10 Famous Celebrities Who Use a Wheelchair

Many inspiring celebrities use wheelchairs due to injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. Despite the challenges, they’ve made remarkable contributions to entertainment, sports, and science. Here’s a list of 10 famous people who use wheelchairs — and the lessons their stories carry for the rest of us.

1. Stephen Hawking – The Brilliant Physicist

Stephen Hawking was one of the most influential scientists of all time, making groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology. Diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) at age 21, doctors initially gave him only a few years to live. He defied them all, surviving more than five decades while continuing his research and expanding our understanding of the universe.

As his condition progressed, Hawking gradually lost the ability to speak and move, relying on a powered wheelchair for mobility and a computerized voice system to communicate. Despite these challenges, he authored the best-selling book A Brief History of Time, which simplified complex scientific ideas for the public. His work on black holes, singularities, and the nature of time revolutionized physics.

Hawking was also a pop culture icon, making guest appearances in The Simpsons, Star Trek, and The Big Bang Theory. His resilience, sense of humor, and intellectual brilliance continue to inspire scientists and individuals worldwide. Stephen Hawking used a wheelchair for 50 years.

2. Christopher Reeve – The Real-Life Superman

Christopher Reeve was best known for playing Superman in the iconic 1978 film and its sequels. His portrayal of the Man of Steel made him a beloved figure in Hollywood, but his life took a dramatic turn in 1995 when a horseback riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Reeve suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was unable to breathe on his own, requiring a ventilator and a wheelchair for mobility.

Rather than retreating from the public eye, Reeve became a powerful advocate for spinal cord injury research and disability rights. He founded the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which funds groundbreaking medical research and supports people living with paralysis. His advocacy helped bring attention to stem cell research and pushed for advancements in medical technology to improve the lives of those with disabilities.

Despite his condition, Reeve continued directing, acting, and writing — proof that determination and courage can redefine what’s possible. His legacy lives on as a symbol of hope, resilience, and the fight for medical breakthroughs. Christopher Reeve used a wheelchair for nearly nine and a half years.

3. RJ Mitte – Breaking Barriers in Hollywood

RJ Mitte is an actor and disability advocate best known for his role as Walter White Jr. on the hit TV series Breaking Bad. Born in 1992 with cerebral palsy, Mitte faced challenges with motor control and muscle coordination, requiring years of physical therapy and leg braces to strengthen his mobility. Instead of treating it as a limitation, he used it to fuel his determination to succeed in entertainment.

Mitte’s breakthrough came in 2008 when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a character who also has cerebral palsy. His portrayal was praised for its authenticity, as he brought real-life experience to the role, making it one of the most accurate representations of disability on television.

Following the success of Breaking Bad, Mitte continued acting in films and TV shows, including Switched at Birth, Now Apocalypse, and Triumph, a sports drama where he plays a determined high school wrestler with cerebral palsy. He has also ventured into producing, working on projects that highlight underrepresented communities in the media.

Beyond acting, Mitte is a strong advocate for disability rights and inclusion. He works with organizations like United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and Shriners Hospitals for Children, using his platform to promote better representation of people with disabilities in Hollywood.

4. Daryl Mitchell – From Hollywood to Advocacy

Daryl Mitchell is a talented actor known for his roles in Galaxy Quest, 10 Things I Hate About You, NCIS: New Orleans, and Fear the Walking Dead. His career was on the rise when, in 2001, a tragic motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Rather than stepping away from Hollywood, Mitchell chose to continue acting and became a strong advocate for disability representation in the entertainment industry. He successfully transitioned into roles that reflected his real-life experience, proving that disability does not define talent. He has played wheelchair-using characters in hit TV series, including Ed and NCIS: New Orleans, showcasing authentic disability representation on screen.

Beyond acting, Mitchell actively speaks out about accessibility and inclusion in Hollywood. He also founded the Daryl Mitchell Foundation, which supports people with spinal cord injuries.

5. Ali Stroker – A Broadway Trailblazer

Ali Stroker is a groundbreaking performer who made history as the first wheelchair user to win a Tony Award. Born with a spinal cord injury from a car accident at just two years old, she has used a wheelchair for mobility ever since. Despite the lack of representation of disabled performers in musical theater, Stroker never let it stop her from pursuing her dreams.

She gained national recognition in 2012 as a finalist on The Glee Project, which led to a guest role on Glee, making her the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on the show. Her biggest breakthrough came in 2019 when she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!

Beyond Broadway, Stroker is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion in the arts. She has also written a children’s book, The Chance to Fly, inspiring young disabled individuals to follow their dreams.

6. Tatyana McFadden – The Paralympic Champion

Tatyana McFadden is one of the most accomplished Paralympic athletes in history, dominating wheelchair racing across multiple distances. Born with spina bifida in Russia in 1989, she spent the first years of her life in an orphanage without access to a wheelchair, crawling on her hands for mobility. At age six, she was adopted by Deborah McFadden, an American disability rights advocate, and moved to the United States, where she was finally given a wheelchair and the opportunity to thrive.

Determined to build her strength, McFadden took up sports, eventually discovering a passion for wheelchair racing. She began competing at a young age and quickly established herself as a force on the track. At just 15, she made her Paralympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games, winning a silver medal. Since then, she has competed in multiple Paralympic Games, earning 17 Paralympic medals (including seven golds) across five different games.

Beyond the Paralympics, McFadden has dominated the world marathon circuit, winning an unprecedented four major marathons (Boston, Chicago, New York City, and London) in a single year — four times. She holds multiple world records.

