Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects the ability to function in daily life. It’s more than just a bad mood; it is characterized by a persistent feeling of despair that can last for days or weeks at a time.
There are many causes of depression. The disorder can range from mild to severe, and symptoms can be temporary or persistent. It can be triggered by anything from the birth of a child to the changing of the seasons.
Here are 20 familiar faces from the entertainment and sports worlds who have battled depression, including postpartum and bipolar spectrum disorder.
Celebrities who have suffered from depression
Read about the following 20 celebrities who have suffered from depression and are open about it:
1) Amanda Bart
A teenage swimmer, Amanda Beard had to grow up fast after winning the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Still, Beard’s confidence took a nosedive after she experienced a growth spurt and gained 25 pounds. The former perfectionist took to bulimia and self-harm to cope with her emotional distress.
In 2005, Beard sought treatment for her depression with antidepressants. She has since gone off medication and given birth to a son in 2009, but she has acknowledged that her life is far from ideal.
2) Jon Hamm
Actor Jon Hamm was suffering from the disease when his father died. (Image via Instagram)
When his father died when he was just 20, “Mad Men” actor Jon Hamm suffered from severe depression.
Hamm was able to get back on his feet thanks to the routine of his job and his studies. Despite this, he also took therapy and medication to get through the dark period.
3) Ashley Judd
Actress Ashley Judd wrote about her suicidal thoughts in middle school in her 2011 memoir All That Is Bitter & Sweet. Judd spent 42 days in a depression treatment center in 2006.
She was able to gain perspective and let go of her past by reconciling with estranged family members and helping those less fortunate through charity work. According to People, Naomi Judd, Ashley’s mother and country singer, committed suicide in 2022 after suffering from the disease for a long time.
4) Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger died tragically at the age of 28 from a pill overdose. (Image via Instagram)
It’s unlikely we’ll ever know the truth behind the circumstances of Heath Ledger’s untimely death in January 2008.
At the age of 28, the troubled actor took a fatal overdose of a combination of sleeping pills, painkillers and anxiety medication. Ledger’s death came shortly after telling The New York Times that he was suffering from insomnia.
As People reported about Ledger’s death, the actor had been acting depressed and reckless since splitting from Michelle Williams, the mother of his two-year-old daughter.
5) Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the United States, has spoken about experiencing a “mild depression” during the COVID-19 pandemic and fighting for racial justice once again.
Obama said she’s feeling better after stepping away from social media and spending more time with her family.
6) Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow suffered from PPD after giving birth to her second child. (Image via Instagram)
Gwyneth Paltrow, who gave birth to daughter Apple in 2004, has spoken out about how much she enjoys being a mother. However, when her son Moses was born two years later, things were different.
Until her husband brought it up, Paltrow didn’t even consider the possibility of postpartum depression. For Paltrow, symptoms of postpartum depression included constant crying and an inability to care for a child. However, it comes in a variety of tones and nuances.
7) Paulina Porizkova
Paulina Porizkova, model and actress, suffered from anxiety attacks after being rejected by Dancing with the Stars in 2007.
In a 2011 essay for the Huffington Post, Porizkova discussed how taking an antidepressant helped her manage anxiety, but the drugs also changed her temperament.
Eventually, Porizkova managed to wean off the medication through a combination of physical activity and sheer determination.
8) Gina Rodriguez
In 2019, Gina Rodriguez discussed her struggles with anxiety on-screen. At the Kennedy Forum, an annual panel discussion on mental health, Rodriguez spoke about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
9) Brooke Shields
Actress and model Brooke Shields was a pioneer in publicly discussing her experiences with postpartum depression. Shields documented her struggle with PPD in her 2005 book Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression.
Shields wrote an editorial for The New York Times explaining why she chose to take medication and how much encouragement she had received from other mothers in similar situations.
10) Kendra Wilkinson
Kendra Wilkinson, a Playboy Playmate and reality TV star, had a baby at the age of 24 and her life has never been the same since.
Wilkinson battled depression for some time, and no amount of pressure to regain her fame helped. Two years later, she said publicly that PPD affects many people and because of its prevalence, “it needs to be talked about.”
