9 Celebrities Who Suffer from Sleep Disorders

If you experience trouble sleeping, you are not alone. Nearly 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. Even some of your favorite celebrities have trouble falling and staying asleep. How have they dealt with their conditions to maintain successful careers in Hollywood? Learn more about these nine celebrities who suffer from sleep disorders to gain insight into their conditions and their treatment plans.

1. Jennifer Anniston

The Horrible Bosses 2 star is supposedly a frequent sleepwalker. Otherwise known as somnambulism or “nighttime wandering,” neurologists note that 1 in 3 adults will sleepwalk at sometime in their life. Doctors also mention that sleepwalking regularly may be caused by another condition such as alcohol abuse, depression or sleep apnea.

2. Shaquille O’Neal

The retired basketball superstar suffers from a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes many interruptions in breathing as one sleeps. It can increase a sufferer’s risk of heart attack or heart failure over the long run. Shaq regularly uses a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help stabilize his breathing throughout the night.

3. Rosie O’Donnell

The controversial The View co-host was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2007. O’Donnell had often discussed her inability to sleep continuously throughout the night on the show, but was embarrassed to talk with doctors because she believed the sleep disorder was linked to excess weight. When the comedienne finally underwent a sleep study, she discovered that she had more than 200 micro-awakenings throughout the night. O’Donnell now uses a CPAP machine to steady her breathing while she sleeps.

4. Jimmy Kimmel

The host and creator of Jimmy Kimmel Live suffers from narcolepsy. This sleep disorder causes sufferers to feel extremely tired throughout the day and often causes them to fall asleep unexpectedly. We wonder how the comedian is able to maintain a nightly talk show with his condition. Kimmel has described the disease, “With narcolepsy, just the inside of your head is tired. It’s like somebody’s gently sitting on your brain. You have almost no focus. All you’re thinking about is not falling asleep.”

5. Simon Cowell

The X-Factor judge suffers from insomnia, a condition in which patients have trouble getting to sleep, or are unable to sleep for long periods of time. Cowell has been recently undergoing hypnotherapy treatments to combat his disorder. He has been seeking to de-stress and unwind his body and mind, ultimately to deepen his relaxation so that he can sleep peacefully throughout the night and wake up feeling refreshed.

6. George Clooney

Clooney has openly admitted to being an insomniac. The Monuments Men star has said that he has difficulty falling and staying asleep throughout the night. The actor notes that he has to fall asleep with the television on, which neurologists say is very unhealthy for a troublesome sleeper, as the brain is still distracted by the noise and light and can never fully rest. He’s one of the celebrities who suffer from sleep disorders we’d love to sing a lullaby to.

7. Regis Philbin

The former Live with Regis and Kelly co-host who retired from the show in 2011, suffers from sleep apnea. The 83-year old media personality who holds the Guinness World Record for most time spent in front of a television camera uses a CPAP machine every night to stabilize his breathing. Regis has commented about his breathing apparatus and its ability to help him sleep through the night, “I really am in love with my hose.”

8. Randy Jackson

The former American Idol co-host underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003, after he was diagnosed with sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. Jackson lost 114 lbs. following his surgery, and admits that now he is able to sleep much sounder. Although his sleep apnea is not completely cured, Jackson says his condition has significantly improved.

9. Madonna

The eccentric performer is an insomniac. Madonna admits to having trouble falling asleep and only being able sleep about three hours per night. To combat her sleep disorder, Madonna regularly takes prescription sleeping pills. She once stated, “I’m anal retentive. I’m a workaholic. I have insomnia. And I’m a control freak. That’s why I’m not married. Who could stand me?” Somehow we’re not surprised that she’s one of celebrities who suffer from sleep disorders.