Buzz
While society often defines beauty as a perfect, flawless figure, reality has its own narrative. Many of the world's most recognizable faces carry the marks of their turbulent journeys, from altercations to illnesses, including one well-known clown who relies on a catheter daily.
10. Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart remains one of the most legendary actors in cinematic history, often remembered for his role as the suave nightclub owner in 'Casablanca,' as well as his portrayal of the hard-boiled detectives Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. Despite his classic good looks, a scar on his lip marked his appearance, potentially influencing his unique way of speaking.
There are countless theories surrounding how Bogart got his scar. Given that he passed away almost six decades ago, the true story may never be uncovered. One version suggests it was caused by an abusive father or an accident in his childhood. Another story claims he was struck by shrapnel while serving in the Navy or injured during an altercation with a handcuffed prisoner who unexpectedly attacked him when asking for a cigarette. These accounts may be mere speculation, especially since Bogart's post-service medical records make no mention of the scar, despite documenting other injuries.
9. Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone has not received enough recognition, especially considering he has lived with a facial disfigurement since birth. Difficulties during labor led to the use of forceps, which damaged a nerve and caused paralysis on the lower left side of his face. This is the reason behind his distinctive appearance and slurred speech.
Over the course of his action-packed career, Stallone has faced numerous injuries. During the filming of 'Rocky IV,' he took such a brutal hit from Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren that his heart slammed against his ribs, causing swelling. While shooting a fight scene for 'The Expendables' with former professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, he even broke his neck.
In recent years, Stallone has begun to cover the torn veins on his torso with large tattoos. Reflecting on his series of injuries, he shared the story of his latest one: 'I just got this one—70 new stitches. This is from 'The Tomb' with Schwarzenegger. It’s a little memento. I’ve had both shoulders done, my neck done, two back operations, Achilles tendon, and now this thing—the peroneal tendon—just ruptured. This is the worst f—king one ever. I feel like an old athlete. Every time you touch something, it breaks.'
8. Al Capone
Al Capone is arguably the most notorious gangster in history, amassing a fortune during Prohibition. However, his rise to power wasn’t immediate—he started out as a small-time thug in New York City, mingling with gangs like the Bowery Boys and the Brooklyn Rippers. During his time with the Five Points Gang, he earned the infamous nickname 'Scarface.' While Capone often claimed that his three facial scars were the result of his service in World War I, the true story is much simpler.
Capone found work as a bartender, bouncer, and waiter at the Harvard Inn, a restaurant owned by the notorious racketeer Frankie Yale. One day, while serving a brother and sister, Capone made an ill-advised comment, telling the woman, 'Honey, you have a nice ass and I mean that as a compliment.' This remark cost him dearly. The woman's brother, Frank Gallucio, punched Capone, and when Al attempted to strike back, Gallucio slashed him three times with a knife. Capone was later forced to apologize by his boss. For a man whose criminal empire spilled so much blood in Chicago, Capone was surprisingly sensitive about his scars and often went to great lengths to conceal them. Despite the attack, Capone forgave Gallucio and even hired him as a bodyguard later on.
7. Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi, the slender, bug-eyed actor, doesn’t exactly give the impression of someone who would get caught in a bar brawl. However, in 2001, while filming 'Domestic Disturbance' in North Carolina, he went to a bar called the Firebelly Lounge with fellow actor Vince Vaughn and screenwriter Scott Rosenberg. A local woman began talking to Vaughn, which caused a confrontation with her boyfriend, escalating into a violent altercation involving several people.
In an attempt to help his friend, Steve was attacked by 21-year-old Timothy Fogerty, who stabbed him above the eye, in the jaw, throat, and arm—injuries that could have easily been fatal. Buscemi was left with a noticeable scar on his cheek, which he often covers with makeup for his film roles. The police had to use pepper spray to break up the fight. Following the incident, Vaughn and Rosenberg were banned from local bars and ordered to attend alcohol counseling sessions. Fogerty was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
6. Bear Grylls
Edward 'Bear' Grylls is best known as an intrepid survivalist, hosting programs like 'Man vs. Wild' and 'Worst Case Scenario.' In addition to putting himself in perilous situations, he has eaten some truly revolting things, including the moisture from elephant dung and frozen sheep eyeballs. Before becoming a TV personality, he served in the British Special Air Service. He endured a serious injury during a parachute accident in Zambia, crushing three vertebrae and coming dangerously close to being permanently disabled. However, in a remarkable show of resilience, he summited Mount Everest less than two years later. Since then, he has embarked on many daring expeditions, one of which resulted in a medical evacuation after he broke his shoulder in Antarctica.
