The Queen Showed Us How to Love and Serve

Queen Elizabeth II and King George VI We are saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, whose father King George VI struggled with stuttering throughout his life.

“She was an incredible person,” said Stuttering Foundation President Jane Fraser. “Her father, King George VI, was my father's role model as a person who stutters. In those days for a boy to know that the King of England stuttered gave him the courage to keep going. Queen Elizabeth more than lived up to her father's ideals with courage, empathy, and humility.”

Read our 2020 post about Her Majesty.

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Marilyn Monroe

From Edward S. Herrington's letter to Southcoasttoday.com

I am writing in response to "The importance of voice" (May 29), which mentioned that famous actor James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering. Another famous voice that you cited was the trademark breathy voice of Marilyn Monroe; however, you did not make mention of the fact that Marilyn Monroe also struggled with stuttering at various points in her life, sometimes very painfully.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.

Emily Blunt

Actress Emily Blunt struggled with stuttering early in her life. A teacher encouraged her to act in a school play at age 12 despite her stuttering.

Blunt’s name is prominently featured on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter.