Does George Clooney have Bell's palsy?

Yes, George Clooney has publicly stated that he suffered from Bell's palsy as a teenager, experiencing temporary paralysis on one side of his face, which he discussed during appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He shared stories and photos from that time, noting it caused facial drooping and weakness on one side of his face, a common symptom of the condition.

What celebrities have Bell's palsy?

Several celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Pierce Brosnan, and Terrence Howard, have experienced Bell's palsy, a temporary facial paralysis, with some sharing their stories about recovery, often through treatments like acupuncture or even unorthodox methods, highlighting the condition's varied impacts despite its temporary nature.
 

What illness does George Clooney suffer from?

Actor George Clooney has dealt with several health issues, most recently a sinus infection in August 2025 that caused him to miss some events at the Venice Film Festival, though he later recovered; he also had a bad case of COVID-19 in late 2023, forcing him to direct from bed, and suffered pancreatitis from drastic weight loss for a film years prior, alongside a childhood bout with Bell's Palsy.
 

Why are so many people getting Bell's palsy?

Risk factors for Bell's palsy include pregnancy, preeclampsia, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and upper respiratory ailments. The exact cause of Bell's palsy is unknown. Some evidence suggests inflammation and swelling of the seventh cranial nerve is involved, but the reason for this swelling is unclear.

What was George Clooney's rare disease?

George Clooney developed Bell's palsy, a medical condition that partially paralyzes the face.

George Clooney's Bell's Palsy facial condition?

Why did Angelina Jolie get Bell's palsy?

Angelina Jolie developed Bell's palsy due to extreme stress from her high-profile divorce from Brad Pitt, linking it to her body's strong reaction to stress, which caused inflammation and temporary facial paralysis, affecting her blood sugar and facial nerves. She stated it appeared about six months before her divorce filing in 2016, and while the exact cause is unknown, doctors often link it to viral infections, and stress can weaken the immune system, making one susceptible.
 

Is George Clooney disabled?

The actor revealed that he suffered from this form of unilateral, idiopathic peripheral paralysis at age 15. At the time of his diagnosis, Clooney could count himself among the 40,000 people who, according to StatPearls research, experience a new onset of Bell's palsy each year.

What is the number one cause of Bell's palsy?

The most common cause of Bell's palsy is believed to be the reactivation of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), the same virus that causes cold sores, leading to inflammation and swelling of the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve). Other viruses like Epstein-Barr (mono), varicella-zoster (shingles/chickenpox), and even COVID-19 are also linked, but HSV is the primary suspect, often triggered by stress, fatigue, or a weakened immune system.
 

Are there warning signs before Bell's palsy?

Before Bell's Palsy, you might experience subtle signs like numbness or pain behind the ear/jaw, increased sound sensitivity, or mild facial weakness, but the main symptoms—sudden, often severe one-sided facial drooping, inability to smile or close the eye, drooling, and taste changes—develop rapidly, usually over 48-72 hours, making it hard to predict its onset. It's crucial to see a doctor immediately for sudden facial weakness to rule out a stroke.
 

Has Bell's palsy increased since COVID?

Bell's palsy increased after the COVID-19 outbreak, rising from 75.3% in the pre-COVID-19 era to 83.6% after the COVID-19 outbreak. The complete recovery rate decreased from 88.2% to 73.9%, and the rate of recurrence increased from 2.9% to 7.5% in patients with Bell's palsy.

Is George Clooney a cigarette smoker?

Yes, George Clooney has smoked, particularly for roles like Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, but he deeply regrets it due to a significant family history of lung cancer, with many aunts and uncles dying from the disease, and he tries to keep it hidden from his children, using herbal cigarettes when possible.
 

Did George Clooney's wife carry her twins?

Yes, Amal Clooney carried her twins, Ella and Alexander, who were born in June 2017, with George Clooney stating they learned she was pregnant with both after an ultrasound and that she conceived naturally, not with fertility drugs. She gave birth to them in London, and both mother and babies were healthy.
 

Is Tom Hanks still a diabetic?