When asked about his many scars, Bear humorously responded, 'I’ve got so many scars it’s ridiculous. I always rely on the Evel Knievel saying that bones heal and chicks love scars. I’ve got an awesome new one across my chest. I’m tempted to say I got it from wrestling a crocodile, but the truth is, unfortunately, I was pulling a pizza out of the oven while naked and burned myself.'
5. Sean Bean
English actor Sean Bean has gained a somewhat strange reputation for his roles in film and television: nearly every character he plays meets a violent end, from Boromir in 'The Fellowship of the Ring' to Eddard Stark in 'Game of Thrones.' Fortunately, Bean proves to be tougher in real life. During the filming of 'Patriot Games,' where his character, an Irish terrorist, faces off against Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan in a speedboat chase, Ford accidentally struck Bean with a boat hook over his left eye, causing a wound that required stitches. The scar he was left with actually helped advance his career, making him an ideal fit for tough-guy roles.
A few years later, Bean found himself in another dangerous situation while out at a bar in London with Playboy model April Summers. After a man made disrespectful comments to Summers, Sean intervened, only to have the man return, punch him, and stab him in the arm with broken glass. Instead of rushing to the hospital, Bean simply ordered another drink.
4. Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan may not be a household name, but you’ve likely seen him in films such as 'Braveheart' and 'Gladiator.' He is probably best recognized for his role as Filip 'Chibs' Telford on 'Sons of Anarchy.' The story of how Tommy earned his scars is among the most horrifying, reflecting a violent 'blade culture' prevalent in Scotland, where firearms are difficult to obtain. While working as a DJ in his youth, Flanagan was attacked with a knife, leaving him with a brutal cut extending from his lips, which became known as a 'Glasgow Smile.'
The Glasgow Smile is a brutal and grotesque form of torture. It involves cutting the corners of the mouth and then beating the victim so severely that the face’s contortions from screaming eventually tear the cheeks apart. Glasgow has earned a reputation for its high number of knife crimes. One of the most infamous portrayals of this disfigurement is Heath Ledger’s Joker in 'The Dark Knight,' who offers inconsistent and wildly varying accounts of how he obtained his scars.
3. Tina Fey
Tina Fey is one of the most accomplished comedians of her generation, known for her work on 'Saturday Night Live' and as the creator of '30 Rock.' Compared to some others on this list, Fey’s scar is relatively subtle, a thin line extending from beneath her lower lip to her cheek. While filming '30 Rock,' she often positioned herself to ensure the camera captured her better side. For years, the origin of her scar remained a mystery, until she eventually disclosed the painful truth.
When Tina was just five years old, she was slashed in the face by a stranger while playing in the front yard of her home in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Her reluctance to speak about the incident is understandable. In an interview with 'Vanity Fair,' she said, 'It’s impossible to talk about it without somehow seeming to exploit it or glorify it.' Though she has largely healed from the trauma, she does worry that one day, she might unintentionally transfer the stress from her own experience onto her daughter.
2. Seal
English R&B singer Seal, born Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel on February 19, 1963, first rose to fame in the 1980s. His self-titled debut album dropped in 1991, but it was his iconic song 'Kiss from a Rose' from the 'Batman Forever' soundtrack in 1995 that catapulted him to global stardom. Seal is often recognized for the distinct scars on his face, which resemble burn marks but are actually the result of a condition called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Diagnosed at 23, DLE affects the skin, causing painful lesions that leave behind the pitted scars visible on his cheeks.
Despite the severity of his condition, there’s no reason to pity Seal. Beyond his immensely successful music career, he was married for seven years to supermodel Heidi Klum, a woman many consider one of the most beautiful in the world. Before Klum, Seal was romantically linked to a number of models, including Tyra Banks.
1. Johnny Knoxville
If you’ve watched MTV’s Jackass, you might be surprised that the entire crew isn’t covered in scars and injuries. Sure, they’ve all had their share of bumps and bruises, but most of the gang has emerged from their stunts without permanent damage. However, Johnny Knoxville, the group’s fearless leader, bears a scar you won’t find on TV. During one stunt, he caused irreparable harm to his most sensitive area.
In a 2010 interview with Vanity Fair, Knoxville gave a cringeworthy account of his injury, explaining, 'It’s just like a dog’s chew toy down there. I broke my penis about three years ago trying to backflip a motorcycle. So, that didn’t help its appearance, although it’s still pretty cute. I have to use a catheter twice a day, and it’s been three years now. I can pee without it, but I need to keep the scar tissue from tightening. It looks like a sock that’s lost its elasticity, you know, the kind that droops around your ankles? That’s what it looks like.'
Unfortunately, fans of the show have also sustained some serious injuries attempting to mimic the stunts. In August 2014, 10-year-old Taylor Wilson from Scotland covered her arms with salt and rubbed them with ice, which resulted in painful scarring welts that doctors warned might require skin grafts.