McFadden is also a fierce advocate for disability rights. As a high school student, she successfully sued the state of Maryland, leading to the groundbreaking Tatyana’s Law, which guarantees equal opportunities for disabled student-athletes.

7. Aaron Fotheringham – The Extreme Sports Star

Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham is a trailblazer in wheelchair motocross (WCMX), a sport he helped pioneer. Born with spina bifida, he has used a wheelchair since childhood but never let it limit his passion for extreme sports. Inspired by BMX and skateboarding, he started practicing tricks at skate parks, eventually becoming the first person to land a wheelchair backflip and later, a double backflip.

Fotheringham has competed in major action sports events like the X Games and Nitro Circus, where he continues to push the limits of adaptive sports. He also travels the world performing stunts and inspiring young athletes with disabilities to pursue their dreams.

Beyond competing, Fotheringham works to improve wheelchair designs, collaborating with engineers to create better, high-performance wheelchairs for extreme sports.

Sam & Ryan have been able to meet and ride with Aaron several times during events he’s headlined in Utah. They used their Extreme Motus all-terrain wheelchair to shred right alongside the legend.

8. Nick Vujicic – Motivational Speaker and Author

Nick Vujicic is a world-renowned motivational speaker, best-selling author, and evangelist who has inspired millions with his message of resilience and hope. Born in 1982 in Australia with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare condition that left him without arms or legs, Vujicic faced significant challenges growing up.

Through faith, determination, and an unbreakable spirit, he turned those challenges into a source of strength. Vujicic began public speaking as a teenager, sharing his journey of overcoming obstacles and finding purpose. Today, he has spoken in over 60 countries to millions of people.

He founded Life Without Limbs, a nonprofit that provides motivational resources and outreach programs worldwide. Vujicic has also authored several best-selling books, including Life Without Limits and Unstoppable.

9. Zack Gottsagen – Hollywood Trailblazer

Zack Gottsagen is a talented actor who broke barriers in Hollywood as a performer with Down syndrome. Born in 1985, Gottsagen developed a passion for acting at a young age. Determined to follow his dreams, he studied theater and honed his craft, eventually making history as the first actor with Down syndrome to present an award at the Academy Awards (Oscars) in 2020.

His breakthrough role came in the critically acclaimed 2019 film The Peanut Butter Falcon, where he starred alongside Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson. The film was widely praised for its authenticity and charm, proving that actors with disabilities can lead major films.

10. Spencer West – Adventurer and Philanthropist

Spencer West is a globally recognized motivational speaker, adventurer, and philanthropist. Born with a rare genetic condition, sacral agenesis, he lost both legs from the pelvis down at the age of five. Doctors told him he would never live an independent life. He proved them wrong.

One of his most famous achievements was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands in 2012, a grueling seven-day journey that raised over half a million dollars for clean water initiatives in Africa through Free The Children (now WE Charity). He has also completed multiple marathons on his hands.

As a highly sought-after motivational speaker, West has spoken to millions of people in over 60 countries, sharing his message of redefining possibility.

The Motus Community: Everyday Icons

You’ve seen the famous names. Here are a few of the real-world riders and families writing their own version of the same story — same chair, no spotlight, all heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous wheelchair user of all time?

Stephen Hawking is widely considered the most famous wheelchair user in history. Diagnosed with ALS at 21, he used a wheelchair for over 50 years and produced foundational work in theoretical physics during that time. Christopher Reeve, Tatyana McFadden, and Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham are also globally recognized.

What kind of wheelchair did Stephen Hawking use?

Hawking used a custom-built powered wheelchair fitted with a speech-generating device he could control with cheek movements as his ALS progressed. It was a heavily modified medical chair — built for indoor and pavement use, not for trails or off-road environments.

Are there famous athletes who use wheelchairs?

Yes — many. Tatyana McFadden has won 17 Paralympic medals across five Games. Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham invented wheelchair motocross and was the first to land a backflip in a chair. Spencer West climbed Kilimanjaro on his hands. Wheelchair sports cover everything from racing to rugby to skiing.

Can someone with a disability still live an active outdoor life?

Absolutely. The biggest barrier isn’t the disability — it’s the equipment. A standard hospital-issued wheelchair is built to navigate hallways and pavement. An all-terrain wheelchair is built for sand, snow, dirt, gravel, and water. Sam and I have ridden national parks, skateparks, salt flats, and beaches in the same chair.

Where can I find an all-terrain wheelchair like the ones some of these athletes use?

The Extreme Motus is our manual all-terrain wheelchair — 49 lbs, $4,500, four large low-pressure tires, and it floats. Take the Adventure Quiz at the top of this post to see if it (or one of 12 other off-road chairs) matches your needs. Or compare prices in our 2026 All-Terrain Wheelchair Price Guide.

How do I get funding for an all-terrain wheelchair?

Medicare won’t cover off-road wheelchairs (here’s why and what to do about it), but there are real funding paths. Our 11 Best Grants for All-Terrain Wheelchairs guide covers grants, scholarships, and crowdfunding options. We also offer financing on the Motus.

Final Thoughts

The celebrities on this list prove that having a disability and using a wheelchair does not define a person’s potential. Whether they’re excelling in sports, entertainment, science, or advocacy, they’ve shattered barriers — proving that determination and passion matter far more than physical limitations.

But you don’t need a Tony or a Paralympic medal to live a story worth telling. The Motus Community above is full of people who decided their adventures didn’t end when their diagnosis arrived — and the right chair was the bridge.