at age nineteen. After her recovery, she moved to Salem where she became a legal secretary.[91]
Royle, AnthonyAnthony Royle
1927–2001
Prior to his run as a Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Richmond, Surrey, Royle, the Baron Fanshawe of Richmond, was an officer in the SAS. In 1950, he shipped out for Korea. En route, he contracted polio and had to be left in Malaysia where spent a year fighting for his life in an iron lung. He survived, but the disease left him with a permanent limp.[92]
Scheuer, James H.James H. Scheuer
1920–2005
Scheuer was a millionaire real-estate developer and served 13 terms (1965 to 1993) as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. During World War II he served as an Army Air Force flight instructor, after which he developed symptoms of polio and used a cane for the rest of his life.[93]
Skelton, IkeIke Skelton
1931 born 1931
A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri since 1977, Skelton developed polio as a child. During his recovery he developed a love of history.[94] In 2004 Skelton sponsored a resolution honouring the life and legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[95]
Wade, Baron Wade, DonaldDonald Wade, Baron Wade
1904–1988
A British solicitor who later became a Liberal Party MP, Wade suffered from polio as a child.[96]
Ware, MarthaMartha Ware
1917–2009
A Plymouth County, Massachusetts District court judge from 1956 to 1979. Prior to that, she served as a state representative from 1950 to 1956. During her campaign for the Legislature in 1950 she was stricken with polio and was bedridden for three months. Sitting in a wheelchair, she was sworn into office in January 1951.
[97]
Watson, Arthur C.Arthur C. Watson
1909–1984
A prominent Natchitoches, Louisiana civic leader, and chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Watson lost the use of both legs when he contracted polio at the age of 19 months.[98]
Woods, GavinGavin Woods
1947 born 1947
Gavin Woods is a South African political figure who contracted polio as a baby. He overcame the many obstacles posed by the effects of the disease to become a member of parliament, among other achievements.[99]
, Hee Yit FoongHee Yit Foong
1959 born 1959
Hee Yit Foong was the first non-Malay, disabled woman, to become the deputy speaker of a Malaysian legislative body, the Dewan Undangan Negeri of Perak. She carries a limp from a case of polio she contracted at the age of 4.[100]

[edit] Science and medicine

Elsie MacGill caught polio in the same year she became the first Canadian woman to receive an Electrical Engineering degree.

Physicist Philip Morrison, who had polio as a child, worked on the Manhattan Project.
Name
Life
Comments
DuMont, Allen B.Allen B. DuMont
1901–1965
A scientist, inventor, and television pioneer, DuMont developed polio at age 11. While recovering from polio he began experimenting with electronics by building a radio transmitter and receiver out of an oatmeal box.[101]
Erickson, Milton H.Milton H. Erickson
1901–1980
A psychiatrist who was influential in the modern practice of hypnosis and psychotherapy. He contracted polio, aged 17, and was almost completely paralysed for a time. Erickson regarded his lengthy recovery as a learning experience. Later, post-polio syndrome paralysed his legs and an arm.[102]
Guyton, ArthurArthur Guyton
1919–2003
A physiologist noted for his work on cardiology. He contracted polio in 1946 during his final year of medical residency training. Guyton's shoulders, left arm and right leg were paralysed. During nine months of recovery, he built many devices to aid the handicapped, for which he received a Presidential Citation. He remained severely crippled and could only walk with difficulty.[103]
Little, William JohnWilliam John Little
1810–1894
Little was the founder of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital of London and the first to identify cerebral palsy. Around age two, Little was infected with poliomyelitis which caused a deformed foot. He decided to enter the medical profession, with the intention of finding a cure for his foot.[104][105]
MacGill, ElsieElsie MacGill
1905–1980
The first female aircraft designer in the world, MacGill was afflicted with polio at the age of 24. Although her disability brought an end to her dream of becoming a pilot, she insisted on going on all flight tests in order to best assess her aircraft designs.[106]
Midgley, Jr., ThomasThomas Midgley, Jr.
1889–1944
A mechanical engineer and chemist, Midgley developed chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and leaded gasoline, and held over a hundred patents. He contracted polio at age 51, which left him severely disabled, and caused him to lose a leg. To help himself get out of bed, Midgley designed a system of ropes and pulleys; he died of strangulation in 1944 after becoming tangled in the ropes of his apparatus.[107]
Morrison, PhilipPhilip Morrison
1915–2005
A physicist and protégé of Robert Oppenheimer, Morrison worked on the Manhattan Project early in his career. He contracted polio at the age of four, which left him partly handicapped, but also stimulated a love of science.[108]
Noether, MaxMax Noether
1844-1921
"One of the finest mathematicians of the nineteenth century", Noether studied algebraic geometry. He contracted polio at the age of 14 which left him permanently handicapped.[109]
Rue, RosemaryRosemary Rue
1928–2004
A physician, Rue contracted polio from a patient in 1954 (she was the last person in Oxford, England to get the disease). The disease left her with one useless leg but motivated her to become a champion for women in medicine.[110]
Schwartz, LaurentLaurent Schwartz
1915–2002
Schwartz, a mathematician, had a childhood brush with polio.[111]
Siebert, FlorenceFlorence Siebert
1897–1991
Siebert contracted polio as a young child, and was left with a slight limp. She went on to develop the Tuberculin antigen used in the standard Tuberculosis test.[112]
Whipple, Fred LawrenceFred Lawrence Whipple
1906–2004
Whipple became an astronomer after a mild bout of polio thwarted his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. He is best known for his "dirty snowball" model of comets.[113]
Whyte, William FooteWilliam Foote Whyte
1914–2000
A sociologist, Whyte's specialty was his study of Boston's North End gangs. He caught polio in 1943. After two years of rehabilitation at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, Whyte continued his field research; conducting all of his interviews with the aid of braces, crutches and cane.[114]

[edit] Sports

Ray Ewry, nicknamed "The Human Frog" for his ability to leap, spent some of his childhood in a wheelchair.
Name
Life
Comments
Albright, TenleyTenley Albright
1935 born 1935
The first American female figure skating world champion and Olympic champion. She caught polio, aged 11, and was isolated in hospital for a while. Albright later became a surgeon and helped with the international polio eradication effort through the World Health Assembly.[115][116]
Blackman, BobBob Blackman
1918–2000
After a bout of polio during his first year of college ended his football-playing career, Blackman became a college football head coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.[117]
Bleibtrey, EtheldaEthelda Bleibtrey
1902–1978
A triple Olympic gold medallist in the freestyle swimming events. At age 16, she took up swimming to help recover from a bout of polio. Shortly afterwards, Bleibtrey competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.[118]
Chandrasekhar, BhagwatBhagwat Chandrasekhar
1945 born 1945
A cricketer who specialised in leg spin. At age five his right arm was withered by a bout of polio. Chandrasekhar used his right hand for bowling which led to his distinctive style.[119]
Davis, Walter "Buddy"Walter "Buddy" Davis
1931 born 1931
An Olympic gold medallist in the high jump, and later a basketball player in the NBA. He caught polio, aged nine, and could not walk for three years.[120]
Davis, W. HarryW. Harry Davis
1923–2006
Stricken with polio at age three, Davis was left crippled from the waist down until he was five.[121] He recovered but his legs remained slightly different lengths. Davis went on to become a successful amateur boxing coach and served on the U.S. Olympic boxing committee. He was also an executive, a civil rights leader, and campaigned as Minneapolis's first black mayoral candidate in 1971.[122]
Dore, DavidDavid Dore
1940 born 1940
Dore served as the head of the Canadian Figure Skating Association for 17 years. He was introduced to figure skating as a child while recovering from polio.[123]
Ewry, RayRay Ewry
1873–1937
Track and field athlete Ray Ewry contracted polio as a child, and he used a wheelchair for a while. He devised his own exercises to strengthen his legs. Ewry went on to become one of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time, winning 10 gold medals in standing jump events.[120][124]
Gadsby, BillBill Gadsby
1926 born 1926
A former ice hockey defenceman in the NHL, Gadsby contracted polio at age 24 while at a training camp. Fortunately, he was able to recover quickly and his hockey season was uninterrupted.[125]
Grant, BudBud Grant
1927 born 1927
The long-time former American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. He caught polio as a child, leaving one leg shortened. He was advised to take up sport as therapy.[126]
Hartel, LisLis Hartel
1921 born 1921
An Olympic dressage silver medallist. She caught polio, aged 23, while pregnant. Hartel was left permanently paralysed below the knees but was able to compete again after three years of rehabilitation.[127]
Hinson, LarryLarry Hinson
1944 born 1944
A professional golfer, Hinston's left arm was affected by a bout with polio as a boy, but it never hindered his golf game.[128]
Konrads, JohnJohn Konrads
1942 born 1942
An Olympic freestyle swimmer in the 1950s and 1960s, Konrads caught a mild case of polio while swimming at the community pool.[129][130]
Mann, ShelleyShelley Mann
1937 born 1937
Mann caught polio, aged six, and took up swimming to aid her recovery. At the 1956 Summer Olympics she won gold and silver medals in butterfly events.[131]
Nicklaus, JackJack Nicklaus
1940 born 1940
A professional golfer who has won many major golf championships. He caught polio, aged 13. Nicklaus was affected with stiffness, pain and weight loss over two weeks. He recovered without any paralysis but believes he may have post-polio syndrome, which makes his joints sore. His sister Marilyn also caught polio, possibly from him, and was less fortunate – she was unable to walk for a year.[132]
Rudolph, WilmaWilma Rudolph
1940–1994
A track and field athlete, Rudolph was the first American woman to win three gold medals at the Olympic Games. At age four, she contracted polio and lost the use of her left leg. After five years of massage and exercises, she managed to walk again without her leg braces. By the time she was a teenager, Rudolph was faster than the boys in her neighbourhood were. Rudolph won a bronze medal, aged 16, at the 1956 Summer Olympics and three gold medals in the 1960 Summer Olympics.[133]
Soares, JoeJoe Soares
1959 born ~1959
Soares contracted polio as an infant in Portugal, resulting in his use of a wheelchair. At age four, he was sent, alone, from his island home in the Azores to Lisbon. There he underwent surgery and spent six months in a body cast.[134] Soares became a well known wheelchair rugby player and coach. His story is, in part, the subject of the 2005 documentary film, Murderball.[135]
Wertz, VicVic Wertz
1925–1983
A Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He caught non-paralytic polio during August 1955 and was in hospital for 20 days.[136][137]

