George Clooney(01 of10)
Open Image ModalGeorge Clooney might hide it behind a grin, but suffers continuous back pain following an accident on the set of 'Syriana' in 2005. The actor reportedly suffered spine breakage and persistent leakage of cerebospinal fluid. George admits to using highly addictive medicine to try to control the pain, which he now says is under control but will never fully go away.
Wilko Johnson(02 of10)
Open Image ModalWilko Johnson, of band Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury's Blockheads, announced in early 2013 that he was suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer, and had been given less than a year to live. At the same time, he announced he'd be going on a farewell tour. Crowds flocked to see what was meant to be his swansong, and he set about recording his farewell album with 'The Who's Roger Daltrey.However, in April 2014, he underwent radical surgery to remove multiple organs, and in October, he announced that he was "cancer-free". "They got it all," he reported. "They cured me. It's so weird and so strange that it's kind of hard to come to terms with it in my mind. Now, I'm spending my time gradually coming to terms with the idea that my death is not imminent, that I am going to live on."
Jack Osbourne(03 of10)
Open Image ModalThe son of Ozzy and Sharon announced in 2012 that he'd been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, having experienced symptoms for a number of years. As well as undergoing stem cell therapy, Osbourne made significant lifestyle changes to reduce his symptoms, and inspired many fellow sufferers by participating in 'Dancing With The Stars' in 2013. Although he's been warned to tone down his physical exertion to minimise discomfort, he said of his stint on the reality show that he did not suffer from "any severe symptoms other than the odd bit of tingling down my leg and the occasional bout of fatigue".
Michael J Fox(04 of10)
Open Image ModalMichael J Fox was America's prince of the screen when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1992. Although he initially hid his symptoms to continue his work on 'Spin City', six years later he revealed his condition and has since become one of the world's great activists in the search for a cure. Meanwhile, his career continues a-pace, with appearances in 'Scrubs' and 'Boston Legal', 'The Good Wife' and a cameo in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'. In 2013, he starred in 'The Michael J Fox Show', a NBC comedy loosely based on his own life.
Heather Mills(05 of10)
Open Image ModalModel Heather Mills lost the lower part of her left leg in a collision with a motor bike in 1993, but has gone on to achieve success in many fields. Following her marriage to Paul McCartney, she became a committed vegetarian activist for animal rights, and has gone on to compete in 'Dancing With the Stars' and 'The Jump'. Away from the screen, she has relocated to Switzerland to dedicate herself to skiing, enjoying a high world ranking in the slalom.
Dame Judi Dench(06 of10)
Open Image ModalDame Judi revealed in 2012 that she suffers from macular degeneration, affecting her eyesight, and meaning she has to learn her lines by having someone read her scripts to her.Despite this, she continues to shine on screen, most recently dancing with Bill Nighy in 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' and Oscar-nominated for her role in 'Philomena'.
Tracy Morgan(07 of10)
Open Image ModalStand up comedian and star of 'Saturday Night Live' and '30 Rock', Tracy Morgan was diagnosed with diabetes in 1996, a condition referred to frequently on the comedy '30 Rock'. He received a liver transplant in 2010. However, Tracy suffered a very bad car accident in June 2014, when was a passenger in a vehicle that was hit on the New Jersey Turnpike, a serious trauma from which he slowly continues to recover.
Michael Gambon(08 of10)
Open Image ModalStar of the 'Harry Potter' films and recently Sky Atlantic thriller 'Fortitude', Sir Michael Gambon has revealed that he's decided to retire from the stage, because the effort of learning his lines for stagework is too much pressure. The actor told the Guardian, "It’s a horrible thing to admit but I can’t do it. It breaks my heart. It’s when the script’s in front of me and it takes forever to learn. It’s frightening." He had previously been wearing an earpiece so a prompter could feed him his lines.
Billy Connolly(09 of10)
Open Image ModalComedian and actor Billy Connolly revealed his cancer diagnosis arrived just as he was filming his part of ailing grandfather in 'What We Did on Holiday' alongside David Tennant and Rosamund Pike. He told HuffPostUK it was in the script that his character would break the news to his grand-daughter and "it was a strangely beautiful moment". He said, "It was the first time I’d told anybody outside my nearest and dearest.“It was very strange. I hadn’t told the filmmakers, and in the script I was telling my grand-daughter, it’s okay to lie, and there I was, telling the truth without them realising.”
James Cracknell(10 of10)
Open Image ModalPresenter, writer and former rowing champion James Cracknell suffered a devastating head injury in July 2010, when he was struck by a petrol tanker during a cycle ride in Arizona. His injury left him with epilepsy and an altered personality, changes he documented with his wife in the book 'Touching Distance'. James credited his survival to the fact he was wearing a helmet, and has become an active campaigner for road safety. He has since continued his broadcasting career.