5 Famous People You Probably Didn't Know Stutter

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Greg Wilson
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Memphis (October 18, 2023) – Each year, October 22^nd marks International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD). Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects an estimated one percent of the world’s population—that’s more that 80 million people worldwide, and more than three million Americans.

For more than 75 years, the Stuttering Foundation, the oldest and largest nonprofit charitable organization in the world working toward the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering, reaches more than a million people in over 137 countries annually with help and trusted resources.

In observance of ISAD this year, the Stuttering Foundation is using its list of Famous People Who Stutter to draw attention to stuttering, inspire children and families, and to raise awareness about its cause and treatment.

One of the most popular pages on the Stuttering Foundation website — StutteringHelp.org — the famous people page lists actors, singers, entertainers, sports stars, writers, authors, producers, composers, artists, journalists, government and business leaders, ancient philosophers and even a biblical prophet.

Among the more than 160 entries on the list, here are five of the most interesting people you probably did not know stutter:

James Earl Jones – Probably the biggest surprise on our list, actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television, and movie star who has earned three Tony awards, two Emmys, a Grammy, and a National Medal of the Arts, is well-known as the voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars, among countless other roles and as the booming voice of “This is CNN.”

Mel Tillis – Likely one of the most beloved people on our list, Mel Tillis used his stutter and comedic timing when appearing in multiple movies throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. His first love, however, was as a singer and songwriter, appearing often at the Grand Ole Opry. As with most people who stutter, Tillis’ singing voice did not show any signs of disfluency. Unbeknownst to many, Tillis did much to help those who stutter who reached out to him for help.

Tiger Woods—Known around the world as one of the most famous athletes in modern history, Tiger Woods is tied for first in PGA wins, second in men’s major golf championships, holds numerous golf records and is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time.

Emily Blunt—Regarded for her advocacy on behalf of people who stutter and as one of only a handful of women on the list — NOTE: Stuttering affects three to four times as many males as females — Emily Blunt has earned a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and other accolades for her work on both stage and screen.

Moses—One of the oldest entries on our list, scholars believe Moses, the leader and liberator of the Hebrews, stuttered and point to verses in Exodus.

About the Stuttering Foundation

Malcolm Fraser, a successful businessman who struggled with stuttering, established the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation in 1947 and endowed it throughout his lifetime. The Foundation provides free online resources at StutteringHelp.org for people who stutter and their families, as well as support for research into the causes of stuttering.

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Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, born Lonnie Melvin Tillis, was an influential figure in country music, both as a songwriter and a performer. His journey to fame was marked by overcoming personal challenges, including a stutter that he turned into a defining part of his public persona.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

James Earl Jones

Actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television and movie star, is well-known for his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars and his book Voices and Silences. Jones has spoken some of the most memorable lines in the history of American film, but the man known for his voice was once afflicted with a severe stutter.

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

“Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself,” observed Stossel. “The idea that I’m on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes.”

Bob Love

Bob Love has dreamt about being a great public speaker since his early days in Bastrop Louisiana, even though, as a young man, he could barely put two words together, let alone speak a full sentence.

In spite of his severe stuttering disability, Bob Love, the son of a sharecropper, rose to become a Chicago Bulls NBA superstar, whose records were eventually surpassed by Michael Jordan. Throughout his entire athletic career, Bob Love kept his stuttering a secret from the fans who adored him, thinking he could do his “talking” on the basketball court.