[edit] Visual arts

Lord Snowdon has often campaigned to improve the lives of disabled people.
Name
Life
Comments
Colin Banks, Colin Banks
1932–2002
A graphic designer and typographer, Banks is well known for his British Telecom and Royal Mail branding designs. He went into the graphic design business after a bout of polio left him with a permanent limp and put an end to his promising career as a long-distance runner.[138]
Chang, WahWah Chang
1917–2003
A designer, sculptor, and artist best known for his film props. He caught polio, aged 21, which paralysed his legs for nine months. Using leg braces and crutches, he started walking again. Chang was affected by post-polio syndrome in 1992.[139][140][141]
Flugelman, BertBert Flugelman
1923 born 1923
Flugelman contracted polio at the age of 28, which left him partly crippled. His disability actually motivated him to move from painting to a more physically demanding career as a sculptor.[142]
Gores, LandisLandis Gores
1919–1991
An architect, Gores was struck with polio in 1951, which left him in a wheelchair. He went on to design several buildings in the area of New Canaan, Connecticut.[143]
Kahlo, FridaFrida Kahlo
1907–1954
A painter who was the subject of a 2002 movie starring Salma Hayek. She caught polio, aged six, and spent several months in bed. Kahlo was left with a deformed and shortened right leg.[144]
Lange, DorotheaDorothea Lange
1895–1965
A photographer and photojournalist most noted for her picture Migrant Mother. She caught polio, aged seven, and was left with a withered right lower leg and a limp. Lang said, "It was perhaps the most important thing that happened to me. It formed me, guided, instructed me, helped me, and humiliated me. All those things at once. I've never gotten over it and am aware of the force and power of it."[145][146]
LeClerq, TanaquilTanaquil LeClerq
1929–2000
Tanaquil LeClerq was a prima ballerina for the New York City Ballet. She was forced to give up dancing when she contracted polio in Copenhagen in 1956 and was paralysed from the waist down.[56][147]
Lewis, MaudMaud Lewis
1903–1970
Lewis caught polio as a child, which severely reduced her mobility; she could only raise her neck with great difficulty. Despite barely being able to hold a paintbrush, she became a well known Folk artist.[148]
Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, AntonyAntony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon
1930 born 1930
A photographer and documentary filmmaker, Snowdon caught polio at age 16. He was married to The Princess Margaret from 1960 to 1978, and established the Snowdon Award Scheme in 1981 to financially help disabled students.[149]
Nuttgens, PatrickPatrick Nuttgens
1930–2004
An architect and academic. At age 12 he caught polio, which paralysed him from the chest down. He remained in hospital for two years and thereafter required a back brace or surgical belt.[150]
Spear, RuskinRuskin Spear
1911–1990
Ruskin Spear, famous for his paintings of London, was disabled by polio as a child and attended Brook Green School for afflicted children; where he first displayed a talent for art. He became a successful painter and went on to teach at the Royal College of Art.[151]
Stevens, BrooksBrooks Stevens
1911–1995
An industrial designer. He caught polio, aged eight, and had difficulty walking for a time. He retained a limp and some stiffness. Some symptoms returned in old-age, causing him to require a wheelchair.[152]
Weston, HaroldHarold Weston
1894–1972
After a bout with polio in childhood, Weston graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and became an influential modernist painter.[153]
Wyeth, HenrietteHenriette Wyeth
1907–1997
A portrait artist. She caught polio as a child, which crippled her right hand. She compensated by holding the paint brush between her first and second fingers.[154]

