Famous People and Narcolepsy: Which Celebrities Suffer From This Condition?

List of Celebrities with Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy transcends boundaries, affecting individuals from various walks of life, including celebrities who have openly shared their experiences. These personalities bring awareness to the challenges of living with narcolepsy, dispelling myths and encouraging understanding. Here, we explore 11 well-known figures who have navigated their careers while managing narcolepsy:

Jimmy Kimmel

He’s an American comedian, writer, television host, and producer. He has been the host and executive producer of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003. He presided over the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2012, 2016, and 2020, & the Academy Awards in 2017, 2018, and 2023 [2]. In addition to his successful career, he has also been candid about his narcolepsy diagnosis. “Truth be told, I’d rather have narcolepsy than not have it,” Kimmel told Esquire when he first joked about the perks of having the neurological disorder. “When I get on a flight to Vegas, I’ll fall asleep before the plane takes off and wake up after it’s landed. I’m always very close to sleep [3].”

Jinkx Monsoon

Jinkx Monsoon, also known as Jerick Hoffer, is an American drag queen, comedian, singer, and reality TV personality. As the champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5, Monsoon acknowledged the impact of narcolepsy on their drag career. Hoffer, as revealed in the Season 5 premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race, deals with narcolepsy [4]. Understandably, it can be difficult to maintain energy levels while performing, especially when you’re feeling drowsy. However, Jinkx Monsoon’s talent and creativity have helped her overcome these challenges and become a successful drag queen.

Franck Bouyer

In 2004, Bouyer, a French professional cyclist from 1995 to 2013, was diagnosed with narcolepsy, leading to sudden sleep attacks and cataplexy. His career suffered when the International Cycling Union objected to his medication, modafinil, deeming it a performance enhancer. Despite a ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the World Anti-Doping Agency permitted his return in August 2005. However, after another appeal by the UCI, Bouyer faced a renewed ban. In 2009, he resumed racing with the Bbox Bouygues Telecom team after clarifications on a new narcolepsy drug, Xyrem, not being on the banned list [5].

George M. Church

Not even on the red carpet or in TV appearances, but renowned biologist George Church has been known to experience narcoleptic episodes during meetings and panels worldwide. Despite his narcolepsy, he maintains an impressive ability to wake up instantly upon hearing his name and answer questions without missing a beat. Church, who lists narcolepsy in his personal history, attributes many of his visionary ideas and scientific breakthroughs to moments while either asleep or on the verge of a narcoleptic nap. Meetings may find him briefly dozing, but his mind remains an active source of innovation even in these short bouts of sleep [6]. That's insanely great.

Nastassja Kinski