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Although many well-known and accomplished people may appear unshakable, numerous celebrities actually struggle with an anxiety condition known as agoraphobia.
This disorder involves a fear of situations or environments where one might experience a panic attack or feel trapped and vulnerable. It often stems from the fear of being unable to escape if anxiety worsens. Here’s a look at ten surprising famous figures who have faced the challenge of uncontrollable anxiety, despite their success.
10. Donny Osmond
Donald Clark Osmond gained fame as a teen idol with the Osmonds, a family soft rock band that reached their height between 1971 and 1975, earning multiple gold albums and top-ten hits. He later pursued a solo career, producing more hits, and teamed up with his sister, Marie, to host a talk show nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. The duo also performed for eleven years at a residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas, which concluded in 2019.
During the 1990s, Osmond found success on the stage, playing Joseph in the musical *Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat*. Despite performing in over two thousand shows, Osmond struggled with social anxiety, which made him feel dizzy and extremely nervous during his performances.
Osmond has opened up about his battle with agoraphobia in his memoir, *Life Is Just What You Make It*, as well as on the Dr. Phil show. He shared that the pressure of fame and his fear of failing and letting down his family sparked his anxiety. His condition was so debilitating that it led to panic attacks that left him curled up in a corner. He also experienced uncontrollable shaking that required hospital visits. Osmond once told *CBS News*, “There are times I remember before I walked on stage, where if I had the choice of walking on stage or dying, I would have chosen death.”
9. Paula Deen
Paula Ann Hiers Deen, often called the “Queen of Southern Cooking,” is renowned for her cooking show hosting and as the author of over a dozen cookbooks. She began her television career on the Food Network in 1999, appearing on shows like *Ready, Set, Cook!*, *Paula’s Home Cooking*, and *Paula’s Best Dishes*. Her show *Paula’s Home Cooking* won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2007. However, few know that her passion for cooking was shaped by her struggle with an anxiety disorder.
Deen battled severe agoraphobia for much of her life, which started in her mid-twenties following the death of her parents, sparking an overwhelming fear of death. This anxiety resulted in panic attacks that kept her confined to her home for weeks. During these episodes, she could only bring herself to visit the supermarket, but even then, she couldn’t venture far inside. She said, “I learned to cook with the ingredients they kept close to the door,” as she honed her skills in traditional Southern cooking passed down from her grandmother.
8. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin, an American actor, became one of the most renowned child stars of the 1990s. He is widely remembered for his role as Kevin McCallister in the first two *Home Alone* films, for which he received a Golden Globe award for Best Actor. Culkin also appeared in the 1993 *The Nutcracker* and the 1994 *Richie Rich*. He was listed on E!’s *50 Greatest Child Stars* and VH1’s *100 Greatest Kid-Stars*. However, as he grew older, his fame diminished, and he retreated from the public eye, rarely leaving his home.
In 2004, Culkin revealed to Larry King that he had agoraphobia. His anxiety was triggered by a fear of photographers invading his privacy and a belief that buildings would engulf him if he stepped outside. Over time, he has worked on his condition, even adopting a dog to help encourage him to leave the house for walks.
7. Kim Basinger
Kimila Ann Basinger, a former fashion model and American actress, rose to stardom in the 1980s, admired for both her beauty and comedic talent. She began her television acting career in 1976 and went on to star in several notable films, including the 1983 James Bond movie *Never Say Never Again*, Tim Burton’s 1989 *Batman*, and the 2017 *Fifty Shades Darker*. Basinger won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1997 film *LA Confidential*. Despite her impressive career, she has struggled with anxiety disorders since childhood.
During her childhood, Basinger’s anxiety was so intense that her parents initially believed she had autism. As she gained fame, her struggles with the disorder continued. She developed an overwhelming fear of public spaces and during the worst periods of her condition, she would often stay inside, overwhelmed by tears.
In her twenties, Basinger had a particularly severe episode that left her sweating, trembling, and confined to her home for six months. She has openly shared her journey and helped raise awareness of anxiety disorders by participating in the HBO documentary *Panic: A Film About Coping*.
6. Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan 'Barbra' Streisand is a legendary figure in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning singing, acting, and filmmaking. She holds the prestigious distinction of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. As one of the best-selling music artists, she has sold over 150 million records worldwide. Streisand has also appeared in numerous films, including *Funny Girl*, *Hello, Dolly!*, and *Guilt Trip* (2012), where she starred alongside Seth Rogen. In 1983, she made history as the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film with *Yentl*, and she was the first woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Director.
Despite her immense success, Streisand took a 27-year break from performing after an incident at a 1966 free concert in Central Park, New York, where she forgot the lyrics to several of her songs. A perfectionist by nature, this mistake deeply affected her. The concert was surrounded by controversy, with the crowd much larger than expected, requiring 300 police officers to manage it, yet only 30 officers were present. Streisand expressed how impactful this was, saying, 'So I forgot words to three of my songs… I totally spaced out. It’s show business. Aren’t you supposed to be cute and hum? Nothing. And so I didn’t sing again for 27 years.'