[edit] Writing

Arthur C. Clarke contracted polio in 1962. His recovery returned him to top form at his favorite sport, table tennis.
Name
Life
Comments
Beresford, J. D.J. D. Beresford
1873–1947
A writer who is remembered for his early science fiction. He was crippled by polio in childhood.[155]
Bradlee, Benjamin C.Benjamin C. Bradlee
1921 born 1921
The vice president and former executive editor of The Washington Post. He caught polio, aged 14, and was paralysed for several months. Bradlee believes the experience made him a different person.[156]
Breakwell, SpikeSpike Breakwell
1968 born 1968
A comedian, best known for co-writing the Beginners' Guides column in The Times magazine. He caught polio, aged four months, after receiving the oral polio vaccine. He was in a coma for two weeks and is now a wheelchair-user.[157]
Briggs, Joe BobJoe Bob Briggs
1953 born 1953
Film critic, writer and actor, Briggs contracted polio in childhood and was left with a pronounced limp.[158]
Brooks-Baker, HaroldHarold Brooks-Baker
1933–2005
A financier, journalist and publisher especially concerning the British aristocracy. He was affected by polio for much of his life.[159]
Clarke, Arthur C.Arthur C. Clarke
1917–2008
A science-fiction author and inventor. He contracted polio in February 1962, which confined him to bed for months. In 1984, he was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, and he spent the last years of his life in a wheelchair.[160]
Cockburn, PatrickPatrick Cockburn
1950 born 1950
A journalist whose memoir, The Broken Boy recalls his childhood in 1950s Ireland when he caught polio, aged six.[161]
Creasey, JohnJohn Creasey
1908–1973
Creasey contracted polio in childhood, and had to re-learn to walk at age six. He went on to become an accomplished author, publishing 560 books under several different pseudonyms.[162]
Crompton, RichmalRichmal Crompton
1890–1969
A writer most famous for her Just William humorous short stories. She caught polio in 1923 and lost the use of her right leg. When it became physically too hard to continue her teaching career she gave it up to concentrate on writing.[163] Crompton believed that she had "a much more interesting life because of [her polio attack]".[164]
Kriegel, LeonardLeonard Kriegel
1933 born 1933
An author whose work include essays and memoirs on the subject of disability. He caught polio, aged eleven, which left him without the use of his legs.[165]
Levi, PeterPeter Levi
1931–2000
After battling polio as a teenager,[166] Levi went on to become—among other things—a professor of poetry at Oxford, a Jesuit priest, and the author of over 40 books.
Marshall, AlanAlan Marshall
1902–1984
A writer best known for his autobiography I Can Jump Puddles. He caught polio, aged six, and walked with crutches afterwards.[167]
Mason, MarthaMartha Mason
1937–2009
Mason was affected with polio at age 11 and spent the remainder of her life in an iron lung. She wrote a memoir, Breath: Life in the Rhythm of an Iron Lung, which was published in 2003.
[168]
Miles, RosalindRosalind Miles
1943 born 1943
An author of fiction and non-fiction books. She caught polio, aged four, and spent several months in an iron lung.[169]
Preston, PeterPeter Preston
1938 born 1938
A journalist and former editor of The Guardian. He caught polio shortly after his dad, who died in a couple of days. Preston needed an iron lung to survive and was frequently in hospital for the next 18 months. His limbs were permanently affected as a result.[170]
Quick, John HerbertJohn Herbert Quick
1861–1925
A writer best known for his trilogy on Iowa pioneers: Vandemark's Folly, The Hawkeye and The Invisible Woman. Childhood polio deformed his feet restricting him indoors where he developed a love of reading.[171]
Ramakrishnan, H.H. Ramakrishnan
1941 born 1941
A journalist and speaker on disabled rights. Ramakrishna was paralysed by polio, aged two, and walks with leg braces.[172]
Sampter, JessieJessie Sampter
1883–1938
A Zionist educator, poet and pioneer. She caught polio, aged thirteen, and was confined to bed for months. The illness left her fingers crippled and her spine curved.[173]
Shell, MarcMarc Shell
1947 born 1947
Currently Irving Babbitt Professor of Comparative Literature and Professor of English at Harvard University, Shell's books in disability studies include works about paralysis and stuttering. Salk's vaccine came too late. September 1953: He began first grade at Van Horne School in Montreal. October 14: He contracted polio. It was the same day that the foundation backed Jonas Salk's proposal to test his vaccine.[56]
Sidhwa, BapsiBapsi Sidhwa
1938 born 1938
An author, most noted for her novel Cracking India, which tells of the partition of India through the eyes of a young girl affected with polio. Sidhwa caught polio, aged two, which paralysed her leg and led to several operations. Doctors advised her parents not to send her to school; she had a lonely childhood, filled with reading.[174][175]
Swanton, E. W.E. W. Swanton
1907–2000
Well known cricket writer and broadcaster E.W. Swanton developed polio while held as a POW in the forced labour camps of the Thai-Burma railway during World War II.[176] He was left with a withered left shoulder and upper arm.[177]
Tonks, RosemaryRosemary Tonks
1932 born 1932
Tonks, a poet, was paralysed by polio for two months.[178]
Tyerman, DonaldDonald Tyerman
1908–1981
A journalist and editor of The Economist. Tynerman contracted polio at the age of three, which left his legs completely paralysed.[179] He was eventually able to walk with the assistance of leg callipers and walking sticks, and once said that "The ambition and pride of the disabled, as I have some reason to know, is to stand on their own feet."[180]
Waller, LeslieLeslie Waller
1923–2007
The author of several crime novels and movie novelisations, Waller contracted polio as a child and read avidly during his recovery.[181]
Watson, EmmettEmmett Watson
1918–2001
A newspaper columnist based in Seattle, Washington. In 1946 Watson survived a bout with polio; he got the disease while working as a sportswriter for the Seattle Star.[182]
Wilson, Robert AntonRobert Anton Wilson
1932–2007
A writer best known as the co-author of The Illuminatus! Trilogy. He caught polio, aged four, and was treated by the method devised by Sister Elizabeth Kenny. In later years, he was affected with post-polio syndrome and was an advocate of the medical use of marijuana to treat his symptoms.[183]

