Kidney stones are tiny but mighty troublemakers that can bring even the toughest people to their knees. They form when minerals build up inside the kidneys and can cause some of the worst pain a person can feel.
You might think celebrities live charmed lives free from health struggles, but that could not be further from the truth. From Hollywood legends to pop icons, plenty of famous faces have dealt with this painful condition out in the open.
1. William Shatner
Captain Kirk himself was no match for a kidney stone. William Shatner was rushed to the hospital in 2005 after a stone caused him serious pain.
But leave it to Shatner to turn even that ordeal into something legendary.
In 2006, he sold the actual kidney stone he had passed for a whopping $75,000. Every single dollar went to Habitat for Humanity.
Only Shatner could make a kidney stone feel like a heroic act.
2. Roger Moore
Roger Moore described his very first kidney stone experience in 1961 as “excruciating, diabolical agony” – and honestly, that sounds about right. The pain was so bad it stuck with him for decades.
Things got even more complicated when he was hospitalized during the early filming of “Live and Let Die” in 1973 due to a pre-existing kidney stone condition. Even 007 had a weakness, and his happened to come from inside his own body.
3. Ava Gardner
Old Hollywood glamour met very unglamorous pain when Ava Gardner was hospitalized in Madrid in 1954 with kidney stones. Reports say she was not shy about expressing how she felt during treatment, reportedly yelling curses throughout the ordeal.
Honestly, that reaction sounds completely fair. Gardner was known for her fierce personality both on and off screen.
A kidney stone was probably the one thing that matched her dramatic energy without any effort at all.
4. Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby was one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century, famous for his smooth voice and easy charm. Behind the scenes, though, he dealt with recurring kidney stones starting in the early 1950s, according to his biographer.
Managing a major entertainment career while dealing with chronic kidney stone episodes could not have been easy. It is a reminder that even the most polished performers carry private battles that audiences rarely see or think about.
5. Alfred Hitchcock
The master of suspense had a real-life health plot twist of his own. Alfred Hitchcock developed kidney stones following a pacemaker procedure in 1974, and then underwent surgery for another stone in 1975.
That surgery delayed the filming of “The Rainbird Pattern,” a project that was sadly never completed. Hitchcock spent his final years dealing with serious health challenges.
For a man who built a career on tension, his own body kept delivering plenty of unexpected drama.
6. Burt Reynolds
Known for his tough-guy roles, Burt Reynolds met his match in 1984 when kidney stone pain caused him to pass out – right before the opening of his own Florida restaurant. The timing could not have been worse.
He was also hit hard by kidney stones during the filming of “City Heat” that same year. Reynolds was famous for pushing through physical challenges on set, but a kidney stone does not care how tough you are on screen.
7. Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland plays tough characters for a living, but in 2003 a kidney stone brought him face to face with pain he said was worse than breaking bones. That is a pretty jaw-dropping comparison coming from someone who has done serious stunt work.
Sutherland called it the most intense pain he had ever experienced in his life. Kidney stones are often compared to childbirth in terms of severity, and Sutherland’s description makes it very easy to believe that comparison is accurate.
8. Billy Joel
Billy Joel opened up about his kidney stone struggles in a 1990 interview, pushing back against media reports that had blown the situation out of proportion. He wanted people to know the real story, not the exaggerated version making headlines.
His battles with kidney stones did not stop there. In 1994, he successfully passed a stone while in Toronto, which added another chapter to his health journey.
Even the Piano Man has had to deal with some painfully off-key moments in life.
9. Pele
Soccer legend Pele is considered one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, but even his remarkable body had serious limits. In the 1970s, he underwent surgery for kidney stones and had a kidney removed as part of his treatment.
That is an extraordinary health challenge for anyone to face, let alone someone whose entire career depended on peak physical performance. Pele continued to inspire millions long after his playing days, proving that resilience goes far beyond what happens on the field.
10. Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner discovered she had kidney stones during a full-body scan in the year 2000. The discovery came as part of a broader health check, which shows just how useful preventive screenings can be for catching hidden problems early.
Kidney stones can sit quietly inside the body without causing symptoms until they start moving, which is when the real pain begins. Jenner’s experience is a good reminder that regular health checkups can reveal things you never even knew were there.
11. Tim Burton
Tim Burton is famous for creating dark, whimsical worlds in his films, but in December 2011 he missed the British Independent Film Awards because of kidney stones. His then-partner Helena Bonham Carter stepped up and publicly explained why he was absent.
It takes a special kind of pain to keep a filmmaker away from an awards ceremony honoring his own work. Burton’s stone-related absence became a brief but memorable moment in celebrity health news, proving that even the most imaginative minds cannot dream their way out of kidney stone pain.
12. Rob Schneider
Rob Schneider got candid in a 2003 interview about how his time on “Saturday Night Live” took a real toll on his health. He said that heavy drinking and extremely long working hours contributed to a range of health problems, including kidney stones.
It is a surprisingly honest admission from a comedian known for keeping things light. Schneider’s experience highlights how lifestyle choices, like diet, hydration, and stress, can directly affect kidney health in ways that catch people completely off guard.
13. Phillip Phillips
Phillip Phillips shot to fame after winning American Idol in 2012, but fans may not know that he has dealt with chronic kidney stones throughout his life. This condition has been a long-running health challenge rather than a one-time event.
Chronic kidney stones require ongoing management, including changes to diet, hydration habits, and sometimes medical procedures. Phillips has continued to make music despite the recurring pain, showing that a serious health condition does not have to put a permanent stop to your passion or your career.
14. Peter Andre
Pop singer Peter Andre had to disappoint fans in 2010 when he was forced to postpone two concerts due to a kidney stone. Canceling shows is never easy for a performer, and kidney stone pain leaves very little room for pushing through.
Andre was open about the reason for the postponements, which fans appreciated. His situation is a reminder that even performers in great physical shape can be sidelined without warning.
Staying hydrated and maintaining a kidney-friendly diet can help lower the risk of stones forming.
15. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton revealed that she has been battling kidney stones, adding yet another chapter to her famously resilient life story. The country music legend has never been one to shy away from sharing her personal struggles with fans.
Parton’s openness about her health has always made her feel relatable, even to people who have never set foot near a stage. Her willingness to talk about something as painful and unglamorous as kidney stones is just another reason her fans love her so fiercely and so loyally.