Though there are many people who find it difficult to overcome this disorder, there are still people who continued to pursue their dreams who became famous in their own careers. The following is a list of famous people who stutter:
1. Mel Tillis
Tillis is a known country music singer, songwriter and star that is included in the Country Music Hall of Fame and even received a lifetime achievement award in the year 2007. He developed the disorder after he got malaria during his childhood, yet he was still able to improve music skills such as playing drums and guitar. Though he stuttered when he is speaking, this disorder does not affect him whenever he is singing.
2. Bruce Willis
The well-known actor Bruce Willis also had this speech disorder. Though he struggled with such problem, he was still able to star in over 60 movies from the late 80’s till now. Based from an interview for a magazine company, he mentioned that acting had helped him in overcoming stuttering.
3. Ken Venturi
A popular golfer and broadcaster, Venturi was one of the most celebrated golf players in his time. He made it big in golf career, though there are times when his career would slide down, he still managed to come back, play again and manage to win titles. As a part of his career, there is also a time when he became a great sport broadcaster and commentator though he had severe stuttering condition in his early years. Venturi became the very first spokesman of the Stuttering Foundation and has helped people with stuttering problems.
4. Winston Churchill
He has served as a Prime Minister of Britain for a long time and was noted for being an orator and statesman. Though there are many argues whether Churchill has stammered before or not, there are evidences such as what was included in the biography of his son saying that he would speak with a slight stutter and the statements given by Churchill’s physician. Argues started because of the fact that people never heard him stutter whenever he gives speeches in front of many people, but experts say that there are really people who would not stutter as much as what others do.
5. James Earl Jones
Popular as the voice behind Darth Vader in Star Wars, he still managed to be one of the popular actors not only behind the scenes but also on Broadway, movies and television shows. Jones is also recognized as CNN’s voice, which proves that stuttering is not a condition that should hinder a person to achieve their dreams with their lives.
6. Bill Walton
A hall of famer in American basketball, Walton had a problem with his communication skills not until he was 28 years old. Though he struggled with his communicating with people, he managed to start overcoming his speech disorder through speaking with Marty Glickman, also a known broadcaster. He was told about things that he should do to overcome stuttering through certain tips and a lot of hard work of following the tips to deal with his speech problem even on his own.