11) Catherine Zeta Jones
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, then 41, announced in 2011 that she was suffering from bipolar II disorder, which left her severely depressed. The manic high that characterizes bipolar I disorder is uncommon in patients with bipolar II.
By speaking out, the actress “put a very public face on a mental illness that afflicts millions,” wrote People magazine. Experts agree that alternating periods of high spirits and depression are diagnoses of Bipolar II.
12) Owen Wilson
Many were shocked to learn of Owen Wilson’s battle with drug addiction. (Image via Instagram)
Actor Owen Wilson presents himself to the public as a cool, easy-going guy. However, in 2007, reports surfaced that the actor had attempted suicide at his home in California, revealing a darker side to his personality.
Friends of then 38-year-old Wilson said he was “fighting his share of demons, which included drug addiction.” While some were shocked, others were not.
13) Andre Waters
Andre Waters, a former professional soccer player, shocked his loved ones in November 2006 by taking his own life at the age of 44. Post-mortem examinations linked Waters’ brain damage and depression to concussions he suffered while playing soccer.
The deaths of more than a dozen soccer players have since been attributed to the disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
14) Winona Ryder
Ryder told the San Francisco Chronicle in January 2000 that after her high-profile relationship with actor Johnny Depp ended, she began abusing alcohol, experiencing anxiety, and falling into depression. She was 19 then.
Ryder sought temporary treatment in a mental institution with a private therapist after setting herself on fire by sleeping with a lit cigarette.
15) Princess Diana
Princess Diana suffered from PPD after giving birth to Prince William. (Image via Instagram)
According to the Daily Mail, Kate Middleton sought professional help before her marriage to Prince William in 2011.
Diana had experienced loneliness and depression in her role as Prince Charles’ wife, so Kate’s advice was likely pre-emptive. Diana suffered from both PPD and anorexia. PPD was “hit hard” after the birth of William, the magazine reported. Princess Diana thought she had been rejected by the British royal family.
16) Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka, a professional tennis player, pulled out of the 2021 French Open as she was nervous about doing press interviews.
Osaka said in a Twitter post that she had “suffered long periods of depression” since the 2018 US Open. Osaka also said she finds it “really hard to deal with.”
17) Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, a former Disney star and singer, made headlines in 2010 when she entered a facility to deal with “emotional and physical issues.” Then, during a Jonas Brothers concert tour, Lovato got into an argument with one of the dancers.
Lovato came clean about her struggles with eating disorders, bulimia and bipolar disorder after leaving the treatment center and getting her life back on track.
18) Andrew King
Actor Andrew Koenig, who played Boner on the hit 1990s sitcom Growing Pains, has struggled with depression for most of his life. Koenig’s father told reporters shortly after his son committed suicide in February 2010.
The actor’s sister claimed Koenig stopped taking his prescription medication. The Koenigs have been very public about their son’s mental health struggles in hopes their words will help others struggling with suicidal thoughts.
19) Paige Hemmis
During her tenure as the host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2004-2009), the feisty and empathetic Paige Hemmis never failed to smile for the cameras.
However, in September 2009, the businesswoman and carpenter told People of her condition. Hemmis revealed that her condition sparked crying, binge eating and insomnia early on in the show.
She claimed that she found great satisfaction in her work on Extreme Makeover, a show that helped underprivileged families by renovating their damaged or destroyed homes.
20) David Arquette
David Arquette and Courteney Cox announced their divorce in late 2010. It has been said that the actor has been spotted dancing and behaving strangely at nightclubs. During an interview with radio host Howard Stern, Arquette admitted he was a heavy drinker and behaving erratically.
Arquette quickly recognized his alcoholism and mental health issues and entered a treatment facility. He admitted he was acting strangely in April 2011, saying he had been sober for over a hundred days and felt more in tune with his emotions.
Depression is a common mood disorder characterized by a range of negative emotions, including sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, and guilt.
It is characterized by a loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, disrupted sleep patterns, and even suicidal thoughts or attempts. Depression reduction tips can help, but you should see a doctor if you think you may have the condition.
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