With numerous celebrity stories making headlines today, we tend to assume that fame and fortune translate into a life of bliss. But the reality is that they struggle with pretty much the same things as the rest of us do, and that includes mental health issues like depression.
From Hollywood A-listers to world-renowned singers, here is a list of famous people and celebrities with depression. We also researched some of the stories of successful people with depression, what made them seek help, and how they managed to overcome this debilitating mental illness.
Celebrities with Depression Who Are Living Well
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Johnson, who saved his mother from a suicide attempt when he was only 15, has been open about his mental health issues revealing that the “first bout of depression” happened to him after a serious shoulder injury that ruined his career as a professional football player.
The second one was in 2008, during his divorce from his wife, Dany Garcia. Although he admits that he didn’t know it was depression at that time. It was not until 2017, when he experienced the third bout, that the actor finally realized that what he was feeling was depression.
Jim Carrey
It’s difficult to think of Jim Carrey as depressed, especially since he’s made a career out of making people laugh. Unfortunately, he is one of the many actors with depression, among the few famous people with fetal alcohol syndrome, and a true fighter for leading a clean, healthy, and spiritual life.
According to the actor, his comedian side was born out of somewhat desperate living conditions which had forced him to drop out of high school and take on a full-time job. His statements reveal that depression has been a constant fight for him and that he has been on and off antidepressants for years now.
Carrey is also a celebrity with ADHD, a condition that often co-occurs with depression.
Angelina Jolie
Another bright star among our depressed celebrities is actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian, Angelina Jolie, who suffered a nervous breakdown at the age of 24. According to the actress, she started experiencing depression in her teens, and on many occasions, she has pointed out to her upbringing in California as the cause for her unhappiness.
Jolie has been open about her condition and has been using her YouTube channel to help thousands of people who are fighting the same fight. She recently referred to her divorce from Brad Pitt, who is on our list of famous sexual offenders, as a time when she felt particularly weak.
Kristen Bell
The voice behind Frozen’s Anna, Kristen Bell, is also one of the celebrities with depression and anxiety who first started experiencing the devastating effects of this illness at the age of 18. Bell took medications to deal with her anxiety and depression while studying at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
In 2016, she officially spoke about her inner battles in an op-ed for Time titled, “I’m Over Staying Silent About Depression”, in which she not only details everything that has been happening to her but also how she manages to cope with it at home and in the workplace.
Through her advocacy work, Bell is continuously emphasizing the importance of seeking help, promoting mental well-being, and fostering open conversations.
Kirsten Dunst
The child star from Interview with the Vampire, Kirsten Dunst, has been candid about her personal battle with depression, shedding light on the challenges she has faced. Dunst shared that she first became depressed in her 20s, after which she sought treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Utah.
Thanks to medication and openness, Dunst—just like many other celebrities who suffer from depression—has managed to create a good life and score many great roles.
Owen Wilson
He’s the lovable guy we all know from Wedding Crashers, Marley & Me, and Loki, and unfortunately, he’s also someone who’s attempted to take his own life. Another one on our list of celebrities with depression issues is actor Owen Wilson, who reportedly started thinking about dying at 11.
After being wracked with depression for many years, his struggle peaked with a suicide attempt in 2007. According to reports, his brother was the one who helped him most and made him deal with his issues.
Before his suicide attempt, the actor struggled with cocaine and heroin problems, but luckily, unlike many famous drug addicts, he overcame all of it, saying that he is in a lucky place now and is feeling appreciative of things.
Cara Delevingne
British supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne opened up about her struggles with depression, anxiety, and self-hatred in 2015. Delevigne also revealed she had been taking psychotropic medications and seeing therapists, but nothing had helped.
After her airport incident when the actress was photographed barefoot and in a seemingly delusional state, she checked into a facility and got the help she needed.
In the interviews following her recovery, Delavingne, like many celebs with depression, blamed drugs and alcohol for her state. However, she also said that most of her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts were related to her sexuality.
Sheryl Crow
American musician, singer, songwriter, and nine-time Grammy winner, Sheryl Crow publicly spoke about depression and how emotionally crippled this illness had made her feel. She said that for about six months, she had lived through the darkest moments of her life when there were times when she couldn’t dress and days when she couldn’t leave the house.
Like many celebrities and singers with depression, Crow said she started feeling like this in her early 20s and treated it with medication. Moreover, similar to what other celebrities who suffer from depression say, Crow says antidepressants helped, but she also revealed that therapy played a significant role in her recovery.
