Stuttering: Straight Talk for Teachers Handbook

CELEBRITY FOCUS

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

"Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself," observed Stossel. "The idea that I'm on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes."

Darren Sproles, a former player for The Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers, made history in 2007 when he became the first player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game. In 2021, he was selected to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

John Melendez

He is a talented musician, actor, and comedian. Listen to a podcast.

Marilyn Monroe

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, Marilyn Monroe, according to Wikipedia, is known for playing comic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2025) by her death in 1962.

James Earl Jones

Actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television and movie star, was well-known for his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars and his book Voices and Silences. Jones spoke some of the most memorable lines in the history of American film, but the man known for his voice was once afflicted with a severe stutter.