Lisps, or speech impediments that cause someone to have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, are something that many famous people have had to deal with. From actors to politicians, these individuals have managed to overcome their lisp and achieve greatness.
In this article, we are going to highlight 17 different celebrities and famous people that are known for their lisps, while also covering how they may have went on to overcome it.
17 Celebrities that Shared Their Personal Story with Lisps
Famous people and celebrities who speak with lisps have had a variety of experiences with their speech impediment. Below we will share several of their personal stories and life experience with their lisps.
Drew Barrymore
Actress and producer Drew Barrymore had a lisp as a child, which her parents addressed by enrolling her in elocution lessons.
Barrymore was able to overcome the impediment before embarking on her show business career.
Michael Phelps
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps dealt with his lisp by embracing it – often joking about it during interviews and cracking up those around him.
He has also mentioned that he’s thankful for the support of his family, who taught him how to carry himself with confidence despite having a speech issue.
Mike Tyson
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has been very open about his speech impediment, saying that he used to be embarrassed and self-conscious about it when he was younger.
Tyson has since learned to use it to his advantage, speaking slowly and enunciating his words in order to be understood.
Barbara Walters
TV journalist Barbara Walters has spoken about her lifelong battle with a lisp, noting that she often felt insecure because of it.
She worked hard on her diction, though, and has been able to largely overcome the problem by carefully controlling her speech.
Kristen Schaal
Comedian Kristen Schaal used her lisp as part of her stand-up routine, embracing it rather than attempting to hide or fix it.
She often jokes that people don’t realize they’re laughing at a joke until after they’ve heard it due to her lisp – making them laugh even harder.
Winston Churchill
Politician Winston Churchill dealt with his lisp by working on his public speaking skills, which he did in order to communicate more effectively and gain the confidence of those around him.
Churchill ultimately succeeded, becoming a renowned orator who was admired for his eloquence.
Russell Simmons
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has spoken about how he used to hide behind his lisp, but eventually came to accept it as part of himself and use it to create an image for himself in the music industry.
He’s now known as one of the most powerful executives in rap music.
Sean Connery
Actor Sean Connery had difficulty with a distinctive Scottish lisp, something that he worked hard to overcome throughout his career.
He was eventually able to control it enough to become one of the most iconic and recognizable actors in history.
Reggie Bush
Football player Reggie Bush had a noticeable lisp as a child, which he worked on with the help of speech therapy classes.
With practice and determination, he was able to largely overcome it before embarking on his NFL career.
Humphrey Bogart
Actor Humphrey Bogart faced challenges in dealing with a significant lisp that caused him difficulty during auditions early in his career.
Despite this obstacle, however, he eventually learned how to control it enough to secure roles and become one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
Jonathon Ross
TV presenter Jonathon Ross had difficulty with a stutter in his youth, but was able to overcome it by developing a “lock and key” technique – which involves speaking slowly and pausing between words.
Ross now speaks without any noticeable impediment.
Anthony Kiedis
Musician Anthony Kiedis overcame a lisp he developed as a child by taking singing lessons from an early age.
His teachers helped him learn how to control his diction, and the issue has since been largely eradicated in both his music and general speech.
Thomas Jefferson
Politician Thomas Jefferson dealt with his lisp by employing an advanced form of elocution training known as “speaking on paper”.
This involved reading aloud materials that had been transcribed onto paper in order to help him pronounce words and control his diction.
Susan Olsen
Actress Susan Olsen had difficulty with a lisp while growing up, but was able to overcome it through speech therapy and practice.
She eventually became successful in her career, thanks partly to the fact that she worked hard on controlling her speech.
Truman Capote
Writer Truman Capote had a pronounced lisp throughout his life, something which he embraced rather than attempting to mask or fix.
He famously used it as part of both his writing and speaking style, becoming one of the most distinctive literary voices of the 20th century.
Frank Bruno
Former boxer Frank Bruno struggled with a stammer from an early age, something which he was able to manage through therapy and practice.
He eventually managed to control it enough to be successful in the boxing world and become a beloved public figure in Britain.
T. D. Jakes
Pastor T. D. Jakes overcame his lisp by carefully controlling his speech, learning how to pronounce words correctly and speaking slowly with an emphasis on clarity and accuracy.
This enabled him to become one of the most well-known preachers in America today.
Famous People with Lisps and Overcoming Life Struggles
Many iconic people have a lisp, and their unique speech has become part of their signature. From Hollywood stars to world leaders and everyone in between, having a lisp has not kept them from achieving success in their respective fields.
To learn more about the many different celebrities sharing stories about their mental health or those dealing with physical obstacles like endometriosis or cleft lip, be sure to use the search feature at the top of the page top find exactly what you are looking for.