Yes, Tom Hanks still has Type 2 diabetes, a condition he publicly shared he was diagnosed with in 2013, and he continues to manage it through diet, exercise, and medical care, even speaking out against fake cures promoted by AI scams. He acknowledges his past unhealthy eating and weight fluctuations contributed to the disease, but focuses on controlling it through healthy habits, though he jokes he can't reach his high school weight.
 

What illness does Angelina Jolie have?

Actress Angelina Jolie has publicly shared her experiences with serious health issues, including a preventive double mastectomy and ovary removal due to carrying the high-risk BRCA1 gene (linked to breast/ovarian cancer), and a temporary diagnosis of Bell's palsy, a facial paralysis often linked to stress, which she has since recovered from. Her journey also involves advocacy for cancer awareness, inspired by her mother's battle with cancer. 

Do you ever fully recover from Bell's palsy?

Most people with Bell's palsy recover fully — with or without treatment. There's no one-size-fits-all treatment for Bell's palsy. But your healthcare professional may suggest medicines or physical therapy to help speed your recovery.

How did Sylvester Stallone get Bell's palsy?

Complications during Stallone's birth forced his mother's obstetricians to use two pairs of forceps while delivering him, accidentally severing a nerve in the process.

Is Bell's palsy like a mini stroke?

No, Bell's palsy is not a mini-stroke, but a temporary paralysis of the facial nerve, though its symptoms (facial drooping) mimic a stroke, making immediate medical evaluation crucial to rule out a stroke. Stroke is a brain event (lack of blood flow), while Bell's palsy is a facial nerve issue, often due to inflammation, and usually resolves, whereas strokes can cause lasting damage. 

At what age do you get Bell's palsy?

The cause is often unknown and can affect people at any age, although it is most common in people ages 15 to 60. Bell's palsy occurs most often in pregnant women and in people with diabetes, influenza, a cold or another upper respiratory ailment.

Is Bell's palsy caused by stress?

Stress isn't a direct cause of Bell's palsy, but it's a significant contributing factor and trigger, often linked to viral reactivation (like herpes) that inflames the facial nerve, causing paralysis, with studies showing a strong connection between severe stress, anxiety, and increased risk or worsened symptoms. Stress weakens the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to the viruses believed to trigger Bell's palsy, and extreme stress can even precipitate the condition itself. 

Why did I get Bell's palsy out of nowhere?

Although the exact reason Bell's palsy occurs isn't clear, it's often related to having a viral infection. Viruses that have been linked to Bell's palsy include viruses that cause: Cold sores and genital herpes, also known as herpes simplex. Chickenpox and shingles, also known as herpes zoster.

What not to do if you have Bell's palsy?

With Bell's Palsy, don't force facial exercises, apply pressure to the face, or stop medications abruptly; instead, protect your eye, eat soft foods, maintain oral hygiene, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco to prevent nerve miswiring (synkinesis) and support recovery. Focus on relaxation and gentle massage, not forceful movement, to help the face heal as one unit.
 

What deficiency causes Bell's palsy?

Vitamin C is also known to help in neural regeneration [6,7] and has neuroprotective roles [8]. Considering those facts, vitamin C deficiency may trigger Bell's palsy in susceptible individuals.

What is George Clooney's health problem?

LifelineLIVE wrote, “The suave star, 50, shares — in an in-depth profile — that, for all his fame and fortune, he's got his fears and troubles, including battling Bell's palsy at age 14 and still coping with pain from a back accident on 2005′s Syriana.”

Did Pierce Brosnan have Bell's palsy?

Famous faces who have experienced Bell's palsy at some point in their lives include Pierce Brosnan, George Clooney, Glenda McKay, Graeme Garden and BBC journalist John Sudworth.

What is on the George Clooney 5 ingredient sandwich?

"Ham, lettuce, tomato, a little mustard on it, a little toasted, maybe a potato bread." A classic ham sandwich on potato bread? Pair it with a side of chips and we're dreaming of the perfect meal by the pool.