Feb. 10, 2011 (Los Angeles) — Pop quiz: What do Bette Davis, Cary Grant, and Sharon Stone have in common, besides being Hollywood stars of course?
Answer: All are Oscar nominees or winners who suffered a stroke, an event that took a tremendous toll on their and other stars’ careers.
Of the 409 actors who were nominated for Best Actor/Actress Awards between 1927 and 2009, 30 (7.3%) suffered a stroke and 39 (9.5%) had heart attacks.
The impact: Their movie and TV appearances — which on average topped 100 in the three years before their stroke or heart attack — dropped by about 70% in the three years afterward.
Doctors say they hope the experience of the actors will foster greater awareness of the symptoms of cardiovascular disease and the need to seek help quickly.
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