Streisand attempted to manage her anxiety with medication and professional therapy, gradually easing herself back into performing. She discovered that the source of her agoraphobia stemmed from her desire to appear perfect. Once she let go of the need for perfection on stage and accepted herself as she was, her anxiety began to subside.
5. Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell, nicknamed 'The Tyler Rose,' is a former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). Widely regarded as one of the most powerful running backs of his era, Campbell played for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. He earned a college football scholarship to play for the Texas Longhorns and went on to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy. In 1978, he was drafted by the Oilers and was named NFL Rookie of the Year. Campbell later claimed the NFL MVP title in 1979 and secured the MVP honor two more times. His remarkable career led to his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.
After retiring from football, Campbell began experiencing severe symptoms resembling a stroke. In 1989, he sought medical help and was diagnosed with panic and anxiety disorder. Since then, Campbell has been vocal about his experiences, sharing his story with physicians and patient groups across the country, inspiring many to seek the help they need.
Today, Campbell receives calls from people all over the nation, offering his support. He proudly states, 'I am happy to be able to help them out, to talk them through. They figure if Earl Campbell can get this thing, they shouldn’t feel too bad.'
4. Woody Allen
Allan Stewart Konigsberg, better known as Woody Allen, is an acclaimed American comedian, filmmaker, actor, and writer. With an illustrious career spanning over five decades, Allen has earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious Best Picture and Best Director awards. As of 2021, he holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay, having won three times from sixteen nominations. Some of his iconic films include 'Annie Hall,' 'Midnight in Paris,' and 'Hannah and Her Sisters.'
Allen is known to have several phobias and exhibits peculiar rituals. He often incorporates his personal struggles with anxiety into his films, such as in the portrayal of neurotic lovers in 'Annie Hall.' Allen’s anxieties include agoraphobia, claustrophobia, a fear of tunnels, and an aversion to showers with central floor drains. His daily breakfast routine is just as methodical, always involving a banana that he slices into exactly seven pieces, counting and recounting them to ensure the proper number.
3. Elfriede Jelinek
Elfriede Jelinek, an Austrian playwright and novelist, is regarded as one of the most significant contemporary playwrights in the German language. Her renowned works include novels like 'The Piano Teacher' and 'Lust.' In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, cementing her status as a literary giant.
Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim, Jelinek began to experience agoraphobia and social phobia after committing herself to serious writing. Her disorder severely limits her activities; she is unable to board airplanes, attend movies, or participate in public events. Consequently, she declined to accept her Nobel Prize in person, instead sending a video message. While some criticized her decision to appear virtually, many appreciated her honesty about the challenges she faces with her condition.
2. Whoopi Goldberg
Caryn Elaine Johnson, better known as Whoopi Goldberg, is a celebrated author, comedian, actress, and talk show host. One of only sixteen people to have won a Grammy, Academy Award, Emmy, and Tony Award, Goldberg became widely known in the early 1990s for her roles in films like Steven Spielberg’s 'The Color Purple,' the romantic fantasy 'Ghost,' and the comedy 'Sister Act.' By 1993, she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood. She later became a co-host of 'The View,' which won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2007. Throughout her career, Goldberg battled severe anxiety that led to agoraphobia combined with a fear of flying. She could only travel by car, train, or bus.
Goldberg’s phobia was triggered by a traumatic event in 1978 when she witnessed two planes collide in midair, killing 135 people. Living in San Diego at the time, she was on her apartment balcony when she saw the PSA Flight 182 and a Cessna crash.
The mere thought of flying would trigger intense anxiety, causing Goldberg to sweat and worry about similar collisions. She recalled, 'I saw something that built in my mind until it became such a big thing for me that it was just impossible to fly.' To overcome her fear, Goldberg underwent exposure therapy by enrolling in a 'flying without fear' program. By 2020, she had conquered her phobia and successfully flew across the Atlantic to London.
1. Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson, an American musician, co-founded the legendary group the Beach Boys. He penned more than twenty Top 40 hits for the band and was behind iconic songs like 'Surfin’ USA' and 'Good Vibrations.' Known for his innovative genius and mastery in recording techniques, Wilson was celebrated as a record producer. However, throughout his life, he struggled with mental health issues, likely stemming from childhood trauma caused by an abusive father and an alcoholic mother.
In 1964, Wilson endured a nervous breakdown, which led him to quit touring with the Beach Boys. His condition continued to deteriorate, and he became increasingly reclusive, turning to drugs as a way to cope. After his father's passing in 1973, he withdrew into seclusion, drinking heavily and using cocaine.
In addition to his agoraphobia, Wilson also experienced symptoms of auditory hallucinations, resembling schizophrenia. He sought treatment for the first time in 1975, and by the 1990s, he began working on solo projects and performing again. Since 1998, Wilson has been receiving support to manage his stage fright, allowing him to perform live more consistently.
