I was going to post a List of Lisps – famous people with lisps – but my editor thought that was too cruel. I disagree. Having a lisp is nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, it’s the result of a physical or psychological disorder and can make you sound like a cartoon character, but it’s not your fault. And don’t young sufferers need someone to champion their cause, and perhaps even make the affliction cool?

Take Mike Tyson, for example. Strong, aggressive, a sports icon and role model. His lisp didn’t hold him back at all. In fact, it may have spurred him on to become a world champion boxer. And barroom brawler. And wife-beater. And convicted rapist. Okay, bad example. So instead, let’s just go with a list of 27 famous people with stutters…

* British pop singer Marc Almond of Soft Cell (“Tainted Love”)
* Greek philosopher Aristotle
* Actor Rowan “Mr. Bean” Atkinson
* The Academy Is… lead singer William Beckett
* US Vice President Joseph Biden
* Actor Nicholas Brendon from TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
* Lewis “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Carroll
* Cigar-toting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
* New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon
* English evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin
* Oasis band member Noel Gallagher
* United Kingdom’s unexpected King George VI
* Actor Hugh Grant
* Actor James Earl “Darth Vader” Jones
* Coldplay band member Chris Martin
* British playwright William Somerset Maugham
* Australian pop singer and actress Kylie Minogue
* Actress Marilyn no-last-name-needed Monroe
* Actor Sam Neill from “Jurassic Park” 1 & 3
* English scientist Sir Isaac Newton
* NFL running back Darren Sproles
* Country music singer Mel Tillis
* American writer John Updike
* American pro-golfer Ken Venturi
* American basketball player Bill Walton
* Actor Bruce “Die Hard” Willis
* American pro-golfer Tiger Woods

Do you have any others to add to this list?

O.C. DeeDee

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