[edit] Miscellaneous

Despite polio-weakened legs, Sir John Slessor became one of Britain's finest airmen.
Name
Life
Comments
Abbott, EleanorEleanor Abbott
A retired schoolteacher who caught polio in 1948. While in hospital, she designed the game Candyland to entertain the children recuperating from polio.[184]
Fox, MatthewMatthew Fox
1940 born 1940
A priest and theologian, Fox caught polio, aged 12, and spent nearly a year regaining the use of his legs.[185]
Gadamer, Hans-GeorgHans-Georg Gadamer
1900–2002
A German philosopher, Gadamer contracted polio in 1922; he was confined to bed and quarantined for several months, during which time he read extensively.[186]
Hamman, JohnJohn Hamman
1927-2000
A Marianist brother and professional magician, Br. Hamman contracted polio in 1952. After a 2 year recuperation, he continued to teach and perform from a wheelchair.
Jackson, KatherineKatherine Jackson
1930 born 1930
The matriarch of the musical Jackson family, she had polio as a baby and walks with a slight limp.[187]
Nicholson, Edward MaxEdward Max Nicholson
1904–2003
Founder of the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, he contracted polio in 1952 while working in Baluchistan.[188] Nicholson was told by specialists that he would always be a cripple, however he was determined to walk again, and recovered with only a limp.[189]
Packer, Boyd K.Boyd K. Packer
1924 born 1924
An Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Packer contracted polio at age five.[190]
Parks, Lillian RogersLillian Rogers Parks
1897–1997
Parks was a maid at the White House for eight administrations (from William Howard Taft to Dwight D. Eisenhower). She was crippled due to an early bout with polio. In 1961 Parks wrote the bestselling memoir My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House.[191]
Skolnick, ShermanSherman Skolnick
1930–2006
Paralysed below the waist by polio since the age of six, Skolnick was a Chicago-based activist, conspiracy theorist and founder and chairman of the Citizens Committee to Clean Up the Courts.[192]
Slessor, Sir JohnSir John Slessor
1897–1979
A former Marshal of the Royal Air Force. He caught polio, aged three, and was left lame in both legs. He was told he was "totally unfit" for the army or navy but the flying corps did not "see why this boy shouldn't perfectly well be able to fly".[193][194]
Till, EmmettEmmett Till
1941–1955
Emmett Till was murdered on 28 August 1955 while on vacation in Mississippi. His death sparked an upsurge of activism and resistance that became known as the civil rights movement. A bout with polio at age five had left him with a persistent stutter.[195]
Winchell, PaulPaul Winchell
1922–2005
A ventriloquist and inventor, best known as the voice of Tigger. He caught polio, aged six, which affected his legs for a while.[196]
Youderian, RogerRoger Youderian
1924–1956
Youderian was a Christian missionary who worked in Ecuador with the head-shrinking Jivaro tribe and was later killed by Huaorani tribesmen.[197] He was crippled by polio at the age of nine, but recovered to play basketball in high school.[198]