Bruce Springsteen
Widely known as “The Boss”, the iconic American singer, songwriter, and musician Bruce Springsteen joined the many celebrities with depression when he admitted on CBS Sunday Morning that he is no stranger to this illness.
However, unlike many famous people who have depression and typically experience the first bouts at an early age, Springsteen said his battles started in his 60s. The singer said his bouts of depression lasted for a long time, making him not want to get out of bed. Luckily he overcame it thanks to his wife’s support, therapy, and medication.
Lady Gaga
Despite her immense success and global fame, Lady Gaga is one of the many celebrities who suffer from depression and have battled with the debilitating effects of this mental health condition. The singer said she experienced bouts of depression during her teenage years when, as a young girl, she faced intense pressure to conform to societal standards.
However, unlike many famous depressed people, Gaga didn’t let depression get the better of her. She rose above it and established the Born This Way Foundation, which works on peer support and preventive initiatives, including youth and mental health research.
Gaga’s foundation is partnered with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and singer Elton John’s AIDS Foundation, which was created after the singer learned he is one of the HIV-positive celebrities.
Famous People with Depression Who Died Because of It
Robin Williams
Despite his incredible talent for making others laugh, the beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams battled depression throughout his life. The actor was also listed among the famous alcoholics and celebrities struggling with drug abuse, although his mental health deteriorated when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
On August 11, 2014, Robin Williams was found dead at his home in Paradise Cay, California, at 63. The cause of death was ruled a suicide.
Kurt Cobain
The frontman of the influential band Nirvana was not only known for his musical talent but also for his well-documented battle with depression. Cobain’s struggles with mental health and addiction were evident throughout his life, fueling his creative expression and the emotionally charged lyrics of his songs.
Tragically, Cobain is among the many depressed celebrities who killed themselves. On April 8, 1994, the singer was found dead at his home in Seattle, Washington. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.
Marilyn Monroe
The iconic symbol of beauty and glamour, also known as Norma Jeane Mortenson, carried a heavy burden of depression throughout her life. Behind her radiant smile and captivating presence, she battled feelings of sadness, insecurity, and loneliness.
Sadly 1962, at 36, the actress died of a drug overdose. According to reports, her death was ruled as a probable suicide.
Chris Cornell
The legendary frontman of Soundgarden and Audioslave is another one on our list of celebrities who died from depression. Throughout his career, Cornell battled with depression, addiction, and other mental health issues.
According to reports, the singer started taking drugs around 12, and by the time he was 13 years old, he had become a daily drug user, which further fueled his depression.
On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found dead in his Detroit hotel room an hour after performing at a Soundgarden concert at the Fox Theatre. His death was ruled as suicide by hanging.
Alexander McQueen
The renowned British fashion designer is among the celebrities with a persistent depressive disorder. According to an official diagnosis from McQueen’s psychiatrist, the designer was also struggling with mixed anxiety and was prescribed an antidepressant, which he stopped taking because it caused him nausea.
After overdosing twice in May and July 2009, on February 11, 2010, McQueen hanged himself in his London home. The inquest into his death showed that the designer had researched suicide online.
Celebrities with Postpartum Depression
Among the famous people who have depression and the celebrities on antidepressants, there are also female celebrities who have struggled with postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression is a common yet often overlooked mental health condition that affects many new mothers. Even celebrities, despite their glamorous lives, are not immune to its challenges.
Here’s a list of the brave celebrities with postpartum depression who have openly shared their experiences, shedding light on the realities this condition.
Britney Spears
In addition to being among celebrities with BPD, Spears is also a mother who had the unfortunate experience of fighting postpartum depression. Reportedly the singer suffered from postpartum depression following the births of her two sons.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Academy Award-winner and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow struggled with PPD after the birth of her second child, Moses.
Alanis Morissette
The singer reported she suffered from postpartum depression when both of her children were born. She revealed that after the birth of her second child, Onyx Solace, she struggled with this crippling feeling for 14 months.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, also reported struggling with postpartum depression a while after her second child was born. Gellar also revealed she got the help she needed to get better, and since then, she’s become a fighter to have PPD treatment covered by healthcare.
Drew Barrymore
Actress, talk show host, author, and businesswoman Drew Barrymore shared her experience with PPD and said that for her, it was unusual as she didn’t have it when her first child was born.
Final Words
One of the most tragic celebrities with clinical depression, Kurt Cobain, said: “If my eyes could show my soul, everyone would cry when they saw me smile”. His words pretty much sum up the state of mind that depression can lead to. And the takeaway, or rather, the moral of these celebrities with depression stories, is that no one is immune to mental health issues.