[edit] Retrospective diagnosis

Sir Walter Scott may have had the earliest recorded case of polio.
The following people were not diagnosed with polio during their lifetime. A retrospective diagnosis is speculative and can never been certain.
Name
Life
Comments
, ClaudiusClaudius
10 BC – 54 AD
Roman Emperor from 41 AD to his death. Historians have attributed his physical ailments to several causes. Robert Graves' Claudius novels made polio a popular choice, but some modern historians prefer cerebral palsy or some other affliction.[199]
Lane, Fitz HenryFitz Henry Lane
1804–1865
A painter, best known for his paintings of maritime and nautical subjects. Lane was afflicted with a disease in childhood, possibly polio, which left his legs partially crippled.[200] Some accounts cite that Lane's paralysis was due to "eating some seeds of the apple peru" (referring either to the common tomato or to the "peru-apple" also known as jimsonweed).[201]
Longworth, Alice RooseveltAlice Roosevelt Longworth
1884–1980
A child of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee. She wore leg braces as a child and it is believed this was due to polio.[202]
de Bourbon, Louis AugusteLouis Auguste de Bourbon
1670–1736
An illegitimate son of the French King Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. It is thought that Louis-Auguste contracted infantile paralysis (polio) at the age of three which left him with a slight limp.[56][203]
Mabini, ApolinarioApolinario Mabini
1864–1903
The first prime minister of the Republic of the Philippines, it is thought that Mabini contracted polio in 1896; he used a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and came to be known as the "Sublime Paralytic".[204]
Scott, Sir WalterSir Walter Scott
1771–1832
A historical novelist and poet. He caught a fever, aged 18 months, which temporarily paralysed his right leg. Scott was left lame due to his withered leg. At the time, polio was not known to medicine. The retrospective diagnosis of polio is considered to be strong due to the detailed account Scott made.[205][206]
, SiptahSiptah
reigned 1197 BC – 1191 BC
An Egyptian Pharaoh. Siptah's mummy has a deformed left leg, with the foot held vertically by a shortened Achilles tendon. Some historians point to polio as a cause, while others prefer a congenital defect such as cerebral palsy.[207]

[edit] Doubtful diagnosis
The following people may have had polio, but there is disagreement over it.

Franklin D. Roosevelt may have contracted polio in 1921.
Name
Life
Comments
Chrétien, JeanJean Chrétien
1934 born 1934
A former Prime Minister of Canada (1993–2003), Chrétien has a distorted mouth and is deaf in one ear. His condition was possibly caused by Bell's Palsy,[208] or a polio infection as a child.[209]
Goebbels, JosephJoseph Goebbels
1897–1945
A politician in Nazi Germany, one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and an anti-Semitic. Biographies differ as to the cause of his "club foot", which almost certainly was not in fact congenital. Some mention a case of osteomyelitis at age seven, followed by an operation on his left thigh that left the leg three inches shorter than the right. Others attribute it to poliomyelitis at age four. Goebbels, on one occasion, is reported to have blamed a teenage accident.[210]
Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
1882–1945
The 32nd President of the United States, Roosevelt has been by far the most famous polio survivor in the public mind. However, his age (39 years) and many features of his illness are more consistent with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. See Franklin D. Roosevelt's paralytic illness for more information.[211]
Shostakovich, DmitriDmitri Shostakovich
1906–1975
A composer who began to suffer weakness in his right hand in 1958. He was diagnosed with a rare form of polio in 1965, though some contest this diagnosis.[212]

[edit] Mistakenly believed to have survived polio

William O. Douglas claimed to have had polio as a child.
The following people are often reported to have had polio, but their own statements or other evidence contradict this.
Name
Life
Comments
Daley, BudBud Daley
1932 born 1932
A Major League Baseball pitcher. Commonly reported to be a right-hander who had to learn to play southpaw after an attack of polio in childhood left his right arm weakened and shortened. Daley instead asserts that his right arm and shoulder were damaged at birth when forceps pinched a nerve. A combination of massage and exercises helped restore his limb to health.[213]
Douglas, William O.William O. Douglas
1898–1980
A United States Supreme Court Associate Justice for thirty-six years. His various memoirs claim that he nearly died from polio shortly before his second birthday. In the book Wild Bill: The Legend and Life of William O. Douglas, biographer Bruce Allen Murphy argues that it could not have been polio and that this was one of several legends Douglas fabricated.[214]
Kellerman, AnnetteAnnette Kellerman
1887–1975
A swimmer and actress. She is often said to have taken up swimming to strengthen her legs after they were weakened by childhood polio.[215] It was, instead, rickets that caused weakness and bowing and which meant she had to wear leg braces until the age of seven. Kellerman's biography mentions polio on two occasions. Kellerman met President Roosevelt and devised some exercises for him. She also advised Sister Elizabeth Kenny, who became famous for her controversial but popular method of treating polio.[216]
Thaw, JohnJohn Thaw
1942–2002
An actor best known as Inspector Morse. While it is often speculated that Thaw's characteristic limp was from polio, in truth, the limp originated in childhood, when he would copy his grandfather's limp. A car accident later exaggerated the limp.[217]